Forget the new Ducati Panigale V4 or Kawasaki H2R Ninja if you’re looking for the ultimate motorcycle this Christmas, why not head Down Under and check out the £135,000 PGR V8.

Aussies are well known for their love of a good V8 powerplant, so when former MotoGP mechanic Paul Maloney returned to his native Melbourne after two decades spannering in the world’s race paddock, he decided to build his own motorbike, powered by a dedicated two-litre V8 engine.

Maloney’s engine is based on the 2006 Yamaha YZF-R1 unit, or rather two of them, with the Japanese bike donating the cylinders and heads for the 90-degree V8 motor. The result…? A 40-valve engine that pumps out 334bhp at 12,800rpm, with a stunning 214Nm at 9500rpm, despite the Yamaha components remaining completely stock.

While the engine is the V8’s raison d’être, Maloney has endowed his creation with a chassis worthy of the price tag. Components are top notch, with the tubular steel trellis frame providing a home to some of the finest parts money can buy, with Marchesini forged aluminium wheels, custom titanium exhaust from Akrapovic, radially mounted Brembo monobloc brakes, Ohlins FGR front forks and a TTX36 rear shock. The PGR is more in the vein of a Yamaha V-MAX or Ducati X-Diavel than a pure sports bike, a fact borne out by the 242kg kerb weight.

PGR are still refining their boutique bike, with Paul planning an updated engine based on the later four-valve head design Yamaha. With this motor he is confident that he can crack the 400bhp barrier, while retaining the smoothness and reliability of the stock motor.

While many will undoubtedly dismiss the PGR V8 as an overpriced novelty, exclusivity comes at a cost. The engineering involved is incredible, and there’s a pretty fair chance you won’t see another down at the local bike meet, or indeed anywhere else for that matter.

So if a new Brough Superior or even Keanu Reeves’ new Arch is just too commonplace, have a word with your bank manager and head over to https://pgmv8.com.au to place an order.