6 legendary V4 bikes

1. Yamaha VMAX
The legend of Yamaha's power cruiser began way back in 1985 when the first-ever 1198cc V4-powered V-Max was revealed. Built for straight-line speed and shoulder-dislocating grunt, the V-Max gathered a cult following during its 1200cc iteration which ran through to 2007. Making the most of its large fanbase, Yamaha teased an all-new model at the 2005 Tokyo Show and spent the next three years drip feeding information and images of what the new bike might look like. A 1700cc version appeared for 2009, pumping out a then-whopping 200hp, the bike (with a name change from V-Max to VMAX) was arguably before its time. Because, sadly, the current-generation VMAX looks like it might well be the last. The VMAX section of Yamaha's Japanese website states, "Although the VMAX has been popular since the start of sales in 2009, we will close production in August 2017."

Click here to see examples of the Yamaha VMAX for sale on Bikesales.

2. Honda RC30
Honda's homologation special V4 had one job: win races. It was produced between 1987 and 1990, in a time when the World Superbike Championship was finding its feet and wins on Sunday translated to sales on Monday. Like homologation specials today, albeit without the imposed RRP ceilings the series calls for today, the Japanese firm gave little regard for a budget around producing the 750cc V4. To plan, American Fred Merkel claimed both the 1988 and 1989 World Superbike Championships on board the tricolour RC30 racebike. It was the bike that could lay claim to the first 120mph lap of the Isle of Man TT course in 1989 and by 1990 two-thirds of the big-bike TT entries were RC30s, such was its dominance. There was only around 3000 examples ever produced and a clean, uncrashed example today pulls big bucks.

3. Aprilia RSV4 Tuono
The Aprilia V4 mantle probably should go to the Tuono's flagship stablemate, the RSV4 Superbike, but there's something about the characteristics of the firm's latest 1100cc engine thundering the upright nakedbike to the horizon that is nothing short of spectacular. The Italian firm switched from its signature 990cc 60-degree V-twin powerplant to a V4 configuration (albeit 999cc) for the 2011 model year and wowed many with its linear power delivery and GP-like sound. But if the 999 engine wowed, then the 1078cc 65-degree V4 engine was a showstopper. Whether in factory, APRC, RR or RF guises, the 173hp, 121Nm, sub-190kg nakedbike could turn also-ran riders into heroes. Don't believe me? Take one for a test ride this weekend.

Click here to see examples of Aprilia's Tuono V4 1100 RR for sale on Bikesales.

4. Suzuki RGV500
In terms of downright legend status, Suzuki's 500cc two-stroke grand prix finery probably falls behind its more successful Yamaha YZR and Honda NSR rivals. But in terms of legendary poster-bike lookers, it doesn't get much more legendary than the Pepsi or Lucky Strike livery of the late '80s and early 1990s. The first version of the V4 appeared in 1987 and, after a year of teething problems, the new liveried Pepsi Suzuki hit its straps in 1988. Kevin Schwantz won the curtain-raising Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka and backed it up with another win in Germany. Still in Pepsi Suzuki colours the following year, Schwantz would claim six victories to finish fourth, he'd finish runner-up in 1990 on the Lucky Strike Suzuki RGV500 and would finally loft the Championship trophy in 1993, after only finishing off the podiums on three of the 14 occasions.

5. Norton SS
Hailed as the most technologically advanced British motorcycle ever built, the newest of the Norton-branded line-up was launched late last year and signifies the modern era of one of motorcycling's oldest nameplates. While Norton employed Aprilia-branded V4 engines for its SG6 TT campaigner (which was the chassis testbed for the latest offerings), the 1200cc engine which appears in the up-spec SS model, as well as the base-model RR version, is the work of the Donington Park-based firm. "We designed our V4 as a 1200 on purpose, as I don't want anyone to race it in a streetbike series," Norton's CEO Stuart Garner revealed at the 2016 launch, before confirming the TT machine will race under Norton power from 2018 onwards, "either as a 1200 or a race-only 1000." The Norton-developed 1200cc engine pumps out over 200hp and 130Nm of torque from its 72-degree V4 configuration. The carbon fairing SS had an initial run limited to just 200 units, carried a price tag of £44,000 (A$75,000) and was sold out in the blink of an eye.

6. Honda NR750
NR, in Honda circles in the late 1970s, stood for New Racing. And new to racing in those days was oval-shaped pistons. So in 1992 Honda flexed its oh-so techno muscle and released the V4-powered NR750 roadbike complete with oval pistons. It wasn't so much the shape of the piston that lured Honda down the unconventional path, but what the elongated pistons allowed them to do. And that was achieving eight-valves per cylinder, because with a 32-valve fuel-injected engine, it could produce superior and unprecedented power from a very compact motor. The result, too, was an unprecedented price tag. With its carbon-fibre bodywork, exotic under-seat exhaust and single-sided swingarm, the NR750 was the most expensive production motorcycle in the world at US$50,000. And with only around 200 examples produced, it's probably one of the most expensive collector bikes these days, too. In 2013, Bonhams Auctions sold one for £57,500 (A$98,000). That's pretty good appreciation in 21 years.