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The Viper weighs more than 1.6 tonnes; the Tomahawk weighs less than half that. So it's not surprising it hits 60mph in less than 2.5 seconds.

That's exactly what the Dodge Tomahawk counts among its more outrageous features - and despite being officially referred to as a 'rolling sculpture', Stuart Milne reckons it’s the most spine-tingling motorcycle ever.

Let's get something straight. The Dodge Tomahawk is a bike.

The bumpf Dodge provided when the 'Hawk stole the show in Detroit in 2003 never said it was a motorcycle – but it looks like one, and that's good enough for me.

"The 500-horsepower Viper V-10 engine powering the dual rear wheels gives this radical vehicle a potential top speed of nearly 400mph – for anyone who wants to test it," said Dodge.

And to this day, I don't think anyone has tried to prove this awesome machine's top speed.

I, for one, believe the claim.

Between the rider's legs sits the 500bhp V10 engine from the explosive Viper. In the two seat supercar, the throbbing powerplant will accelerate it to 60mph in less than four seconds, before heading to 190mph.

The Viper weighs more than 1.6 tonnes; the Tomahawk weighs less than half that.

So it's unsurprising it will shatter the 60mph barrier in 2.5 seconds.

Of course, few will ever see one, let alone ride one. And that's probably a good thing.

I'm always concerned by statements like it's "as much a Viper-powered work of art as it is a whole new type of vehicle invention". Mainly because you'll often find, after getting behind the wheel – or handlebars in this case – it'll be horrible to drive.

But with something like this, the normal rules simply don't apply. There's no way any car maker would build this to sell in big numbers, rather to just show off.

At the time, Dodge was a brand with huge pride in its V10 – it was fitting it into the Ram SRT-10 pickup, making it the world's fastest – so why shouldn't it do something completely barmy?

The well-healed can lay their hands on a faithful replica which sold for more than half a million dollars in Dallas. But if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, a Chinese manufacturer can supply a lookalike.

Just don’t expect a 400mph top speed – the X Racer from Wiztem will struggle to hit 60mph.

L.A.T.W.O.T. Video of the Week

It's not the Tomahawk, but this Viper has a breathed-on engine which produces a staggering 1,700bhp. Fast is too small a word.

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