Superbike

Boutique motorcycle builder Vyrus has always loved its hub-steered super-naked motorcycles, and its latest 202-horsepower Ducati-powered beast is probably its most aesthetically challenging to date. Meet the Alyen 988, fresh out of Rimini, Italy.

One horsepower per kilogram: it's the kind of power-to-weight ratio you only see in the world's most exclusive multi-million dollar hypercars. But at 231 hp and 152 kg, the Ducati Superleggera V4 absolutely obliterates that figure, making 1.54 hp/kg.

French company Efesto has built a kit that can take your 205-odd horsepower Ducati Panigale, and turn it into a 300-horse hybrid widowmaker, with a 40-minute all-electric commuting range. Unfortunately, it looks like a Hyosung with a tumor.

This ultra-exclusive track special features a stratospheric power-to-weight ratio and a weird "no neutral" gearbox derived from MotoGP.

Twenty-five years ago, Ducati began building what would become its most iconic piece of high-octane art: the 916. To celebrate, the company has now brought forth 500 special edition Panigale V4 superbikes, tarted up to look like Tamburini's famous design and festooned with farkles.

Yamaha has given its flagship YZF-R1 superbike a significant update for 2020, with an ever so slightly new look, a new Euro V-compliant and more efficient engine, and some updates to the electronics and chassis. Naturally, there's also an extra-fancy R1M with all the carbon and Ohlins you can eat.

It's been a while since we last checked in with Aprilia's flagship RSV4 superbike, but a fresh version has just dropped that takes this absolute weapon of a thing to new heights: 1100cc, 217 horsepower and a top speed around 305 km/h (190 mph).

Decked out in full carbon, and with a list of upgrades a mile long, the 2019 Yamaha YZF-R1 GYTR "20th Anniversary" will be assembled by the Yamaha Racing Team crew for the 20 riders lucky enough to get their hands on one.

Dropping 24 lb (11 kg) from the S1000RR is a pretty herculean achievement for BMW. They've also ditched the RR's pop-eyed asymmetry, jacked up the power and torque, and added the option of M-series upgrades in a complete overhaul of the bike.

Ducati has just debuted the most extreme petrol-powered supersport bike in history. The new king of the Panigale range is a World Superbike homologation special with a set of specifications that should strike fear into the heart of any mortal. Oh, and it's got wings, too.

Another day, another special edition MV F4? Not this time. This is it. The ultimate MV Agusta superbike in both senses of the word. Named for MV's late President, a giant of the moto-world, the F4 Claudio marks the final chapter for a gorgeous bike that has entranced riders for more than 20 years.

Scheduled for full production by 2023, the MondialMoto V5R and V5S will emulate Honda's storied RC211V, which dominated MotoGP in the early noughties. It'll be the streetbike every Valentino Rossi fan was gagging for just before he left to join Yamaha.