Several models went out of production before being surpassed by a contemporary with a higher top speed. Until a model was introduced that was faster than any previous motorcycle, the fastest bike on the market for a given year was actually slower than an earlier, out of production bike. Models which are actual top speed record holders have their make, model, and speed in bold font, while slower models which were only the fastest in their own time are in italic. For example, in 1956, the Vincent Black Shadow remained the fastest motorcycle to date, with a 125 mph (201 km/h) top speed, but it was no longer in production. The fastest model on the market in 1956 was the BSA Gold Star Clubman, which at 110 mph (180 km/h) was not a record holder, but is listed for the sake of illustrating a more complete timeline.
Make & modelModel yearsEngineDisplacementPowerTop speedImageNotesHildebrand & Wolfmüller1894–1897Parallel twin1,500 cc (92 cu in)2.5 hp (1.9 kW)25–28 mph (40–45 km/h)First production motorcycle.[19][20]Werner Motocyclette1898–1900Single216 cc (13.2 cu in)15.5–22 mph (25–35 km/h)[21][22][23][24]WernerNew Werner1901–1908Single230–333 cc (14.0–20.3 cu in)2–3.25 bhp (1.49–2.42 kW)30 mph (48 km/h)[20][21][22][23]FN Four1911–1931Inline four491 cc (30.0 cu in)4 bhp (3.0 kW)40 mph (64 km/h)[19][20]Scott two speed1912–Parallel twin532 cc (32.5 cu in)3 bhp (2.2 kW)50 mph (80 km/h)[19]Williamson Flat Twin1913–1920Flat twin964 cc (58.8 cu in)55 mph (89 km/h)[19]PopeModel L1914–1920V-twin999 cc (61.0 cu in)12 bhp (8.9 kW)70 mph (110 km/h)[19][25]Cyclone V-twin1916–1917V-twin996 cc (60.8 cu in)25 bhp (19 kW)85 mph (137 km/h)[19]Excelsior V-twin1918–1931V-twin992 cc (60.5 cu in)20 bhp (15 kW)80 mph (130 km/h)[19]Brough SuperiorSS1001925–1940V-twin988 cc (60.3 cu in)45 bhp (34 kW)100 mph (160 km/h)[19][20]Brough SuperiorSS100 Pendine1927–1940V-twin981 cc (59.9 cu in)45 bhp (34 kW)110 mph (180 km/h)[26][page needed] Record held for 22 yearsBrough SuperiorSS100 Alpine Grand Sports1934–1940V-twin996 cc (60.8 cu in)75 bhp (56 kW)110 mph (180 km/h)[26][page needed]Crocker V-twin1936–ca. 1941V-twin998 cc (60.9 cu in)50 bhp (37 kW)110 mph (180 km/h)[19]Vincent Series A Rapide1936–1940V-twin998 cc (60.9 cu in)45 bhp (34 kW)110 mph (180 km/h)[19]VincentBlack Lightning1949–1952V-twin998 cc (60.9 cu in)70 bhp (52 kW)150 mph (240 km/h)[19][20][27][28] First to exceed Brough Superior SS100 Pendine after 22 years. Record held for 35 years.BSAGold Star Clubman1956–1963Single499 cc (30.5 cu in)42 bhp (31 kW)110 mph (180 km/h)[19]Norton650SS1962–1967Parallel twin646 cc (39.4 cu in)49 bhp (37 kW)110–115 mph (177–185 km/h)[19][29]BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident1968–1975Inline three740 cc (45 cu in)58 bhp (43 kW)125 mph (201 km/h)*[19]KawasakiZ11972–1975Inline four903 cc (55.1 cu in)82 bhp (61 kW)132 mph (212 km/h)[19][30]Ducati900SS1975–1982V-twin864 cc (52.7 cu in)79 bhp (59 kW)135 mph (217 km/h)[19][31]LaverdaJota1976–1981Inline three981 cc (59.9 cu in)90 bhp (67 kW)140–146 mph (225–235 km/h)[19][25][32]HondaVF1000R1984–1988V-four998 cc (60.9 cu in)122 bhp (91 kW)150 mph (240 km/h)[19] First to exceed Vincent Black Lightning after 35 yearsKawasakiGPZ900R Ninja1984–1996Inline four908 cc (55.4 cu in)113–115 bhp (84–86 kW)151–158 mph (243–254 km/h)[19][20][33]SuzukiGSX-R 1100 (G-H-J)1986-1988Inline four1,052 cc (64.2 cu in)125 hp (93 kW)160 mph (257 km/h)[34]HondaCBR1000F1987-1999Inline four998 cc (60.9 cu in)132 hp (98 kW)154–164 mph (248–264 km/h)[34][35][36]YamahaFZR1000 "Genesis"1987-1988Inline four989 cc (60.4 cu in)135 hp (101 kW)158.4–160 mph (254.9–257.5 km/h)By some measures, faster than Honda CBR1000F.[34][37]KawasakiTomcat ZX-101988–1990Inline four997 cc (60.8 cu in)135 hp (101 kW)165 mph (266 km/h)[3][38]YamahaFZR1000 "EXUP"1989-1995Inline four1,003 cc (61.2 cu in)145 hp (108 kW)167 mph (269 km/h)[39]BimotaYB6 EXUP1989–1990Inline four1,002 cc (61.1 cu in)147 bhp (110 kW)170 mph (270 km/h)[19]KawasakiNinja ZX-111990–2001Inline four1,052 cc (64.2 cu in)145 bhp (108 kW)169–176 mph (272–283 km/h)[19][40][3][41]BimotaYB8 Furano1992-1993Inline four1,002 cc (61.1 cu in)164 hp (122 kW)172 mph (277 km/h)
By some measures, faster than Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11.[42]HondaCBR1100XX Super Blackbird1996–2007Inline four1,137 cc (69.4 cu in)162 bhp (121 kW)170–180 mph (270–290 km/h)[19][40]SuzukiHayabusa (first generation)1999–Inline four1,299 cc (79.3 cu in)173 bhp (129 kW)188–194 mph (303–312 km/h)Last model before gentlemen's agreement.[19][40][43][44]SuzukiHayabusa (first generation)2000–2007Inline four1,299 cc (79.3 cu in)173 bhp (129 kW)186 mph (300 km/h)Speed limited[19][40][43][44]KawasakiZX-12R2000–05Inline four1,199 cc (73.2 cu in)178 bhp (133 kW)186 mph (300 km/h)Speed limited[3][19][40]KawasakiZX-142006–Inline four1,352 cc (82.5 cu in)163.3 hp (121.8 kW)†186 mph (300 km/h)Speed limited[40]MV AgustaF4 R 3122007-08Inline four998 cc (60.9 cu in)183 bhp (136 kW)185.4–193.24 mph (298.37–310.99 km/h)First European motorcycle exceeding "gentlemen's agreement"; MV Agusta not known to have been a party.[12][13][14][45][46]BMWS1000RR2009-Inline four999 cc (61.0 cu in)199 bhp (148 kW)188 mph (303 km/h)BMW considered to have initiated the "gentlemen's agreement"; first party to agreement to exceed self-imposed limit.[47]DucatiPanigale R2013-V-twin1,198 cc (73.1 cu in)202 bhp (151 kW)202 mph (325 km/h)Top speed achieved with OEM track-only exhaust system.[48][49][50]Kawasaki Ninja H22015-inline-4998 cc (60.9 cu in)200 bhp (150 kW)209.442 mph (337.064 km/h)[51][52]Kawasaki Ninja H2R2015-inline-4998 cc (60.9 cu in)310 bhp (230 kW)206–249 mph (332–401 km/h)Track-only motorcycle[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61
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