Top 10 Best Six-Cylinder Production Bikes

Six-cylinder engines are a rare commodity when it comes to motorcycles, but we have just the list for you if you’re in the market for one of these extremely powerful, but expensive beasts.

The engines have 50% more of everything than a four-cylinder does, so in terms of parts alone there’s a penalty for buying a six-cylinder motorcycle. They’re also heavy, wide, and rarely have a tangible performance advantage over smaller, lither fours or twins.

But the simple fact that they have six cylinders gives them a USP that run-of-the-mill machines with fewer pots can’t live up to. It gives a notably different feel for the rider, and a smoothness that twins, triples and fours simply can’t match.

We’re looking at bikes you could actually buy and ride on the street. We’d happily sing the praises of the Laverda V6 or Honda’s RC165, RC166 and RC174 straight-sixes, let alone the Suzuki Stratosphere concept bike, but they’re not machines any of us could ever hope to buy or ride, so let’s focus on some more achievable six-cylinder experiences…

10: Honda Gold Wing GL1500

The GL1500 was the first ‘Wing to go to the now-legendary flat-six layout, and as such has a place in motorcycling history. Made for a dozen years from 1988, it was a technological marvel at launch. It’s marred, though, by a chrome-and-whip-aerials image that means a lot of riders see Wing users as a separate breed. It’s the cheapest way to get the six-cylinder experience, though. They go for as little as £2500 these days. The GL1500 is perhaps no match for its little brother the new GL1800, however, the newer Gold Wing model is also much pricier so this could be a good bet if you’re fancying something a bit more retro and at a more affordable price.

9: Honda Valkyrie 

The original, 1500cc Honda F6C ‘Valkyrie’ doesn’t make this list but the new version, which came onto the market in 2023 might be worth a look if you’re in the market for a distinctive cruiser. There’s no attempt to ape the Harley clichés here; the Honda is a resolutely modern take on the cruiser concept. Basically a Gold Wing with the touring kit and bodywork stripped off, it arguably allows that six-cylinder motor to shine a little brighter. On the downside, it loses the Wing’s practical long-distance, luggage-lugging ability.

8: Honda F6B

Perhaps, then, the F6B is a good compromise between the full-fat Gold Wing and the cruiser-style F6C. Cashing in on the current trend for baggers, it loses the top box and armchair-like pillion of the Wing, as well as the tall screen, and gets a low-slung style in its place. That creamy flat six still lies underneath, and the F6B might be the best way to experience it on a bike that’s still got much of the Wing’s touring ability, but a bit more style thrown in. It’s worth noting that like the other Honda cruisers on this list, the F6B shares a similar appearance to the Gold Wing and Valkyrie.

7: Horex VR6

The narrow-angle V6 Horex is still one of the few six-cylinder machines on the market today – although you’ll have to venture to mainland Europe to buy one. It’s a stunning bike aesthetically, and despite hitting the usual financial stumbling blocks and ownership changes that ambitious new bike firms always seem to suffer, the company is still up and running, several years after launching the first VR6 model. Unfortunately, a sky-high price (€38,500 for the Classic, €42,500 for the Café Racer, and that’s before adding options) means few people are likely to get to experience them. 

A small fish in the pond compared to some of the manufacturers surrounding it on this list, Horex still exists today and has been owned by 3C-Carbon Composite Company GmbH since 2015. Along with its six-cylinder bike, Horex is known for producing a carbon-framed single-cylinder retro bike called the ‘Regina Evo’.

6: Benelli Sei 750

While most six-cylinder production bikes have been monstrously big, the Sei started life as a mere 750cc machine back in 1972. It was the first road-going, six-cylinder, mass-made motorcycle. Later (in 1979) it was upped to 900cc, but even then it’s still much smaller-capacity than anything else on this list. That translates to probably the lightest-feeling, least imposing six that you can get. They’re increasingly expensive these days, though.

5: Honda Rune

If you’re a shrinking violet, the Rune is probably best avoided. Although you’ll struggle to find one even if you are bold enough to be seen on it. A limited edition machine, it used the same 1832cc six as the later Goldwings, but wrapped them in a completely new chassis and an innovatively modern take on the classic cruiser look. Never officially sold outside America, several have made their way across the Atlantic unofficially. If you’re looking for modern inspiration with a Honda Rune, the Triumph Rocket is a bike that the Rune mirrors quite considerably, especially due to its side profile. 

4: Kawasaki Z1300

Kawasaki joined the six-cylinder movement in 1979, adding innovative water-cooling and a large 1286cc capacity into the mix to make an impressive-for-the-time 120hp. Its in-yer-face engine was perfectly matched in the bike’s brutalist styling. These days it’s one of the most affordable routes onto a six-cylinder bike, too. Finding one of these bikes might not be easy in 2024 though, as the production of the Z1300 stopped after ten years.

3: Honda CBX

While every bike on this list has six cylinders, none of them shout “Count ’em!” quite as loudly as the CBX. No wonder that 1047cc, air-cooled engine became so in-demand from custom builders and tuners – it’s one of the best-looking engines ever made. One of the best-sounding ones, too, and back in 1978 its 105hp output was pretty impressive as well. Like the Kawasaki Z1300, finding one of these gem’s is not an easy feat anymore, but it remains one of the best six-cylinder bikes ever produced.

2: BMW K1600

If the Rune is an impractical, crazy take on the six cylinder theme, the most modern bike on this list – BMW’s K1600 – is the most usable. Like the Benelli, it’s an inline, across-the-frame six-cylinder, but at 1649cc it’s a lot bigger. The BMW K1600 is a bike we recently tested at Visordown, and to say that it was a hit is an understatement. One of its biggest developments since 2021 is the new TFT dash which will rival anything you find on a car, never mind a motorcycle. 

It is a 10.25-inch item, and allows you to answer calls, decline texts, follow the navigation (Bluetooth-enabled smartphone is required) and play music either through the integrated DAB/FM radio or from the music library on your phone.

Regarding the numbers, the new K1600 is impressive, churning out a mega 157bhp and 132lb ft of torque against the Gold Wing’s 125bhp and 125lb ft. But as we discussed in our review of the BMW K1600, it’s not always about who has the biggest numbers. The chassis which is important on any motorcycle, but especially a big six-cylinder beast, is another key area that the K1600 does well in.

1: Honda Gold Wing GL1800

The newer Honda Gold Wing 1800 model is a machine that oozes class and flair. It’s fair to call it a luxury tourer that can do it all. Dating as far back as 2001, the first Gold Wing 1800 bikes took the ideas of its predecessor (the GL1500) and ran with them, and in the process toned down the chrome and upped the technology even further. Even now, many, many years on from its launch and after only a few updates (including the famous optional airbag), it’s still a supreme long-distance tourer. The 2024 GL1800 has a stonking 1833cc engine behind it and remains one of the most coveted six-cylinder bikes in the world. It comes in a few thousand pounds more than the BMW K1600, but it’s high up on this list for many reasons. The comfortable rideability, both when alone or with a passenger arguably separates it from the competition. Here’s a review of the Gold Wing 1800. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE VISORDOWN TOP TENS.

Find all the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com.