The MTT 420 RR – BikeBound

“It’s like the hand of God pushing you…” -Jay Leno 

Such were the words of lifelong gearhead Jay Leno, a self-proclaimed member of the “More Money than Brains Club,” when Popular Mechanics asked him what it was like to ride his Marine Turbine Technologies (MTT) Turbine Superbike. Leno went on to say the riding experience was like nothing else in his legendary garage:

“I’ve ridden a lot of fast bikes but nothing pulls like this.”

Of course, Leno was describing the 317-hp Gen-1 “Y2K” edition of the MTT Turbine Superbike — the first production model of which he owns. So when we saw the new 420-hp Gen-2 MTT 420 RR in naked trim at the 2023 Handbuilt Show, we had to learn more about this mind-blowing “jet bike” and the company behind it, Marine Turbine Technologies.

Based in South Louisiana, where turbine-powered helicopters are a frequent sight as they ferry workers back and forth to the offshore oil rigs, MTT is a design, engineering, and manufacturing company that specializes in packaging gas turbine engines for unique industrial applications. Says Founder, President, and CEO Ted McIntyre II:

“I took my first ride in a helicopter when I went to work offshore in 1974 and went on to get a pilot’s license. Our company Marine Turbine Technologies LLC has built more non-aircraft applications than any other company in the World.”

Nearly 25 years ago, an individual asked MTT to develop a turbine-powered motorcycle. The result was the Gen-1 “Y2K” Turbine Superbike, which debuted at Bike Week 2000 with a Rolls-Royce C18 gas turbine generating 317 hp and a top speed of 237 mph. Says Ted:

“The team who built the first bike was made up of a group of dedicated bikers who came from diverse backgrounds including road racing, desert racing, drag racing, and motocross — in general, gearheads who’ve own bikes ranging in size and shapes across the spectrum.”

Fast forward to today, and the new version is the MTT 420 RR, boasting a 420-hp Rolls-Royce C20B gas turbine engine designed to run on diesel, kerosene, or Jet-A. The engine is actually mounted upside-down to direct the exhaust downward, and the frame, swingarm, and most everything other component of the bike were developed in-house to accommodate the engine, which delivers close to 600 lb./ft. of torque.

“The engine produces ‘Thrust’ like a jet engine, this thrust drives rotating assemblies like windmill wheels that spin and convert the thrust to shaft horsepower.”

To get that power to the rear wheel, MTT developed a right-angle two-speed transmission with two planetary gearsets and multi-plate wet sump clutches. The 420 RR is now available in a Faired version, whose carbon-fiber bodywork is produced in-house, or the new Naked version as seen at Handbuilt Show 2023. Ted is most proud that his small team in Franklin, Louisiana, has produced what’s been called the world’s fastest production motorcycle (reportedly 273 mph):

“Honda didn’t build it, Harley didn’t build it, Mercedes didn’t build it. A small company located in S. Louisiana built the most significant wheel-driven vehicle to debut in the new Millennium, thus the original Y2K Moniker.”

Below, founder and CEO Ted McIntyre II gives us the full story on the MTT 420 RR Turbine Superbike.

420 RR Turbine Superbike: Builder Interview

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

The Turbine SuperBike started out as the Y2K Turbine Superbike and debuted in Daytona in 2000 at Bike Week. The bike was built at the request of an individual who wanted something different. Turbine cars and boats had been done so we suggested a turbine motorcycle to showcase our company’s ability to install turbines in unique non-aircraft applications. The team who built the first bike was made up of a group of dedicated bikers who came from diverse backgrounds including road racing, desert racing, drag racing, and motocross — in general, gearheads who’ve own bikes ranging in size and shapes across the spectrum.

I took my first ride in a helicopter when I went to work offshore in 1974 and went on to get a pilot’s license. Our company Marine Turbine Technologies LLC has built more non-aircraft applications than any other company in the World.

Being located in S. Louisiana gave us access to the helicopter industry, the resources to build such a machine was a natural evolution of our business. We’re situated on the water at the Port of West St. Mary in Franklin, La. This allows us to build both land as well as waterborne vessels powered by turbines.

We occupy over 100,000 square feet of factory space with in-house engineering, CNC machining capabilities, welding, carbon fiber and composite lamination, electronic and electrical services, 3D printing and a number of other specialized services.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

The original bike debuted in 2000 as the Y2K Turbine Superbike, which was powered by a Rolls-Royce C18 gas turbine generating 317 SHP. The current production bike utilizes a Rolls-Royce C20B engine which produces 420 SHP. Like all of our offerings, they are set up to run on diesel, kerosene, or Jet-A fuels. Diesel is what we typically run on as it is available at most all fuel stations.

The bike is hand-built using aluminum sheeting and billet aluminum components. The 2-speed transmission uses two planetary gearsets with multi-plate wet sump clutches. The bodies are all carbon fiber built in our facility.

The power is directed through a right-angle gearbox that drives the chain to the rear wheel. The front and rear wheels are carbon fiber. Fuel capacity is 8 US gallons (Diesel); oil reservoir for the turbine and transmission are built in the frame.

• Why was this bike built?

As mentioned above we had a customer who we had built several unique projects for and I suggested a motorcycle — basically we were given a blank check and built a prototype. The bike debuted in Daytona in 2000 (Y2K).

Jay Leno heard about the bike from John Burns, who was the editor of Motorcycle magazine at the time. John was in Daytona for Bike Week, and we let him ride the bike. I later got a call from Jay who said he was “A Member of the More Money than Brains Club” and was interested in buying a bike. Jay bought the first production Y2K Turbine Superbike and still has it today.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

Knowing the bike would have 300+ HP, we wanted a machine that had the aerodynamic capability of using the power to run speeds in excess of 200 MPH. We knew we had to build the frame and swingarm to accommodate the engine, which we turned upside down to direct the exhaust towards the ground in lieu of its original configuration with the exhaust directed upwards.

The output of the engine runs parallel with the frame, so we had to design and build a right-angle gearbox to direct the power to the rear wheel. Once we figured this out, it was a matter of wrapping it in a carbon fiber body that was slippery and allowed a rider the ability to tuck behind the fairing for high-speed events.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

Basically, everything is custom built.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

Gen 1 (317 HP) bikes are known as the Y2K. Gen 2 (420 HP) are branded as 420 RRs. We offer the 420 RR in both the Faired Version and the new Naked Version. All are known as the Turbine Superbike.

• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?

Gen 1: 317 HP, 580 lbs. Top Speed 237 MPH
Gen 2: 420 HP, 620 lbs. Top Speed 250+ MPH

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

The engine produces 420 lb./ft. of torque for the 317 HP version, while the 420 HP version delivers close to 600 lb./ft. of torque.

Jay Leno probably described it better than anyone who has ridden one of the bikes, “It’s like the hand of God pushing you.”

During an exhibition run at an airstrip where we were participating in the airshow with the Blue Angels at 180 MPH under hard acceleration the 420 RR started smoking the rear tire. This while running a 230 series Pirelli Street Tire.

When the bike debuted in Daytona at the race track on a Dyno-Jet 200 chassis dyno, the bike accelerated from 0-204 MPH in 6.4 seconds, generated 296 rear wheel HP and 425 lb./ft. of torque.

The Roll- Royce turbine we use is a “Free Turbine” which is basically an air torque converter. The engine produces “Thrust” like a jet engine, this thrust drives rotating assemblies like windmill wheels that spin and convert the thrust to shaft horsepower. When we put the bikes on the dyno, we put them in high gear and release the clutch while holding the rear brake. When the brake starts to slip, we let it loose.

The acceleration is like nothing you can imagine. We’ve taken the bike to a dragstrip and launched it using the same method. The tire never was able to hook up. NO, we’ve never tried to run a large drag slick on the back to see what it would do, nor are we interested in finding out.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

In a Word, EVERYTHING. Honda didn’t build it, Harley didn’t build it, Mercedes didn’t build it. A small company located in S. Louisiana built the most significant wheel-driven vehicle to debut in the new Millennium, thus the original Y2K Moniker.

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

Yes, every man and woman who laid hands on this bike since its inception. My name is associated with the company as the founder, and I’ve ridden every bike we’ve ever built triple digits before they left the shop. The company isn’t Ted’s Turbine shop, it’s MTT, and the aforementioned men and women are who made this happen.

Riding Experience

“Y2K, even under full power, tracks like a bullet train…and the strangest thing is the complete lack of vibration. You hear the turbine but don’t feel the turbine, except for the fact that it’s trying to smoothly compress all your vertebrae into one dense donut.” -John Burns, Motorcyclist

“It’s bloody mad and extremely scary…it feels like bungee-jumping, except with the bungee pulling you forwards and not upwards. The sheer sense of uncontrollable acceleration building and the wind noise rushing up to meet you.” –John Cantlie, MCN

Follow the Builders

Web: www.marineturbine.com
Facebook: Marine Turbine Technologies