Cars outnumber their two-wheeled counterparts by almost a factor of ten at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love them. So, as we get into the weekend, we’re shining the spotlight on the underdogs, the two-wheeled warriors fighting to be seen among a crowd of cars.
Whether you’re into customs, classics, off-road or sportsbikes, we’ve chosen the best bikes to see on site.
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Bobbers are usually characterised by their laidback, easy approach to life. But when you add a supercharger andnitrous injection, things are bound to get a little fruity.
And the World’s Fastest Bobber is exactly that. Built by Jody Millhouse of Thornton Hundred Motorcycles, it features a Rotrex C15 Supercharger, dry NOS injection and a host of upgraded internals within the 1,200cc parallel twin. As a result, it makes a huge 205PS (151kW) at the rear wheel. The top speed is undisclosed but it’s certainly making light work of the Hill.
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Can you remember the last road-going two-stroke? Me neither, but Christofer Ratcliffe is determined to bring them back and he’s made a remarkable case with the all-new Langen.
Featuring an Italian-built Vins two-stroke, 90-degree V-twin, an exposed trellis frame with lightweight materials throughout, the Langen is a thing of absolute beauty. When it’s not tearing up the Hill in the hands of Jenny Tinmouth, you can find it in exhibitor stand 307.
Just 100 of these bikes will be built, each costing from £28,000. And even if you have no intentions to buy one, it’s well worth the visit – if only to hear that glorious two-stroke rev.
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Sam Sunderland needs no introduction. The first Briton to ever win the Dakar Rally when he took the title back in 2017, the 32-year-old is a bonafide off-road legend. While he’s more commonly seen roughing it off-piste, Sunderland will be gracing the 1.16 miles of smooth tarmac over the weekend aboard his 2021 450 Factory Rally bike, with which he took a third place in this year’s rally. Find him in Batch: 3 Class: 12 Racing Motorcycles, or on the Red Bull stand over the weekend.
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It’s not quite at the same level as the above, but Harley-Davidson’ Pan America can still rock a pair of knobblies… The all-American manufacturer’s debut adventure bike has already gone down a storm since launch last month, and has received favourable feedback both on and off-road. Powered by a heaving 1,252cc V-twin, the Pan America will be chewing up the tarmac in Batch 6: Class 32, Road Bikes. Off the Hill, it’s located in the Bikes section of the Supercar paddock.
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The first M bike, the M1000RR is an evolution of BMW Motorrad’s incredibly popular S1000RR, with a host of upgraded engine internals and superbike derived-spec. Take the wings for example, the Nissin brakes and the host of M badges – it’s an S1000RR on steroids.
Find it in the Road Bike batch, and in the Supercar paddock when it’s not flying up the Hill.
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Triumph took the racing world by storm when it launched the Daytona Moto2 bike for the 2019 season. And last year the Hinkley manufacturer treated us mere mortals to the Daytona Moto2 765 Limited Edition, which brings that racing thrill to the road. Powered by a potent, 128PS (94kW) 765cc powertrain, it has been singing its distinctive inline-triple tune up the Hill this weekend. Visitors to the Festival can get up close and personal with it in the Superbike paddock.
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If money was no object, this would be at the top of many a motorcyclists wishlist. Powered by a 150PS (110kW) 798cc triple, and weighing just 173kg, the Superveloce is a god among bikes. It features a chassis architecture, engine and braking system derived from the F3 800, with incredibly lightweight, classic-inspired bodywork. It’s nothing short of beautiful, and well worth a watch as it flies up the Hill in the Road Bike batch.
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This may be more cycle than moto, but the Norton 6hp is a not-to-be-missed machine for classic TT fans. The first ever TT multi-cylinder class winner, with an average speed of just 36.22mph and a maximum speed of 42.91mph, this bike pre-dates even the Mountain Course itself. At more than 114-years-old, it’s one of the oldest vehicles at the event, and, thanks to the National Motorcycle Museum, who painstakingly care for it, is leading the Batch 3 Isle of Man TT celebration up the Hill every day.
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The subject of an extensive restoration ever since it was rescued from boxes in the attic of the now-owners friend, this is one of the most successful bikes of Barry Sheene’s career and his 500cc world championship-winning machine. Aboard it, in 1976 and ’77 he won 26 races, four track records, beat Agostini, and even pushed it to victory in the larger capacity Formula 750 races.
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