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These special edition motorcycles showcase just what the best manufacturers are capable of without legal restrictions.

These bikes are not usually able to turn a profit, but simply have to provoke a reaction and give the brand exposure. In recent times the canvas of choice has been track bikes. They have become increasingly popular and all the top manufacturers have at least one track-only bike available for purchase.

Track bikes might be the industry standard now, but some manufacturers have opted for more traditional cosmetic upgrades to their road bikes or special collaborations. Others have simply flexed their engineering prowess for the sake of it.

Related: 10 Things We Have Learned About The 2022 MotoGP Season So Far

By modern standards, its Ducati-sourced twin is by no means the most powerful, but the center hub steering makes it a pretty eye-catching bike.

Considering the fact that only 45 of these bikes got made, their current price tag of between $45,000 and $50,000 is not necessarily unreasonable. When you also take into account how much engineering work has gone into making these works of art, that might actually be a bit of a bargain.

After a couple of Senna-branded Ducati 916 bikes got released in the '90s, some might have thought this was one too many. As it happens, this is actually the best version.

It is an elegant tribute to one of the most incredible figures in motorsport, the bike got a small bump in power and this exclusive bodywork that just looks sensational on the already gorgeous F4.

This is not a homologation special. This is a MotoGP championship-winning motorcycle made available to the public for a limited time.

Casey Stoner rode more or less the same bike to victory back in 2007 – to date their one and only riders' championship. This very real racing replica came in at $72,500 (when new), and with only 1,500 made, values will almost certainly rise.

Related: 10 Things Everyone Forgot About The Ducati Desmosedici

The hyper-naked segment is arguably home to some of the most fun motorcycles in the industry at the moment. Sportbikes have gotten a little too serious, but these naked bikes with 200-horsepower sportbike engines are all about having fun.

Incredible power meets incredible style, the Serie Oro is, without a doubt, one of the most desirable motorcycles on the market.

The NR750 is a homologation special of the highest order. It was an engineering marvel that came equipped with a pseudo V8 (oval V4) engine and actually cost more to build than they sold it for.

It is sad that we haven’t seen another oval piston bike, and it seems like that particular innovation is all but dead technology. What is also noteworthy is that this design served as inspiration for a certain Massimo Tamburini, the man behind the Ducati 916.

This is currently the most expensive motorcycle you can buy from any of the major motorcycle manufacturers.

With over 200 horsepower, it is already in a very exclusive club, but paying six figures for any motorcycle, even one with this much carbon fiber is a big ask.

In theory, the Wankel engine makes the most sense in motorcycles. In practice, however, it was also more or less a disaster. It is an engine that has killed almost every company that has invested in it, including Norton.

This is one of those bikes that wasn’t supposed to be a limited edition motorcycle, but only 66 were made before Norton went bankrupt, so it became a special edition by default. It is widely regarded as the best rotary engined motorcycle ever made.

Related: 10 Things Motorcycle Enthusiasts Forgot About The Norton F1

Following in the footsteps of the R6 and R7, the R1 has now gotten the GYTR treatment, and it looks race ready.

Less beauty and more beast, the white bodywork looks extremely purposeful and very much ready to take on any track. It features top-of-the-line suspension and brake components, a full Akrapovic exhaust system, and naturally that trademark CP4 engine.

There are very few motorcycles that are able to capture the imagination like the 208 horsepower Streetfighter. It is an incredible hyper-naked that delivers sportbike performance.

Now, for a very limited time, you could get your hands on one of 630 of these Lamborghini Huracan STO tribute bikes. It looks stunning with its bold colors and subtle Lambo touches.

Power does get a minor bump thanks to the optimized tune courtesy of the Aprilia racing division, but their focus was on weight saving.

The V4 X tips the scales at a scarcely believable 366 lbs, which gives it an incredible power-to-weight ratio. That said, the looks are still the most striking aspect of this machine which is surely one of the best-looking bikes in the world at the moment.

Luke Zietsman is an all out automotive enthusiast based in The Philippines. If it has two or four wheels he has either owned it, researched about it or dreamed about it.