It seems like every month or so, some outrageous machine sets a new record somewhere in the world. Last month, Koenigsegg set a new zero to 250 mph to zero record and the month before, Rimac smashed the production car zero-to-60 mph record with a staggering 1.74-second run. The latest record to fall? Fastest UK&ITA-recorded two-up speed on a motorcycle. Perhaps a turbocharged literbike or one of the latest superbikes on the market? No. As reported by Motorcycle News magazine, this record was set by motorcycle mad scientist and genius engineer Allen Millyard on his Dodge Viper V10-powered homebuilt machine.
Do you remember the Dodge Tomahawk? A limited-production non-street-legal, very narrow four-wheeled thing built by Dodge in 2003 to drum up publicity. It looked like a Tron lightcycle predecessor from a Mad Max world, but although Dodge quoted some outrageous figures, the Tomahawk never actually proved them. That’s where Millyard comes in. He saw the Tomahawk, and then built something similar for himself. Something a bit more feasible, more traditional, and less like two motorcycles chained at the hip.
The Millyard Viper V10 is more sensible than a Tomahawk, in the same way that a homemade rocket launcher is more sensible than recreational nuclear weapons. The engine alone weighs 712 pounds, or more than the weight of two Honda CB300Rs. In eight-liter form, it makes at least 400 horsepower, but Millyard’s tuned the thing up to 500 horsepower, good enough to hit 207 mph as reported by Motorcycle News magazine. This motorcycle is so insane that it has its own Wikipedia page. Now that’s a sign a machine has been built right.
In the years after that astonishing top speed run, Millyard hasn’t been afraid to take this mental machine on road trips. In his words from a 2022 YouTube video, “I’ve ridden the Viper 9,150 miles since August 2009.” Fair play, man. Now that’s how you use a cool toy. Speaking of using a cool toy, let’s get to what you all clicked on the article for — the record.
While it undoubtedly takes a certain kind of crazy to build and ride a Viper V10-powered motorcycle, it takes an equal or greater amount of crazy to ride on the back while attempting a speed record. Kudos to motorcycle TV presenter Henry Cole for stepping up to the plate and riding pillion. With the two men on the bike and the runway at RAF Elvington clear, it was time to twist the throttle and see what’s what. The result? Complete and utter success, a trap speed of 183.5 mph and serious bragging rights. The old world record stood at 181.426 mph, so that’s some good headroom gained by Millyard and Cole.
Just imagine for a second, the sheer force of air hitting you while you’re on the back of a fairingless bike going 183.5 mph. Sure, you’re wearing a full-face helmet at that point, but I bet you’d also be hanging on for dear life. What an incredible feat this is, and it’s fitting that such a bonkers bike would be the one to do it. After all, everyone who loves going fast, we all have to be a little bit crazy, right?
(Photo credits: Allen Millyard/YouTube)
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Why the poor Photoshop image on the main story, when in MCN, linked from the story you read, and advertised by the very image the Photoshop is attempting to create, there is the ACTUAL photo you wanted ?https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2023/july/pillion-speed-world-record/?itm_source=bibblio&itm_campaign=bibblio-related&itm_medium=bibblio-footer-1
I have an explanation for that! We’re pretty conservative with image usage. If we do not have the permissions for an image (or a clear legal pathway to use an image), then we do not use the image. In this case, those images appear to have been taken by a photographer for MCN. We will not use those images without permission.
Exceptions to this rule are for sale listings using images taken by the seller, some images found on Wikimedia Commons, public domain images, advertisements, manufacturer images, etc. It’s why we’ll often use images scraped from eBay listings or Bring a Trailer ads. Some websites, like YouTube, state in their TOS that the original content you upload can be shared globally. Thus, screenshots of original video footage are fair game as well.
In the past at a website that shall not be named, the owners of images sometimes sent in complaints (or worse) about the usage of their photos without permission or payment.
That makes a lot of sense Mercedes, thanks (and I’m aware of the legal implications for images use).
In this instance though – you’re using the MCN images and video from one story, when there’s another (earlier) story from the same source with the actual image that was desired, so I’m wondering: If you have an agreement with MCN to use their imagery/video (or at least you’re crediting the source), why not use the image from that source, from the other story?
To be honest… it makes the Autopian’s article look poorly (or hurriedly) researched. 🙁
The images in this story are photoshopped screenshots from the linked videos, which goes back to the YouTube TOS thing I mentioned earlier. We cannot use photographs without permission, but our interpretation of YouTube TOS is that we do not need permission to take screenshots of videos. That’s why the images are edited screenshots and not the actual image as hosted on MCN.
That said, I totally understand where you’re coming from, here!
Allen Millyard has posted a video to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EewFKfhItSA
Maybe the photoshop guy could have put the passenger’s arms around the outside of the rider in front of him instead of through his back and a few other things. A real record would have a real pic, no?
With that, if it –is– for real, I have been on the back of a bike at 120+ and from there, I believe the record is a significant feat of bravery at-least. I however get points for not having a helmet. Hey it was the 1980s and as kids we know that we can never die.
We did hit a dip in the road at near that speed and that became very close to my last moments on earth.
Cool motorcycle. Especially the fact that he drives it.
I don’t understand the point of the record though.
– You have the record for the fastest motorcycle?!
No. The fastest with two people.
– Oh, what does the other person do?
Nothing, they’re dead weight.
– Uh, okay. So you could have just carried some lead weights, or made the bike heavier. So it’s like the record for intentionally handicapped performance? Hm, Must be really fast though!
Um 185mph.
– Oh, so slower than a factory sport bike. I see. Uh, cool I guess.
I’m not saying any of this was easy. I just don’t see the unique importance.
Well the importance is it could be done.
IIRC it is capable of over 200 mph at half throttle, it is crazier than you imagine.
You don’t appreciate it, that’s cool to each their own.
There are lots of factory bikes with fairings capable of 200 mph in unrestricted form and this isn’t one of them. (-;
Millyard is certifiable.
The Barber Motorsport Museum in Birmingham, AL has *three* Millyard bikes on display – I was just there today, and they’re amazing to ogle. Great craftsmanship.
I’m on the wrong continent for a visit, but I really want to go there, they have some cool stuff.
Plus they have a couple of cars there that I worked on, and they’re got some details wrong that I intend to correct while I’m there.
You owe it to yourself to check out Millyard’s Youtube channel. Seriously… this guy is an OCD genius. Incredible design. Incredible workmanship. The man made his own screws (!) to get the head shape he wanted.
This is some more background coming from the other direction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqkYk065nho
With factory bikes able to 200 one up, this crazy of a machine only able to hit 183 dosent seem very impressive…
Two up is a huge increase in weight by percentage. Also, those factory bikes have full fairings for aerodynamics – this thing has a headlight cowl. Remember, lots of vehicles much slipperier than this have top speeds limited by aerodynamics, not a governor.
At 500 hp I don’t think the limit was the bike; or at least the power available. Traction, stability, confidence of the rider… I suspect either one or all three had a bigger part to play. Regardless, a record is now broken and that’s all that matters.
If it’s as unimpressive as you say, go out there and knock the record out of the park. 😉
Didn’t say I could do better. I was just commenting on the fact of todays tech, factory cars approaching 300mph, and that much horsepower on tap. That I felt like that was not an impressively high top speed, that’s it.
I looked at a Pagani online yesterday and realized it’s a limited edition sculpture; 99 of them. This morning in the shower I started wondering what the median miles per year on these things is and who holds the record for most miles on something that bonkers. Now I know. Thanks Autopian.
You’ve gotta be really good friends to ride together like that.
“Just go man just go.”
I’m far less impressed by the speed record than that he has ridden this bike over 9,000 miles. That is incredibly cool. I imagine most insane one off machines like this never see the street.
Watching the video of his ride around town, the thing that doesn’t compute is hearing the engine at ~900 RPM while riding normally. Hearing an engine at that speed activates the part of my brain that assumes I am about to stall. That would take some getting used to – I’m sure I would reflexively grab the clutch lever constantly. Otherwise, the bike looks like it would be more challenging to ride than most bikes, but it appears to generally work as a motorcycle. I am curious how it compares to a Boss Hoss; I have heard those are difficult to ride in anything but a straight line.
Boss Hoss’ have chopper-like steering geometry, which makes turning nearly impossible. This looks to have a much more normal geometry, so while difficult, it probably isn’t nearly as bad to turn.
This actually makes me nervous. Though I rode for most of my life I was a terrified passenger. About the time the operator clicked into second gear my hands would go for their throats while I screamed at them to slow the hell down. Some kind of weird trust issue, I guess.
I have ridden motorcycles for over 20 years and have never ridden as a passenger. Being a passenger on a motorcycle sounds terrifying at any speed. I won’t do it.
What ever became of the MTT Y2K?
It just seemed to vanish from history.
just wondering whats the worlds fastest sidecar?
Major Ace and Gary vibes in that Photoshopped headline teaser.
That looks like a terrible idea and quick way to go through the pearly gates on fire backwards.
Where do I sign up?
Goodness. That’s crazy. Looking at the picture, it almost looks like the rear passenger is holding onto something to the left of the driver? It looks like their legs are in tandem, but the upper bodies are almost more side by side. It’s a weird set up for sure. Also pure insanity
Pretty sure that’s a photoshop, so I’m assuming there aren’t any actual photos of the dual rider setup? The photos of the bike show multiple seat configurations, with the last one seemingly built for two.
Ah. I agree. Helps if I actually look at things. Yeah that’s weird, I would think they would publish pics and video with the record attempt.
The wrinkles in the identical riding leathers and boots match up, so I say photoshop.
On the other hand after seeing what he can do building engines with a hacksaw who knows. I mean, he makes building a V12 Kawasaki look so easy!
It’s real, it was on ITV “The Motorbike Show” earlier in the month, you can watch it on line if you are in the UK and likely also if you have a VPN that ends up there.
I hate riding pillion, I avoid it when I can and also feel pretty wind blown on a naked bike above about 120 mph.
I think the not liking riding on the back of a bike, for me is not so much a lack of trust, it comes down to a lack of control.