With some of the best motorcycle makers choosing to use V-twin motorcycle engines, it's ironic to note that when they first came into the picture, they went into cars, as well as boats. Of course, now, the V-twin engine has evolved from the rudimentary machine it once was, into some of the greatest motorcycle engines of all time.
From all-American motorcycles like Harley-Davidson and Indian to Italian and Japanese motorcycle makers like Ducati and Suzuki, the V-Twin motorcycle engine has come a long way from its more than 100-year-old history. Frankly, the modern version of this two-cylinder engine, arranged in a V formation, is considered one of the most balanced and powerful engines out there. So here go the 10 of the greatest V-twin motorcycle engines that changed the course of motorcycling history.
10 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead
Production Years: 1936 – 1947
In 1936, Harley-Davidson introduced its first OHV 988cc engine in the Harley-Davidson EL. It was the first V-twin engine by the brand, making the EL a milestone motorcycle and one of the most important American bikes ever made.
This very iconic V-twin engine was later dubbed the “Knucklehead” because its rocker-box ends resembled the knuckles of a closed fist, although it got this name only after Harley moved on to a new V-twin, the Panhead.
1936 Harley-Davidson EL "Knucklehead" Technical Specs
Engine Type | Air-cooled four-stroke 45° V-twin |
Engine Displacement | 988 cc (60.9 cu in) |
Horsepower | 40 hp |
Top Speed | 95 MPH |
9 Vincent V-Twin
Production Years: 1936 – 1955
Vincent Motorcycles lived for only 27 years, but even in that short time, it managed to make the world’s fastest production bike, the V-twin powered Black Shadow. This very motorcycle, capable of 125 mph top speeds, carried an air-cooled four-stroke 998cc V-twin engine.
It also powered the race version of the motorcycle, made with mostly aluminum components, called the Black Lightning. While the company closed down soon after, the Black Shadow remains a highly prized collectible because of that revolutionary engine.
1948 Vincent Black Shadow Technical Specs
Engine Type | Air-cooled four-stroke 50° V-twin |
Engine Displacement | 998 cc (60.9 cu in) |
Horsepower | 55 hp |
Top Speed | 125 MPH |
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8 Moto Guzzi V-Twin
Production Years: 1970 – Present
Moto Guzzi first used its flagship air-cooled 90° V-twin engine in the classic V7 model line, and the engine soon became a symbol for the Italian motorcycle brand. Various iterations of this engine continued over the generations.
Moto Guzzi also debuted the V7 III in 2017 to celebrate five decades of the V7 model, which takes on competition like Harley-Davidson Sportster and Triumph Bonneville with gumption.
2023 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Special Edition Technical Specs
Engine Type | Air-cooled Transversal 90° V-twin |
Engine Displacement | 853 cc (52 cu in) |
Horsepower | 66 hp |
Torque | 55 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 110 MPH |
7 Indian PowerPlus V-twin
Production Years: 2019 – Present
Indian Motorcycles has a longer history with the V-twin engine, circa 1905. By 1911, the Indian V-twin motorcycle decimated the competition at the Isle of Man, and more than a century down the line, this American brand now has a 1,768cc V-twin, called the PowerPlus.
It now serves as the heart of the Indian Challenger and is the highest-performing American V-twin ever. Meanwhile, the name comes from the Indian PowerPlus motorcycle that lasted from 1916 to 1924. Quite a legacy, this.
2023 Indian Challenger Elite Technical Specs
Engine Type | Liquid-cooled 60° V-twin |
Engine Displacement | 1,768 cc (108 cu in) |
Horsepower | 122 hp |
Torque | 128 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 125 MPH |
RELATED: Why Indian Motorcycle Engines Make More Power Than Harley-Davidson
6 Suzuki TL1000S / TL1000R
Production Years: 1997 – Present
Such was the success of the Suzuki liquid-cooled V-twin that even the Italians decided to get a piece of the action, with Cagiva and Bimota using the TL1000 V-twin to power their motorcycles. From 1997 to today, Suzuki has carried on making better iterations of the same engine.
While the original motorcycles are fast turning into collectibles today, Suzuki’s latest TL1000 range of bikes are decent performers with plenty of thrills that make them fun to ride.
2003 Suzuki TL1000R Technical Specs
Engine Type | Liquid-cooled 90° V-twin |
Engine Displacement | 996 cc (60.8 cu in) |
Horsepower | 135 hp |
Torque | 78 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 165 MPH |
5 Honda VTR1000 Firestorm
Production Years: 1997 – 2005
With the V-twin fever sweeping the automotive world, Honda did not take time to catch up. They launched a liquid-cooled 90° 996cc V-twin right when the Ducati 996 was making waves, but did it in a low-cost Japanese way.
Honda put this engine in the 2005 VTR1000F Firestorm and while the motorcycle was not as fast as the Ducati, it came with effortless grunt with far easier maintenance to please the crowd.
2005 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm Technical Specs
Engine Type | Liquid-cooled 90° V-twin |
Engine Displacement | 996 cc (60.8 cu in) |
Horsepower | 110 hp |
Torque | 71.5 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 155 MPH |
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4 Aprilia RSV Mille R
Production Years: 1998 – 2003
Aprilia debuted a 998cc V-twin in the RSV Mille in 1998, and it was this Italian motorcycle maker's first such large-capacity attempt. They did it well and the Mille was an instant hit, and by 2000, it was a regular WSB race winner.
While the engine does take a little time to warm up, once it goes, it offers a crisp throttle response with strong, usable power, with a rev reminiscent of Suzuki.
2003 Aprilia RSV Mille R Technical Specs
Engine Type | Liquid-cooled 60° V-twin |
Engine Displacement | 998 cc (60.9 cu in) |
Horsepower | 138 hp |
Torque | 79 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 173 MPH |
3 KTM LC8
Production Years: 2003 – Present
In the late ‘90s, KTM began to work on a V-twin that could carry on its dirt-biking legacy into the 21st century, and so by 2003, they unveiled the KTM 950 Adventure. The new KTM V-twin engine soon became a hit, going to power a wide range of KTM motorcycles from adventure to superbikes, naked sports bikes, and sports touring bikes.
Today, a variant of this engine stands at 1,301cc displacement, jetting an amazing 177 horsepower.
2023 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Technical Specs
Engine Type | Liquid-cooled transverse 75° V-twin |
Engine Displacement | 1,301 cc (79.4 cu in) |
Horsepower | 177 hp |
Torque | 106.2 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 180 MPH |
RELATED: 2024 KTM 1290 Super Duke R: Everything We Know
2 Ducati V-Twin
Production Years: 1993 - Present
In 1970, Ducati’s chief designer Fabio Taglioni started work on a 90° V-Twin, called Testastretta. By 1972, the Ducati V-Twin began to win races, fitted into the 750 GT with a desmodromic system. Its success made Ducati put the same system in the road version of the motorcycle, and Ducati took off in an even bigger way.
Such was the prowess of its V-twin that it powered every single Ducati, till a V4 arrived in 2018. While some Ducati heavyweights now use a V4, the V-twin remains an integral part of this Italian motorcycle maker.
2023 Ducati Monster SP Technical Specs
Engine Type | Liquid-cooled Testastretta 11° L-twin |
Engine Displacement | 937 cc (57 cu in) |
Horsepower | 111 hp |
Torque | 69 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 145 |
1 Harley-Davidson Revolution Max
Production Years: 2021 - Present
Harley-Davidson’s latest V-twin is the most powerful one yet, even as it deviated from the 45-degree Milwaukee-Eight, being a 60-degree V-twin. Rated at 150 horsepower, the RevMax mill utilizes a dual overhead cam design with one cam for the intake and one for the exhaust, for independent variable valve timing.
With engaging performance and ample power, this is the next-gen V-twin for Harley-Davidson and a complete hit with motorcyclists, given its excellent handling too.
2023 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Technical Specs
Engine Type | Liquid-cooled Revolution Max 60° V-twin |
Engine Displacement | 1,252 cc (76.3 cu in) |
Horsepower | 150 hp |
Torque | 94 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 141 MPH |
