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The power-mad motorcyclist shows just how easy it is to keep a 450hp-motorbike.

Sitting in a garage in rural Great Britain lives a rather special custom bike. Equipped with an 8.0-liter V10 from the Dodge Viper GTS. Allen Millyard the creator, obviously believes in there is no replacement for displacement. With 7.0 liters more displacement than most superbikes this motorcycle can move fast thanks its Dodge motor. Back in 2009 according to Motorcycle News the Millyard V10 can hit over 200mph. Owning the bike, Millyard has covered over 9,000 miles including Guernsey and the holy grail of motorcycle playgrounds the Isle of Man. Home to the TT race and without speed limits, the island makes the perfect place to test the limits of one's bike. Now the bike enthusiast and engineer takes his bike a small test ride.

The power-mad motorcyclist shows just how easy it is to keep a 450hp-motorbike.

According to Allen MIllyard due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Millyard Viper V10 Motorcycle has sat in his garage since 2021, moving only once. Sitting stationary for long periods of time rarely helps a vehicle. However this month the bike needed a new MOT. For those from outside Britain, an MOT is a certificate that deems a vehicle roadworthy. Vehicles from before 1960 don't need a certificate and nor do those vehicles less than 3 years old don't either. Once a car crosses this 3-year threshold every year it requires a new certificate. This checks everything from brakes, steering, and suspension. Parts can fail but also receive the label of an advisory. This is something for the driver to service over the coming year or so. Custom vehicles require this certificate just like everyone else. Millyard's V10 to meet this standard requires only the best build quality.

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Carrying considerably more weight than the usual bike, Millyard's bike has more room for general wear and tear. Before leaving for his MOT, he performs routine maintenance. The rear tire came down from his usual 48 psi to 34psi. His safety stand and rear footrests fold out with ease. The water, clutch booster, and fuel injection pumps work on start-up along with the bike's electrical systems. Millyard's bike has a clutch system that the rider can operate from either the handlebars or with their foot. Allen Millyard continues to check over his engine. Finding the spark plugs in great condition, his final checks include his lights and indicators, all of which a vehicle needs to be deemed roadworthy status.

Returning from the MOT center, the Viper-powered bike passed its tests. Although Millyard has a few more tests he wants to perform with the steering. With such a high power output some maintenance needs doing constantly. Effectively owning this bike is like owning a classic supercar. One particular area that needs special attention is the rear swing pivots just beneath the rider. Using a ratchet lever and the strength of his leg the motorcyclist puts his bike safely onto its center stand. This bike now waits for its next big adventure.

Living on the island of Guernsey to visit the mainland of Britain the motorcyclist has to travel on a ferry. Once onboard the loud exhaust note echos around the vehicle hold. Other motorcycles in the same section have their alarms triggered as the exhaust rumbles.

This test ride is our first time receiving a driver's point of view from the Millyard Viper V10 motorcycle. Surprisingly the Viper's large engine doesn't protrude that much. Mounted along the length of the bike, the cylinder heads point out at around 60 degrees from the motor.

We see the bike cruise around the countryside at 39 mph, a truly modest figure for the bike. On its last top speed run, the bike hit 189 mph before running out of runway. Most motorbikes have incredibly high red lines, often higher than 10,000rpm. The Dodge Viper has a red line of 6,500rpm. Completely out of character for a motorcycle comes the bike's V10 rumble. This bike on its own sounds like a group of V-twin Harley-Davidsons tearing up the back roads.

Most motorcycles feature engines that displace less than 1, they carry considerably less weight. Ducati's current fastest model, the Superleggera V4 pushes 234 hp from the 998cc four-cylinder motor. Weighing a little over 330 lbs this bike flies. In contrast, the Dodge Viper GTS's V10 produces a mighty 450 horsepower. But with 8 times the displacement and 6 more cylinders, this motor carries plenty of extra weight and seamingly holds the bike back a little bit. However, Ducati's Superleggera V4 tops out at 185 mph, 4 mph slower than the V10 powered motorcycle.

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Dodge produced a concept version of this bike called the Tomahawk quite a whiole ago. With a claimed top speed of 350 mph, this concept featured a heavy dose of chrome and four tires. Straddling the line between bike and quad bike it remains impressive. The Tomahawk also shows the potential for a large displacement bike, although its handling may leave plenty desired.

Douglas Hamilton is a British gearhead with a degree in Literature. He grew up surrounded by F1, Need For Speed, and classic cars. He has a worrying obsession with Jaguar.