An experience eerier than pushing a handcrafted, V10-driven motorbike to nearly 200 mph? Sitting at the rear as a rider. Allen Millyard and Henry Cole just achieved both, sequentially, as they recently shattered the UK Timing Association (UK&ITA) record for two-up (rider and passenger) speed, clocking in at 183.5 mph.
The bike utilized was a creation of Millyard from 14 years back, housing an expansive 8.0-liter V10 powerhouse sourced from a Dodge Viper. Generating 500 horsepower, the bike carries an approximate weight of 1,322 pounds (600 kilograms), making achieving the top speed record quite a challenge for Millyard.
“I’ve got that to manage and then I’ve got someone on the back. It’s like having a topbox on the rear of your bike, filled with cement,” he conveyed to Motorcycle News.
Back in 2009, Millyard crafted the Viper bike after observing Dodge’s endeavor with a Viper-powered motorbike, the Tomahawk. However, while Dodge’s version leaned more towards a whimsical concept rather than a practical roadworthy bike, Millyard’s creation is the genuine article, as proven time and time again. Apart from the recent speed record achievement with a passenger (!), Millyard previously hit 207 mph on it.
It took 1.25 miles for the duo to blaze past their record-breaking maximum velocity. Additionally, they notched another milestone by clocking 178.6 mph in a standing mile, marking the fastest two-up standing mile achievement. More impressively, in their bid to attain these figures, the pair hustled through 29 miles on the Yorkshire runway, evidencing not just speed but also reliability.
If tasked with riding pillion on any bike traversing at 180-plus mph, my response would unequivocally be a resounding negative. However, Henry Cole, the motorcycle TV presenter, exhibited audacity where many might hesitate. This bike ascends as one of the planet’s most striking custom creations, now validated by etching its mark in the annals of records.
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