Like most automobile enthusiasts, we have a need for speed here at National Numbers.
So, today’s blog will focus on the fastest road-legal vehicle in the world – the motorbike.
From the turn of the 20th century to the present day, we’ll explore some of the fastest bikes in history and examine how they’ve developed throughout the decades. We’ll also point you in the direction of what is potentially the best motorbike number plate we’ve ever seen…
Let’s kick things off with the first production motorcycle ever manufactured.
The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller
Steam engineers Heinrich and Wilhelm Hildebrand teamed up with Alois Wolfmüller to produce the internal combustion “Motorrad” back in 1894. A two-cylinder, four-stroke engine motorcycle weighing 50kg, this bad boy is an icon for every bike enthusiast.
By today’s standards, it looks more like a bicycle, but there’s no denying the skill and craftsmanship involved. Check out the design below and get a load of that saddle!
Of course, the first production motorbike ever built was never going to break the sound barrier, but it managed an incredible 28 mph, a mind-blowing feat at the time. So much so that the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller held the speed record for several years until the 20th century saw more bikes introduced into the mainstream.
Crocker V-Twin
Fast forward a few decades (and a World War) and we find ourselves in 1936 with another fantastic motorbike release.
After a successful start in the speedway game, American manufacturer Crocker Motorcycle Company started building powerful V-twin road motorbikes in the 1930s. While Harley Davidson was becoming more and more iconic in their aesthetic appeal, the Crocker Motorcycle Company’s focus was speed, and this gorgeous bike managed to hit 110 mph in 1936, an almost unimaginable speed at the time.
Leaving the Harleys and Indians in the dust, the Crocker V-Twin was manufactured for five more years and was available with a 998cc engine capable of 45 bhp.
Unfortunately, the owner of the company, Al Crocker, apparently lost every bit of money he spent building bikes in the end. But to us, that makes his story even more iconic, and this bike is fit for the history books.
Vincent Black Lightning
Once through the horrible years before, during, and after World War 2, the motorbike industry once again began to flourish. Capitalising on the trend, Vincent HRD, a manufacturer based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire released the Black Shadow in 1949, which was later renamed and produced as the Black Lightning.
Available to order, the Vincent Black Shadow came equipped with magnesium alloy components, special racing tyres, and rear-set foot controls. It also boasted a solo seat, aluminium mudguards, and a total weight of 170kg. An air-cooled OHV pushrod V-twin engine made this bike great for the racetrack and the road, and its top speed was a whopping 150 mph.
Like Crocker, Vincent struggled financially and as a result, only manufactured 31 of these majestic speed machines. While this is unfortunate, to say the least, the Black Shadow is now a collector’s item worth millions.
Suzuki Hayabusa
Many bikes came and went throughout the next five decades and in the 90s, Japanese manufacturers began to monopolise the industry. Suzuki is one of the biggest manufacturers to make a name for themselves in the latter half of the 20th century, and in 1999, the Hayabusa was born.
The Suzuki Hayabusa was (and still is) an incredible feat of engineering and as well as being beautiful to look at, it was capable of record-breaking speeds. It makes sense, then, that it takes its name from the Japanese word for Peregrine Falcon, a creature capable of swooping at speeds of 180 – 202 mph, the fastest of any bird.
A liquid-cooled, inline-4 engine with sixteen valves and dual-overhead camshafts contributed to the impressive abilities of the Hayabusa, as well as a ram air system that forced cool, pressurised air into the cylinders at high speeds.
With mind-blowing acceleration and power, the Hayabusa is the stuff of legends and closed out the 20th century as the fastest bike on the planet clocking a top speed of 194 mph.
Kawasaki Ninja H2R
The Kawasaki Ninja H2R is today’s fastest motorbike, capable of frightening top speed of 249 mph. Yep, you read that right!
A super-charged, four-stroke, supersport-class motorcycle is something motorcycle enthusiasts of the past could have only dreamed of riding. A two-speed centrifugal supercharger driven by a series of gears and shafts connects the flywheel to a planetary drive and spins a dog-shifted two-speed shaft attached to the impeller.
In layman’s terms, it’s powerful and technologically masterful. It’s also futuristic in its appearance, as you can see below, which is what you want from the fastest bike of 2024.
It’s still illegal on the roads in many countries including Germany and Greece, but UK riders can buy and ride the Ninja H2R without worrying about police officers trying to pull you over.
A game-changer in the history of motorbikes and the fastest of its kind on the planet, all hail the H2R!
Buy motorbike number plates with National Numbers
At National Numbers, we have over four decades of experience in the number plate industry. That makes us one of the original DVLA registered dealers in the country and the best place to secure the perfect reg for your motorbike.
As it happens, our plate of the month is NO74 CAR, which perfectly spells “Not A Car”. Perhaps the most perfect motorbike number plate around, you can buy NO74 CAR online at our website.
You can also browse our vast selection of number plates here or call 01642 363738 to find out more about the registrations we have available for all UK road-legal vehicles.
