10 Awesome Modern V-Twin Motorcycles

October

2023

10 Awesome Modern V-Twin Motorcycles

The V-Twin engine still has an important role to play in motorcycling

Engines come and go in terms of popularity. At one point, the V-Twin looked like it might give the inline four cylinder a good run for its money but it just hasn’t worked out like that. Today, the parallel twin is gaining traction for two very good reasons: firstly, they are cheaper to manufacture because they need fewer parts than a V-Twin and, second, they are more compact and easier to package, while still giving V-Twin power and torque characteristics. But that doesn’t mean the V-Twin is dead: far from it. If Ducati has moved to a V4 for its range-topping models, then the V-Twin still powers the majority of the range. It’s the same for KTM and, of course, there is still Harley-Davidson and Indian and several Japanese pretenders to the American cruiser throne, all with V-Twin engines. The V-Twin has a lot of life left in it yet.

10 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo

The naked bike by which all others are measured: if anything, this is the naked version of a faired sports bike that every other manufacturer wishes they could build, at once aggressive and capable: it’s no wonder even KTM refer to it as ‘The Beast’. 180 horsepower is more than enough and requires a huge electronics suite to contain it but, even then, those same electronics fail to dull the sharp edge that is available if you have the skill to access it. While early versions’ torque delivery tried to tie the chassis in knots, KTM dialed back the aggression a little and refined the chassis to the point where it is easier than ever to find yourself going very fast, very quickly but in relative safety!

Specs

Engine	1,301cc V-Twin
Power	180 Horsepower
Torque	103 pound feet
Weight	396 pounds

9 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S and R

KTM isn’t so successful in off-road MX and enduro racing for nothing and the same attributes that make those models so successful have been successfully translated into a much heavier and more powerful adventure bike that has to perform equally well on road as well as off. You have to say it has worked and no other manufacturer of adventure bikes has forced BMW to sit up and take notice quite as much as KTM. Clever packaging of the fuel tanks has kept the weight low down, and they are still large and heavy bikes that need a confident hand to get the best out of them but, if you have the skills, they are fantastically rewarding bikes to ride.

Specs

Engine	1,301cc V-Twin
Power	160 Horsepower
Torque	101 pound feet
Weight	487 pounds

8 Harley-Davidson Pan America

If the Indian FTR1200 was a curveball, then what does that make the Harley-Davidson Pan America? It’s not only that no-one expected it, but also that it was so good right out of the box: if not able to challenge the domination of KTM and BMW, then at least offering a genuinely viable alternative. Harley even introduced suspension-lowering technology to a class that was in desperate need of it and which all other manufacturers are scrambling to replicate. The new liquid-cooled Revolution Max engine, producing 150 horsepower, was just as impressive and surely gives an indication of the future thinking of this tradition-bound manufacturer.

Specs

Engine	1,252cc V-Twin
Power	150 Horsepower
Torque	94 pound feet
Weight	559 pounds

7 Indian FTR 1200

Indian really threw a curveball for American motorcycles when it launched the flat-track-inspired FTR1200 back in 2019. When was the last time a mainstream American manufacturer launched anything other than a large, under-engineered cruiser? The FTR1200 is a naked sports bike in the best European tradition and take a while and not a little skill to get to grips with but, when you do, it is full of character and ability in equal measure. It looks great and has obviously been built with a lot of care: it’s comfortable, well-equipped and big enough for tall riders to fit onto without feeling cramped. It has the ability to be mild and user-friendly but will also turn round and bite you if you are disrespectful of its abilities. A great antidote to antiseptic and easy-to-ride Japanese nakeds.

Specs

Engine	1,203cc V-Twin
Power	120 Horsepower
Torque	87 pound feet
Weight	514 pounds

6 Indian Challenger Elite

Indians from 2011-onwards have made good use of air-cooled V-Twin engines, which have proved to be reliable, smooth-running and full of character. Perhaps with an eye to the future, however, the Challenger has its own liquid-cooled V-Twin, which manages to have just as much character as well as being impressively powerful and equally smooth. For high-mileage, feet-forward cruising, it’s beautifully composed for a bike that weighs over 800 pounds: its natural habitat is the highway, but it will surprise through both tight and fast, flowing corners, the chassis being very well set up and equipped. As with all large cruisers, it’s a little daunting when being maneuvered and at walking pace but get it on the move, and it proves itself to be one of the best touring cruisers around.

Specs

Engine	1,768cc V-Twin
Power	122 Horsepower
Torque	128 pound feet
Weight	839 pounds

5 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

The legend continues to exert a strong hold on the imaginations of motorcyclists, whether they would ever entertain the idea of riding one, or not. It’s a brilliantly executed lesson in excess: a low-slung hot rod of a motorcycle with huge dollops of distinctive style. Harley has tastefully updated the original concept without losing an ounce of what made the original so special. The 114 cubic inch, Milwaukee Eight engine might have ‘only’ 86 horsepower, but it is torque that is needed in this application and torque there is in spades, making it effortless to ride, although corners are not necessarily its best friends. Harley has worked hard to reduce weight and improve the dynamics of the chassis but the best thing to do on a Fat Boy is roll off the throttle a little and simply enjoy the ride.

Specs

Engine	1,868cc V-Twin
Power	N/A Horsepower
Torque	119 pound feet
Weight	699 pounds (dry)

4 Ducati Monster SP

And still the Monster does wonders for Ducati, some thirty years after it was introduced and set the manufacturer on the path it is still riding today. The latest Monster has ditched the traditional trellis frame for a cast aluminum affair, but the essential DNA of the model remains: a strong Ducati heritage that is easy to ride and not a sports bike. The Monster continues to appeal to urban, style-conscious buyers who want a bike that can make an individualistic statement - as they might do with a cruiser-style model that could be endlessly customized, but do so with a motorcycle that is still unmistakably Italian and a Ducati.

Specs

Engine	937cc V-Twin
Power	111 Horsepower
Torque	69 pound feet
Weight	410 pounds

3 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager

Full American-style cruiser from Japan, missing only the rough edges of Harley-Davidsons and replacing them with typical Japanese quality and creature comforts at the expense of a bit of personality. Stump-pulling torque (108 foot pounds) from just above tick over (2,750rpm) makes life on the open road easy, although with 895 pounds of weight to lug around and only 82 horsepower, performance isn’t what you might call lively, and you’ll need to gear down to overtake when traveling at highway speeds. Nor is it exactly built for cornering but, m then again, you can say that about many big touring cruisers. But it’s beautifully put together and very well-equipped, even if it does sometimes feel a little under-engineered in the suspension and braking departments.

Specs

Engine	1,700cc V-Twin
Power	82 Horsepower
Torque	107 pound feet
Weight	895 pounds

2 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro

Ducati does it again! The Scrambler was a massive hit when it was launched in 2015, propelling Ducati into top ten sales lists for the first time in its history. The first models had an air-cooled, 800cc V-Twin engine that matched the easy-going nature of the model, but there were always calls for more power and that duly arrived with the 1100cc models. To handle the extra power (85 horsepower and 65 foot pounds of torque), the chassis was upgraded and the Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro model gets Öhlins fully adjustable suspension, turning it into a bike that simply loves corners but is supple and compliant over rough road surfaces. As a ‘retro’ alternative to the Monster, the Scrambler is hard to fault.

Specs

Engine	1,079cc V-Twin
Power	84.5 horsepower
Torque	65 pound feet
Weight	454 pounds

1 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 DE

A bit of a dark horse in the adventure class, the Suzuki V-Strom 1050 DE is actually an excellent choice in which Suzuki has avoided over-complicating the concept or trying too hard to re-invent the wheel. It always feels solid and competent, forcing the rider to rely on his or her own talent rather than masking every little mistake with smothering electronics, and it’s all the better for it. The V-Twin engine puts out a perfectly adequate 107 horsepower and 74 foot pounds of torque and, if it’s anything like previous Suzuki engines, it should go forever with regular maintenance. If it’s not as flashy as alternatives from BMW and KTM, then it will appeal to those who appreciate rugged simplicity, while comfort and chassis behavior are up there with the very best.