The 10 Best High-Performance Motorcycles Available Now

While good sportbikes are high-performance by definition, not all high-performance motorcycles are sport bikes. Since we've already compiled a list of the 20 Best Sport Bikes Available Now fairly recently, we didn’t include any of our previously-mentioned bikes on this particular list. Instead, this list we’ve assembled is all about “powerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.” Chuck any one of these bikes down a long straight ( say, an air strip) and indulge in the sheer delight of bikes that have more power to give than you might ever need. Not only that, each of these bikes is stylistically quite unique. Feast your eyes on the 10 Best High-Performance Motorcycles Available Now.

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Msrp: 2013 M109R (Glass Sparkle Black): $14,299; 2013 M109R Limited Edition (Pearl Mira Red): $14,799; 2014 M109R B.O.S.S. (Marble Daytona Yellow/Glass Sparkle Black): $14,999

If you like big pistons (and you cannot lie), the M109R delivers 4.4-inch monsters for your enjoyment. As part of a 1,783cc V-twin engine that makes 106 hp with 118 ft.-lbs. of torque, on a massively long (67.2-in. wheelbase) and wide (34.4-in. wide) bike that weighs a hefty 764 lbs., everything about this bike demands those around it to pay attention. It also currently boasts what Suzuki says is the biggest rear tire on any of its bikes: almost 11 inches wide. If you like drag racing down straights on a fairly unique production cruiser with tons of power, this may be the bike for you.

Msrp: Base (Vivid Black): $15,849; Color Option: $16,174; Two-tone Option: $16,384

Powered by the 1247cc Revolution V-twin, that makes 122 hp with 86 ft.-lbs of torque, this bike was made for the drag strip. Since its introduction, the V-Rod has divided fans of The Motor Company. Its styling is a clear and modern departure from the venerable classic styling for which H-D is known worldwide, and that engine ... well, that engine is also in a liquid-cooled class of its own. Like pretty much everything else on this list, you're either going to love it or hate it -- there's no middle ground.

Msrp: $13,999

Available in Gloss Black, Sunset Red, or Suede Nuclear Sunset for 2014, the Judge's retro muscle car looks are sleek and inspired. Victory listened to customers who complained about the ergonomics on the original Judge and added some ergonomic refinements a couple years back, such as bringing the bars back to meet the rider and moving foot controls rearward as well.

Its 1731cc Freedom V-twin gives you 113 ft.-lbs of torque for the taking. It also boasts a 6-speed overdrive transmission, so you won't get up into 5th, leaving you wishing you had one more gear. This is retro done right.

Msrp: Base Diavel and Diavel Cromo: $18,995; Diavel Carbon: $20,495; Diavel Strada: $19,495; Diavel Dark: $17,695

To simply call it a "power cruiser" would do it a vast disservice. With the Diavel, Ducati's 162 hp 1198cc Testastretta works its inimitable V-twin magic on an expanded audience. Its invitingly low seat height of 30.3 inches means shorter riders can join the fun, too -- as long as they can afford the price of membership in the Diavel club, of course. Love it or hate it, there's honestly no other bike quite like it on the market right now.

Msrp: Starting from $17,990

So what's the big deal about the VMAX? Just, you know, the fact that it's a 1679cc V4-powered beast that makes 174 hp and can do 0 to 60 in a mere 2.5 seconds. It boasts a 30.5-inch seat height, just like the Ducati Diavel. Pricing is similar to the Diavel Dark, but at least a grand less than the other Diavel variants. The Diavel is its closest competition, and like the Duc, its madly futuristic style is polarizing. No matter how we ultimately feel about individual designs themselves, we love it when manufacturers make bikes that don't look like anything else on the road.

Msrp: $13,999

Boasting a 999cc V4 engine that now makes 170 hp and 82.2 ft.-lbs. of torque, as well as hosting the the most recent evolution of the APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) electronics package, this is currently the ultimate Tuono. If you prefer your bikes sporty but naked, this is your alternative to the RSV4 APRC.

Msrp: $36,975

Three words: 1645cc pushrod V4. Three more words: American sport-touring motorcycle. These are just two of the defining features of the Motus MST-R, which will finally hit the market for 2014 after some production delays. Motorcyclist describes this unique engine as sounding like "half a NASCAR V8." Small wonder that's the case, because the 180hp KMV4 (which makes 120 ft.-lbs of torque) was built by none other than Detroit legend Katech.

To add to its impressive Detroit muscle lineage, that 6-speed gearbox you'll use to toss it through the twisties was developed by Pratt & Miller. Production numbers are going to be kept intentionally small at first, so don't miss your chance to get your hands on this unique piece of machinery.

Msrp: $14,999

Don't mistake the name for just a clever marketing ploy to separate you from your hard-earned money. What else would you call a 2294cc power plant that makes a claimed 146 hp while having 163 ft.-lbs of torque? We thought so. If you like the idea of a cruiser but you want more modern design than the classic cruisers give you, welcome to the Rocket III Roadster. We hope you'll be very happy together.

Msrp: $55,000

Featuring the 2,163cc X132 Copperhead engine, with a claimed 132 hp and 150 ft.-lbs of torque, and only weighing in at 500 lbs., this thing is a weapon. Innovative lightweight features including carbon fiber wheels make this monster possible. On a list full of performance machines that will turn heads for various reasons, this is clearly the one to beat -- but it'll cost you.

Msrp: TBA

OK, we fudged our rules for this one just a little. Photos of the concept version of the 1290 Super Duke R have been around since EICMA 2012, but photos of the production version just leaked online last week. The official MSRP hasn't been announced yet, but KTM knows what it's doing in building anticipation for this bike -- although to be honest, it's already at a fever pitch.

With videos like this, it's easy to see why. A claimed zero to 124mph time of 7.2 seconds out of a 1301cc, 180hp V-twin making 106 ft.-lbs. of torque may also have helped matters slightly. Did we mention that this naked beast has a dry weight of just 417 pounds? In short, this thing is about to be the most insane thing on the street, ever. We may be slightly overfond of hyperbole, but we actually mean it here. Ever. E.V.E.R.