These are the fastest motorbikes I’ve ever raced against
June 19, 2025 by Mat Watson
Car changing is a big deal
It’s not all about four wheels on the Carwow YouTube channel – sometimes we like to race against motorbikes. Here are the seven fastest bikes Mat Watson has ever raced against.
If you want to go very fast without spending six figures, motorbikes are a very good way to do it. I’m more comfortable on four wheels than two, but I can’t ignore just how ballistically fast some superbikes can be.
I’ve raced against loads of incredible superbikes on the Carwow drag strip over the years, some of which can thrash a supercar for a tenth of the price. Here are seven of the fastest bikes ever to feature in a Carwow drag race.
And if you fancy swapping your car for a bike, you can sell it through Carwow quickly and for a fair price. And if you prefer the safety of your metal box then you can compare the latest new car deals to save yourself some money on your next set of wheels.
The seven fastest motorbikes ever featured on Carwow (by quarter-mile time):
- Red Bull Racing RC16 – 8.6
- Supercharged Suzuki Hayabusa – 9.6
- Kawasaki H2R – 9.7
- Ducati Panigale V4 S – 9.9
- Ducati Panigale V4 R – 10.0
- BMW M1000 RR – 10.0
- Yamaha R1 M – 10.3
1. Red Bull Racing RC16 – 8.6 seconds
The fastest Motorbike I’ve ever raced against is something a bit special, because it’s a full-bore race bike from Red Bull Racing’s Moto GP team. The Red Bull KTM RC16 has a 1,000cc V4 engine with 270hp, and it also has racing legend Dani Pedrosa at the helm.
I’ve actually raced a few cars against the RC16 including the Porsche 918 Spyder, an 1,100hp Lamborghini Huracan and even an F1 car, all of which were no match for the bike. It was beaten by the Rimac Nevera though.
2. Supercharged Suzuki Hayabusa – 9.6 seconds
Now for the fastest road-legal bike we’ve ever featured: a supercharged Suzuki Hayabusa. It has a 1,300cc four-cylinder engine with forced induction, meaning it has a whopping 380hp. It’s much more powerful than the Moto GP bike, but it’s also over 100kg heavier at 257kg.
The Suzuki has fended off a Koenigsegg Agera RST, a car which is £3 million more expensive, and even the Tesla Model S Plaid, but it proved no match for the Red Bull KTM RC16 or a Formula 1 car. That’s still not a bad track record though.
3. Kawasaki Ninja H2R – 9.7 seconds
The Kawasaki Ninja H2R doesn’t need any modifications to be ballistically fast. It comes from the factory with a 1,000cc four-cylinder supercharged engine with 310hp, and it weighs just 214kg.
The result? Well the H2R was narrowly beaten by a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, as well as an 1,100hp Lamborghini Huracan. This was mainly down to issues getting the power down, but it still thrashed the Ducati Panigale V4 SP2.
4. Ducati Panigale V4S – 9.9 seconds
Ducati makes some of the most exotic and desirable sports bikes in the world, and the Panigale V4 S is the fastest one it makes. Mounted in that stunning frame is a 1,100cc V4 engine with 216hp, and it weighs just 187kg.
I raced it against the Audi RS e-tron GT Performance, the fastest road car Audi currently sells, and the Ducati won by 0.1 of a second. Not bad when you consider it’s over £90,000 cheaper than the Audi.
5. Ducati Panigale V4R – 10.0 seconds
It’s another Ducati at number 5 – this time the Panigale V4R. It’s more hardcore and track-focussed than the V4S, and has a higher-revving 221hp V4 engine. Being geared more towards handling, it’s not quite as quick in a straight line as the V4S.
Even so, this Italian superbike still beat an 800hp tuned BMW M5 and a souped-up Nissan GTR with a whopping 1,600hp. A quick look at our drag race leaderboard also shows that it’s quicker than the legendary McLaren P1 down the quarter mile.
6. BMW M1000 RR – 10.0 seconds
The BMW M1000 RR is the brand’s flagship sports bike, and it comes with a 1,000cc four-cylinder engine putting out 212hp. It also has a dizzying top speed of 195mph and weighs just 193kg.
The results are a blistering 10.0-second quarter mile, meaning it’s faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo S and a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. However, I raced it against a Ferrari SF90 and that car proved too quick for the BMW.
7. Yamaha R1M – 10.3 seconds
Finally we have the Yamaha R1M, the brand’s equivalent to the BMW M1000RR. It has a 1,000cc four-cylinder engine putting out 200hp, and it weighs just 202kg. It’ll go on to a top speed of 186mph, no not quite as fast as the BMW.
I raced it against the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and the Ferrari SF90, both of which beat the Yamaha. It’s still faster than a McLaren 720S though, and a Lamborghini Huracan Performante.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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