When a Car Manufacturer tries to make a Motorcycle 

"They think it'll go like 380, but they can't find anybody willing to test the top speed." - Every self-proclaimed car guy at my high school ca. 2004

How to drain a fuel tank in the shortest possible time. Dodge: we can do it

"Dodgy math?" Chrys help me.

This (and of course the Viper that donated an engine) was the reward for Chrysler completing all their assignments and turning in their homework early with the K-cars. The government gave them an extra study hall. This is what they did with their time

Mitsubishi would definitely make a motorcycle that starts burning a quart of oil per day when it's 3 years old.

I think it's pretty silly for journalists to criticize the tomahawk for being unrideable and impractical when making it largely functional in the first place already makes it more usable than a good chunk of concept vehicles. It's a V10 motorcycle showpiece, A "ridable automotive sculpture" and its just that, lol.

Dodge Tomahawk: The most expensive holder for your Viper engine.

The massive "Amazonas 1600" motorcycle was powered by the Volkswagen Beetle engine.

Kinda get the vibe that some people didn't watch the whole video, like from start to finish, before making comments..

And then Allen Millyard said: hold my beer. And built one in his garage and actually rides it.

I can't believe that I forgot about this wonderful piece of engineering. Dodge still builds factory "Hotrods" today😊 The Tomahawk got my motorcycle friends talking back in the day. After that, two guys bought Dodge Durangos for their growing families.

Allen Millyard in the UK did make a viper motor motorcycle. And went 207.4 mph. From his tiny garage and basic hand tools.

"Dodgy math" Peak comedy

this thing is so cool looking. I mean, its absurd, in every sense of the word, but that just kinda gives it charm.

"It's the same basic concept...this is just a lot cooler." -Bart, 2024

If other car manufacturers make bikes it would go like this: -$500k Ferarri sportbike, made in collaboration with Ducati. -$40k Jeep ADV thats overpriced as hell because 2 wheel wrangler. -Random unkillable toyota hybrid naked or "sport touring" bike that will have a low msrp but cost at least $10k more after dealer mark ups. -Ford F-050 2 wheeled cruiser with a truck bed. -$30k tesla cyber-bike thats sold as an add-on to be fit in the back of your cyber truck rather then be its own thing. -Random flat/boxer 4 subaru that just litterally uses one of their smaller car engines. -Oil burning kia/hyundai compleate with engine fires, but dont worry, it has a 10 year warentee they will try as hard as they can to not honor.

Toyota, Nissan, or Mazda. All of them have inline six motors they could build a bike around longitudinally with a shaft drive. Making a perfectly balanced bike that could roast any other, at least in a straight line. Besides that, Volvo making the 'safest' motorcycle would be a sight. Ford could build a trike with a truck bed and probably sell a few. Subaru could definitely make an adventure bike and sell some. Really though I kinda find it hard to believe that Tesla isn't already selling a bike, just wrap a frame around a power wall and a beefy hub motor and money.

I received a press release package from Dodge including a CD of images from the show and a Huge two sided poster of the bike. It still hangs framed on my wall today. What a machine!

Holy overblown design Batman! Looks like something from Hollywood.

I remember a friend telling me about this... as soon as I heard "Viper engine in a motorcycle" I laughed until I cried. I had forgotten about it for years and never saw it in use... so, thanks for this.

Aston Martin have, in recent years, produced a limited number of motorbikes in conjunction with the modern iteration of Brough Superior

This cycle is an astounding example of engineering that like the exotic collector guitars, beautiful rare materials and over-the-top accountrements but not really suitable for it's ostensible purpose. I own a real nice guitar that I don't play so it stays real nice. I'm nuts.

Let me know if some day you want to sit down and hear how it happened, see studio images used in the design process, see photos of the fabrication process, hear how the last part had to be designed such that it could be made without being sent out for CNC milling because we had used up the entire shoestring budget and no more money was incoming, learn why you never see the rear wheels scissoring independently (they do this when leaning but the suspension was intentionally blocked by inserting a steel pipe through the hollow rear axle. This was done out of fear that a rider might not be able to keep it upright if suspension were allowed to articulate freely... For anyone who rode bikes regularly, this made the thing extremely difficult to ride; it could not be counter-steered like a bike until you got the thing up on one rear wheel; otherwise it had to be steered like a trike which is extremely hard to do if you're used to riding motorcycles), learn about the "testing program" (in quotes because there was no time to test at all; Kirt just got on and rode it; he was first, then Bud, his 70-something year old dad got on! Bud Bennett can be seen riding it in a few videos. I rode it up to maybe 40 mph for one video along side a test track... All I had to do was go in a straight line but I almost went onto the grass due to my brain not wanting to steer like a trike. And I would have gone onto the grass had I not yanked it up onto one rear wheel so I could steer normally), etc. I don't know if my name will be visible once this is posted; I'm the design guy, Mark Walters. I also did 100% of the CAD modeling, including the insides of the transmission + some other odd jobs, like trying to make sure RM got paid on time and keeping their shop cat company after hours. It's good that you credited RM's Kirt Bennett; this almost never happens. Without his talents, there ain't no way this project would have been possible. I've never worked with a more able engineer (as far as I know, he had no formal training and is entirely self-taught). He pulled it off on a shoestring budget and in an unbelievably short window of time. Keeping pace necessitated that I pack up and move in full time with the RM crew in Wixom. CAD data was handed, hot off my computer, directly to Future Tool for milling while I got going on the next part. Kirt drew up the 2-speed transmission on a note pad using a ballpoint pen and handed it to me with catalog full of bearings, telling me which to use and to allow 50 thou interference for every inch of outside diameter. Amazingly, Chrysler agreed to this arrangement; i.e. letting me off the hook for 5 months; they'd check in every now and then but mostly they just let us get on with it. I can't imagine another automaker doing that. Hands down, best place I ever worked. RM also demonstrated real trust by allowing me to work alone through the night; they gave me the keys to the front door and told me not to forget to lock it when done. The building housed a really fantastic multi-million dollar inventory of vintage race cars; we're talkin' seriously cool stuff... Porsche and Nissan GTP stuff; El-Ow-El-Ay T-70s and the like. I could compare how different manufacturers handled the same parts; suspension or brake mounting or whatever. Some of this found its way onto the bike. Freeman Thomas: Freeman's role in this project needs explanation and elaboration. He was a MAJOR part of it and a catalyst for some very interesting, midnight-oil-burning times at Chrysler. Oh yes, there are stories.

I remember in high school someone said, "I heard a guy was test driving this bike and it tore him apart because it was too fast." Part of me believed it... the stupid part, I guess.

Allen millyard saw a engine in half with a hand saw and it was straight, just shows how great he is.

I vividly remember being 5 years old and getting lifted onto this crazy motorcycle with 4 skinny wheels at the Detroit auto show and it’s amazing to learn the story behind this crazy memory I have! Thanks for the video

It definitely isn’t doing 300, but you went a bit far in your criticism. To say it would fall apart at 100 is laughable, it’s clearly capable of hitting speeds of 150mph safely. Above 160 would be tough, but only due to lack of a fairing. With a fairing it’s obviously capable of very high speed. I don’t know where this idea of it falling apart is coming from. It looks very solid, well built, stable and has 4 tires. It’s overbuilt if anything..

I remember back then, the hubbub about the Viper, was that it was a truck engine in a car. That, and they made a television series around it. The idea of a truck engine then being used on a motorbike was amazing for conversation, and even the purists were looking at it with a certain level of respect for something that was so insane that they wish they thought of it first.

6:27 That blazer with those shorts are a wild combo.

My dad was a big viper guy when I was a little kid, so I got to see the tomahawk in person at a show.

The Plymouth Prowler was very daring too.

I have the hot wheels of this cycle, it's a lil' banged up from childhood...but it still looks good on the shelf.

One of my favorite motorcycle stories. Really wish they had kept making one every few years just to see what they could do

I actually know someone who rode one of the prototypes. He said it was terrifying on every level.

Brilliant! I was fascinated by this "bike" when it first surfaced. I had completely forgotten about it. Cannot wait to watch this!!

I was just watching your backlog this morning! Great time for a new video

I remember seeing this at the car show as a kid. That was a moment I will never forget.

I was in love with this design from the day it came out. I'd be interested to try and ride one but I couldn't imagine owning it personally. Dodge has done some super cool stuff and this is in the top ten for sure.

I remember having a hot wheels of this. When I was a kid I thought it was one of the original designs but when I found out it wasn't, I thought it was the coolest motorcycle.

I'm really glad to know that the thing you get at the end of Roblox obstacle courses is actually a real vehicle

i love he tomahawk ever since i was a kid and got a hotwheels of one

As a fabricator in the auto industry I can't help but admire the teams brought these to life with only a corporate executives vague instruction on what they wanted.

Münch Mammut did this better in the 60s, 70s and 90s. Effectively the first liter bike, it went to 2l, then supercharged. The Mammut (Mammoth) 2000 was a Cosworth 2l, turbocharged, 265hp beast. Jay Leno owns an original and has a Jay's Garage episode about it.

I was waiting to pay for my meal at a Denny's in Santa Rosa California, noticed some sketches of this wild motorcycle thing with 4 tires, and a freaking viper engine in it, and the guy who was sitting there, I guess he was coming back from the restroom, noticed me looking at his sketches, so he started telling me about it. Dude was either way too excited, which does seem reasonable, or had "help" with his excitement. He was literally screaming, trying to mimic the exhaust sound to me so I had assumed he had "help" and wrote him off as a crazy guy with some cool sketches. Six months, maybe a year later, I see this thing on tv, there was no mistaking it, dude wasn't crazy, well YES the hell he was, he had told me nobody was willing to hang on to find the top speed, but he claimed to take it over 200mph. Some crazy people are definitely crazy, but you never know, they might be telling you the truth.

Looks like something the terminator or robocop would ride lol.

One of these live in my area and is often sighted on sunny days. The most impressive thing to me is the sound; you can hear the actual engine working in addition to the exhaust. truly an amazing vehicle

I was like 10 when this thing was unveiled and it completely captivated me. That era of concepts was completely nuts, really inspired me to get more into engineering and car design

Drag does not increase exponentially with speed. It increases quadratically with speed. A quadratic relationship is much more slowly increasing than an exponential one.

This is an interesting idea. Put a slightly smaller block in it, extend the front, made the front wheel an automotive tire and use a wide, bigbore tire in back, and you've got something like a Trackmule from Gears 4 or Cloud's bike from FFVII.

Very interesting; good job on this video. However, I wish I knew that you were going to make it! Let me know if some day you want to sit down and hear how it happened, see studio images used in the design process, see photos of the fabrication process, hear how the last part had to be designed such that it could be made without being sent out for CNC milling because we had used up the entire shoestring budget and no more money was incoming, learn why you never see the rear wheels scissoring independently (they do this when leaning but the suspension was intentionally blocked by inserting a steel pipe through the hollow rear axle. This was done out of fear that a rider might not be able to keep it upright if suspension were allowed to articulate freely... For anyone who rode bikes regularly, this made the thing extremely difficult to ride; it could not be counter-steered like a bike until you got the thing up on one rear wheel; otherwise it had to be steered like a trike which is extremely hard to do if you're used to riding motorcycles), learn about the "testing program" (in quotes because there was no time to test at all; Kirt just got on and rode it; he was first, then Bud, his 70-something year old dad got on! Bud Bennett can be seen riding it in a few videos. I rode it up to maybe 40 mph for one video along side a test track... All I had to do was go in a straight line but I almost went onto the grass due to my brain not wanting to steer like a trike. And I would have gone onto the grass had I not yanked it up onto one rear wheel so I could steer normally), etc. I don't know if my name will be visible once this is posted; I'm the design guy, Mark Walters. I also did 100% of the CAD modeling, including the insides of the transmission + some other odd jobs, like trying to make sure RM got paid on time and keeping their shop cat company after hours. It's good that you credited RM's Kirt Bennett; this almost never happens. Without his talents, there ain't no way this project would have been possible. I've never worked with a more able engineer (as far as I know, he had no formal training and is entirely self-taught). He pulled it off on a shoestring budget and in an unbelievably short window of time. Keeping pace necessitated that I pack up and move in full time with the RM crew in Wixom. CAD data was handed, hot off my computer, directly to Future Tool for milling while I got going on the next part. Kirt drew up the 2-speed transmission on a note pad using a ballpoint pen and handed it to me with catalog full of bearings, telling me which to use and to allow 50 thou interference for every inch of outside diameter. Amazingly, Chrysler agreed to this arrangement; i.e. letting me off the hook for 5 months; they'd check in every now and then but mostly they just let us get on with it. I can't imagine another automaker doing that. Hands down, best place I ever worked. RM also demonstrated real trust by allowing me to work alone through the night; they gave me the keys to the front door and told me not to forget to lock it when done. The building housed a really fantastic multi-million dollar inventory of vintage race cars; we're talkin' seriously cool stuff... Porsche and Nissan GTP stuff; El-Ow-El-Ay T-70s and the like. I could compare how different manufacturers handled the same parts; suspension or brake mounting or whatever. Some of this found its way onto the bike. Freeman Thomas: Freeman's role in this project needs explanation and elaboration. He was a MAJOR part of it and a catalyst for some very interesting, midnight-oil-burning times at Chrysler. Add to this the cast of designers that somehow ended up in his advanced studio all at one time and yes, there are stories.

I was a young dude when the Tomahawk came out. I remember that to me the marketing, commercials and posters kinda said this wasn't so much a motorcycle rather a crazy PR stunt were they took their super hyped engine the Viper V10 and putting it in something stupid to sell posters, models and get feet into their showrooms.

At 13:28 Drag increases with the square of the speed. The drag is the kinetic energy of the air passing by. E = 1/2 * m * v2 It is calculated from the frontal area and the drag coefficient that is lower for a more streamlined design. With a motorcycle, you also have to account for the shape of the rider. The rider contributes to the frontal area and drag coefficient. The difference between 300 mph and 400 mpg = 9:16. You need nearly twice the power.

As a person who grew up in Detroit at that time, and saw the Tomahawk with my own eyes at NAIAS, Im glad this video exists. Dodge is the house of horsepower, always has been. I daily'd a Hellcat Charger for five years, which in itself is an insane idea. A 4K lb, 700hp supercharged V8, RWD American Sedan.

Man what a time... I remember around those years when I was working myself, just as a silly teen making doodles, about the concept of a Shelby Motorcycle, with friends teasing me about it cause they believed it was dumb... and then this thing was announced... I was mind blowed...

If Jeep made a motorcycle that was anything like their car I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. I'd be to worried about it catching fire while I was riding it.

I remember seeing this at the auto show when i was a kid and just being blown away at the look of the thing, of course as a kid i didnt really understand practicality and stuff like that but i remember thinking it just looked really cool

Honestly in from europe i dont see alot of dodges let alone a tomahawk, but i have to admit reading this in the magazine was so intresting. I think they made a good choice by making the tomahawk it was a great showcase of how skilled they were to attempt and succeed in making a product like this .

At that time they weren’t available but a short time later they could have used a set of 305 wide cycle tires

Great moderating! Great video as always. I saw one at a Show in Toronto.

It makes me so happy to see someone else still talking about this wild concept vehicle. I remember being so insanely hyped about it after the debut, and it's still quite an impressive design by my low standards. :D

I saw this at the auto show back in '03. I was amazed. Still am, honestly.

Thank you. I've watched a few of your videos recently, and it's really interesting. Great work Is there a place where your sources are available? I'd like to dive deeper sometimes and knowing your sources would allow that

I remember seeing this ride and I thought of The Road Dog, where the DIY motorbike housed a truck engine. Wonderful

When I was in the states, I worked on a racing stock car which all had Yamaha FJ1100 engines.

I used to love concept cars. You know what I really wanted? A Dodge Copperhead.

You know that thing came out in the 90s right you’re just now discovering it. I’m proud of you kid. The 90s were awesome.

Even the name, Dodge tomahawk, goes hard, enough said, I didnt knew this motorcycle existed until now, thsts what I thought but Ive seen that image before, I thought it was concept art, youve unlocked my memory, thank you, to find out it is REAL, it made my day

Notice you never see it go around non banked corners? "... for the most part, rides like a bike." Hub steering is a good start.

Allen Millard did a better bike with the Viper v10 engine reaching 207.1mph. he made it in his shed workshop..take that Chrysler!

Has 4 wheels that is the basis of a car. Bodywork has been optional over the yrs. The Hurt report of yrs ago showed that helmets, used on roadways increase deaths

Suzuki and Honda have done a really good job over the years...Honda is the premier offerings imo. Sure BMW is out there, but those are very expensive overall. Bugotti has a limited version out there Ind they also have a bicycle I think, off the chain expensive.

I read an article about the tomahawk and wanted it so bad back in '03, I think. I was very disappointed to never see it's production

How about the Münch Mammut 1200TTS? A hand-built, ultra expensive Motorcycle equipped with the engine from a car built by another Motorcycle manufacturer.

“What if the Tron light cycle had a Viper engine?” The result has the same place in reality.

What major car manufacturer would make a good motorcycle? I'm guessing Honda or Suzuki could give it a pretty good try 🤪

AFAIK, BMW started out as a Motorbike manufacturer, that went into car production, starting car production by buying a license/copying the model T, iirc.

I lost my mind when I first saw that monster. Still my favorite bike design of all time.

oops i barted

The part where the narrator began to crack when speaking of the guy who proposed the idea of 2 front and rear wheels which basically made it a car killed me. I was thinking the same thing a half second before the narrator said it and as he began to giggle it mad it all the more funny for me as i was already cracking up.... wait...... oh dear..... I just realized how high I am.

Basically whole motorcycle would be one giant fuel reservoir

4:35 "even if they aren't of the four wheeled variety" Meanwhile the Tomahawk is on screen and it *literally* has four wheels.

Maybe it will be a good idea to show the evolution of the Harley Davidson Livewire from the testride prototypes of the 2014 Us for A tour, until the production version, and later the new independent brand Livewire and the rename of the model as Livewire One.

That thing is made for a space marine

Man, I remember every kid in my HS drafting class drooling over this thing. “It’s so fast it’ll go through a brick wall!”

9:54 lmfao toppfart 13:25 also, air resistance increases with the CUBE of velocity. Top notch aero design would be necessary to reach even half of the projected toppfart.

I remember seeing this thing in person at E3 like in 2003 not long after the initial reveal. The thing was huge for a bike, but I thought it would be bigger actually haha. I'm surprised the thing was never like, used in a movie or had a TV show built around it. Like Knight Rider or something. But, eh it was the 2000's. Having a gimmick like a special car or motorcycle as the central focus of a show is more of an 80's and 90's thing. But hey it might have drummed up some buzz for Dodge by having a TV series like that haha.

I know you're like me. After a long day of driving in the car, you get home and pop the hood. You place your hand flat down on the engine block, and as it sizzles you think to yourself "I wish I could put a metal saddle on this so my whole ass can cook!". Thank you, Dodge, for creating our dreams. Ass burns.

This is, absolutely, only my opinion, but I loved the concept and look of the Tomahawk when it was unveiled. I also didn't get bent out of shape with Chrysler's claims about it's performance. I thought it looked good and I was pleasantly surprised that it was actually made and ridden.

They didn't try to make a motorcycle. They just wanted to see how fast a V10 goes without the rest of the car.

Drag increases with the SQUARE of speed (that's not what the word "exponential" means). Power needed to counteract it increases with the cube. If, for example, you need 100Nm and 30kW to sustain 60mph, 120mph would require 400Nm and 240kW. Fuel consumption (per unit distance) also increases with the square, but the engine's parasitic losses and overall efficiency curve play into this as well. Once drag becomes dominant (past around 90 km/h), the above rule of thumb starts to come into play. Accounting for small and efficient car bodies, as well as very efficient engines, this rule of thumb can be relied upon for most vehicles past about 130km/h. On my bike, it's valid down to 60-70 km/h (after about 40mph). I make a good saving by taking the back roads, where the speed limit is 60mph or less, rather than going on the motorway (where it's usually 70), because mine is a naked bike and drag dominates from quite early on. The practical upshot of that is that I get to enjoy powering through a couple of gears without it affecting my pocket too much, as long as my sustained speed isn't very high.

Didnt know it went to Goodwood. Would love to see that video with audio.

The clip of the guy riding it makes it look nearly impossible to ride where he is leaning one way and the bike is trying to go the other. Looks neat though

The only tomahawk I've ever seen was in a magazine article..

"That's some pretty dodgy math." Please see yourself out.

MTT: We put a helicopter turbine in a motorcycle! Dodge: Hold my beer...

We have Mercedes building Trucks, BMW making motorcycles but Audi just stuck to cars. Would be interresting to see what they can come up with if they branch out to different fields, like bikes

This is why i absolutely love Dodge

That was well done, sir. No WONDER i'm a Sub & here's my fat thumb of approval. I ride my 14th motorcycle & a full fledged tour/bagger Road King FLHPI, but i'd ride with pride along side that machine. Thanks for bringing such a professional look at it for old geeks like me.

this shit looks straight out of cyberpunk. truly seeing the future.

I saw it at the 2003 Chicago auto show. It looked crazy.