This is one of those motorcycles that’s going to make it onto websites that don’t normally feature motorcycles. It’s exotic and terrifyingly quick, and it’ll cost as much as the GDP of a small African nation. It’s called the ‘Millona 16’ and it’s the latest road missile from NCR—the wraps came off just a few hours ago at the Misano racetrack, at the World Ducati Week event. NCR takes a $72,500 Desmosedici D16RR straight off the factory floor, transports it round the corner to its neighboring Bologna factory, and makes it lighter and more powerful. And a lot faster. It’s easy to see where the money goes: carbon fiber is everywhere on the M16, and that includes load-bearing parts such as the frame, swingarm and wheels. The fuel tank, fairing, tail and fenders are carbon too. Mechanical parts are either titanium, right down to the bolts, or ‘avionic grade’ aluminum. A stock 989cc V-four Ducati motor sends around 175 horsepower to the back wheel, but NCR has tuned the M16 to send “200+ hp” to the tarmac. Current-generation MotoGP suspension helps get that power down, and the M16 also uses race-style electronics with traction control, data recording and user-selectable maps. Without gas, weight is a claimed 319 lbs (145 kg), which is 15% lighter than the stock D16RR. (That’s even lighter than the regulation 330 lb minimum of a four-cylinder MotoGP bike.) The only unanswered question is the price—but for the collectors and enthusiasts who will buy the M16, that won’t matter. They’ll be able to say they own ‘the most exclusive motorcycle in the world‘.
Canon EOS 5D | 1/8 sec | f/13 | ISO 125 | Focal length 170mm
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