Over the past few years, motorcycles have been dropping their cylinder counts like flies. Most beginner bikes are down to just a single cylinder, and even middleweight sportbikes are shifting from inline fours to parallel twins. But what if you could go the other way? What if you could own a bike with 48 cylinders? Well, thanks to Bonhams, you can: A 48-cylinder two-stroke 4.2-liter Kawasaki is crossing the block.
Obviously, more cylinders is more better. This has been proven time and time again, from the Viper to the oft-tried 16-cylinder, so clearly a 48-cylinder Kawasaki is going to be 48 times as good as a puny little Ninja 500. Clearly, that makes the $76,000 expected sale price — just 14 times the MSRP of a Ninja 500 — a downright steal.
The Tinker Toy, as the bike is called, was built by Simon Whitelock out in the UK with the express purpose of winning a Guinness world record: Vehicle Engine With The Most Cylinders. Whitelock took the tiny 250cc three-cylinder from Kawasaki’s KH250 and bolted it to 15 more KH250 motors, with eight down each side of the very long motorcycle.
With such a massive engine configuration, the Tinker Toy needs a separate 125cc engine just to start. It rides on Goldwing suspension, uses a BMW transmission, and features plenty of custom plumbing, wiring, and welding — truly a vehicle that crosses brands and borders.
The Tinker Toy crosses the block at Bonhams’ Spring Stafford Sale, which means you’ve got until April 21 to get your finances in order and get yourself over to the UK to bid. Think about it this way — it’s a one-off world record holder, and there certainly won’t be another. It’s an appreciating asset, and with such a low cost-per-cylinder you can’t afford not to buy it.
