Ridiculous 500 HP Dodge Motorcycle Concept Turns 15
Tomahawk Concept uses the Viper’s 8.3-liter V10 motor and is capable of going 420 mph.
In an era when Dodge is building 840-horsepower cars and selling them for under six-figures, it seems silly to talk about any other time being a “golden era.” But in the ’90s and early 2000s, Dodge was cranking out incredible concept cars on an impressive schedule. Not since the GM Motorama dream cars had an automaker churned out so many stunners. There was, of course, the original Charger Sedan Concept. And a very different Demon. Today, we want to change pace and talk about one Dodge concept that just celebrated its 15th birthday last week: The Dodge Tomahawk.
The folks at Ride Apart recently covered this super-crazy bike, and for a company known for bringing tons of power to the masses, the Tomahawk was unlike anything Dodge ever created. Originally introduced at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, , it’s a motorcycle. It also still has four wheels, sure, but the skinny Dunlop tires are placed close together to keep the massive bike upright.
Viper V10 Without the Baggage
From a design standpoint, his neo-Deco creation looked like something to come of a 1930s comic book. And at the center of it all lies an 8.3 liter V10 borrowed from the Dodge Viper. That infamously heavy engine served as an essential structural component on the bike, keeping it from folding in on itself. Without the weight of a Viper holding it back, Dodge estimated the 500 horsepower V10-powered Tomahawk could reach a top speed of 420 miles per hour. Of course, that’s in theory. No one has been brave enough to try.
Dodge’s bike was a sensation on the auto show circuit. So much so that the company actually considered putting it into production. Quickly realizing that selling a death missile like this could be a legal disaster, they pulled out of the project after manufacturing partner RM Motorsports built just four of them. One is owned by Dodge, one by RM, and two have actually made it into the hands of private owners. They paid $500,000 each for the privilege of owning one, though these units appear to be non-functional.
We understand that the Tomahawk was too good for this world. But it did what all good show cars (and bikes) should do. It got us dreaming of a world where the highways were filled with these things. Happy birthday to the bonkers Dodge Tomahawk, we hope that Dodge can outdo itself with future concepts.
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