It looks like the Aussies have built a beautiful new V8 motorcycle, the PGMV8. Builder Paul G Maloney, assembled his team, drawn from the shops of World Superbike, MotoGP, Formula One and various other design and racing environments and, starting in 2008, created this impressive 1996cc, 90 degree V8 engine and placed it in a package that, filled with fluids, comes in at 534 pounds. It certainly looks right and is one more example of how a V8 motorcycle should be done, quite a long way from the automotive transplants we’re more accustomed to seeing.
The DOHC 5 valve per cylinder V8 runs 13:1 compression, Mikuni throttle bodies feed the fuel and everything is controlled by a Motec M130 ECU and software. Sand cast aluminium crankcases contain the flat plane crank, machined out of a solid piece of En36 steel, heat treated and nitrited before final grinding and balancing. An Akrapovic titanium exhaust lets gasses escape in a free flowing system which sounds great, (see video below) but requires carbon fiber mufflers for legal road use.
The rest of the bike ticks all the boxes with a chrome-moly trellis frame in front with machined aluminum parts in the rear, Ohlins suspension, Marchesini wheels, Brembo brakes, a high end package all around.
There’s certainly some high end building going on in Australia these days and the entire PGMV8 team did a great job on this one. Nice work!
Thanks for the tip, Doug!
Wave says
Thanks for posting this, it once again makes me proud to be Aussie.
I found a video of the noise!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koPQnNZdco0
Paul Crowe says
Sounds like a dyno run. Added to the post above. Thanks!
Joe fassl says
Is the 5 valve head made by Yamaha? Had one of those on my 3.4 Chevrolet Lumina SS back in the day. Who makes the head ?
Avery Dehait says
The engine appears to be two whole Yamaha R1 cylinder and head sets fused at the crank, with some specially made crankcases. They came with 5 valve heads for a long time.
Joe fassl says
Don’t care for the streetfighter styling much
Slowtire says
That’s why they make chocolate and vanilla.
Ogre says
Ehhh… not for me I guess. I find the styling to be a mishmash, I hate the exhaust and the radiator is hideous. And I have no need whatever of a 334hp streetbike.
Paul Crowe says
The exhaust isn’t for your eyes to appreciate, it’s for your ears and and no one really needs a motorcycle at all, let alone a 334 horsepower V8, but once you get past those obvious points and start considering wants …
Ogre says
I’d disagree about needing a motorcycle – but that’s my issue (I’d give up my car if it was a choice between the two). As for wants? I’m pretty happy with my R1200R classic – given that I don’t do track days, it’s plenty fast enough, light for it’s displacement and power, stupidly comfortable and easily the best handling bike I’ve ever ridden (I *really* like the Telelever front end). For attention getting I’ve got an old R75/6, restored and set up as a cafe bike.
So, yes, individual opinion matters in all this, and I don’t, for me, see the appeal of this thing. I do hope he manages to sell a bunch of them, though – more manufacturers is always better.
Paul Crowe says
Under the best of circumstances, they won’t sell a bunch. I believe the price is somewhere north of stratospheric, but I do hope they sell some.
Yeti2bikes says
I’m a big fan of overkill so the 2 liter V8 speaks to me. I like the fact they kept it naked and in a somewhat comfortable riding position.
Bob North says
“No one really needs a motorcycle” !? Since when? My bike is my daily transport and I’ve never owned a car.
For me, this is too much, I ride a 360lb Single cylinder, which makes 38HP on a good day, BUT I really do love stories like this, the level of engineering and dedication is superb and the idea of bike with so much power and torque is incredible. Long may the specials builders continue!
FREEMAN says
Buell Blast?
camba says
Well, why ? Because it could be done ,of course the drysdale was coming in a more compact package but with a much less powerful figures (750 and 1000 cc)Let s take it to the dragstrip and Bonneville salts and see what happens. I ve always wondered what some exotic bikes could make there like the Bosshoss v 10, the Motoguzzi v8 from the 50 ‘s or the jetbike from Henk Vink (it made less than 5 second at the quarter mile )
Gavin Freeman says
Nice looking bike
Why is it called a V8 if its a 5 cylinder?
WillyP says
It’s eight cylinders. Perhaps you misread ‘five valves per cylinder’?
Paulinator says
My only issue with this bike is that the torque isn’t fully utilized until its in the 11th gear.
Jsx Rhapsody says
It’s nice what they’re doing with motorcycles nowadays, but unless racing, it’s nearly pointless, I’d rather work on gearing versus big engines and horsepower.
Meehawl says
Not a fan of making negative comments but this is an undeniably hideous looking machine.
82 Darkhorse says
I too love imagination and extreme feats of engineering. I’m a little bummed people have to decide what they would like or what they would do instead of just appreciating someone else’s amazing delivery of an idea they once had in their head and now lives on the street in a form that can be purchased. Until I have “machined out of a solid piece of En36 steel” a few times, I’m gonna hold off on criticism. Is it my style? No. Am I impressed? Totally, well done!
500AMM says
That was very well said, 82 Darkhorse! 🙂
We cannot put rational needs into this, and what is really the “basic needs” in life??
My needs is; fresh air – fresh water – fresh food, anything else during life is more or less choices based on individual preferences.
I have always been fascinated by any fuel driven rattletraps et all, so my deepest respect to peps able to create something like this bike – and anything else we see here on The Kneeslider for that sake. This is fun guys, nothing else than inspiring fun. 🙂
Lee Wilcox says
I’m with 82 Darkhorse here. Just because it isn’t your cup of tea doesn’t detract from the accomplishment. I wouldn’t buy one either but I am absolutely impressed with the skill and work it took to get to this point. Wish I knew enough to do this.
hulshuls says
Wonder how they solved the camshafts. Since the rear head is on backwards, they either have mirrorred camshafts made or have separate counterrotating chaindrives for each camshaft?
Greg says
Hey. Why should they do anything with the camshafts? I figure, if crankshaft is plain and they don’t have to do anything with camshafts. It’s just like two L4’s joined together in 90 degrees. Am I wrong? If so, point me where. Also, It’s a brilliant thing, since V8’s are awesome. Why? Becouse. 🙂 (I would do a cross-plane crankshaft personally, just for the sound – couse it’s awesome).
Greg says
Aaah. Ok. Sorry. Now I see what You meant. Maybe you are right.