The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

PGMV8 is Your Basic 2 Liter V8 Superbike from Australia

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PGMV8 motorcycle from Australia
PGMV8 motorcycle from Australian builder Paul G. Maloney

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.

PGMV8, 334 horsepower and 157 pound feet of riding exhilaration
PGMV8, 334 horsepower and 157 pound feet of riding exhilaration

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.

PGMV8 looks compact
PGMV8 looks compact and powerful

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.

Looks good coming and going
Looks good coming and going

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!

Link: Maltec Performance Engineering

Comments

    • 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 ?

      • 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.

  2. 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.

    • 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 …

      • 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.

        • 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.

  3. 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.

  4. “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!

  5. 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 )

  7. My only issue with this bike is that the torque isn’t fully utilized until its in the 11th gear.

  8. 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.

  9. Not a fan of making negative comments but this is an undeniably hideous looking machine.

  10. 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!

    • 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. 🙂

  11. 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.

  12. 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?

    • 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).