Simon Whitelock built an extraordinary 48-cylinder Kawasaki motorcycle nicknamed “Tinker Toy” between 1998 and 2003. Key points:
Built using six banks of eight cylinders each, using Kawasaki KH250 parts
Features:
4.2-liter engine
Weighs over 1,300 pounds (600 kg)
Has a 49th “donkey engine” cylinder for starting
BMW K100 gearbox
Honda Goldwing front end
Each bank has its own ignition and Mikuni carburetor
24-into-1 exhaust on each side
The bike was built to end an escalating “cylinder arms race” in the UK custom motorcycle scene and holds a Guinness World Record. While capable of 120-130 mph, it was built more for the record than for performance.
The motorcycle was sold at Bonhams auction in April 2024 for £92,000 (approximately US$120,000), despite Whitelock previously valuing it at half a million pounds in 2018.
The bike is road-legal in England, though its most recent start attempt was unsuccessful due to potentially clogged carburetor jets.
Source: New Atlas
