HF355: 375-hp Ferrari V8 Superbike

Updated: 375-bhp / 550 lb: Ferrari V8 Motorcycle from Hazan Motorworks…  

Earlier this year, we did a short in-progress feature of the Ferrari F355-powered motorcycle build from Maxwell Hazan of Hazan Motorworks — one of the world’s most revered custom bike builders. 

“Every bike that I create is one of one, made by my own two hands here in my workshop Each bike is unique and never replicated. I push myself to make something new with every project and build the most interesting designs that I can think of in the most elegant way possible.” 

The “HF355” is powered by a 3.5L 90° V8 from the mid-engine Ferrari F355, which debuted in 1994. Boasting a five-valve cylinder head, titanium connecting rods, and 11:1 compression, the 213.5 cubic-inch Italian V8 has an output of 375 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque.

In the Works: Ferrari V8 Motorcycle

No one need tell you that’s a mind-bending output in a motorcycle that reportedly weighs just 550 pounds — 30 pounds less than the latest Hayabusa!

Last time we saw the HF355, it had no bodywork and there were still a lot of questions around the design. More recently, Hazan has shaped and installed most of the Moto2-inspired carbon fairings and body panels, and he’s given some deeper insight into the details behind the build now that it’s almost complete.

One year ago, the bike was little more than two wheels and an engine. Today, it’s a fully functioning, “absolutely insane” motorcycle that Hazan has been riding to various events around Los Angeles. He’s also taken the time to address a number of the biggest questions about the build.

• How the heck did he get the bike to weigh just 550 pounds with a car engine in it?

Hazan: “Well, for starters, this engine without any of the stuff on it, like no flywheel or anything, weighed 237 pounds. And the next step was not actually having a frame on the bike. Everything is bolted to the transmission, then straight to the engine, and even the fuel tank is a structural subframe. It’s a dry sump motor, so there’s oil up top, and there’s not a whole lot of space that was not used.”

• What about heat as an issue?

Hazan: “This actually does not produce a whole lot of heat because it doesn’t retain any. Remember, this thing was in a 3,500-pound car in an engine bay with air conditioners and catalytic converters. So it doesn’t retain much heat, but it does have a ducted radiator underneath the bike that has four electric fans in it, all controlled by the computer…”

Hazan continues: “This runs an MS3 Pro, basically a blank ECU, and you do your own thing with it. So it runs an Alpha N setup, which is really good for these individual throttle bodies on a ready engine. It’s basically like running flat-slide carbs versus CV carbs.”

• Where did all the parts come from? 

Hazan: “Everything on the bike was made from scratch. So intake manifolds… flywheel there… transmission to engine shafts. I’ve been trying all different types of metal. Some failed, but we came up with a good one.”

• What about the bodywork?

Hazan: “This was all made from scratch. You got the molds here,” he says, showing the carbon fiber bodywork. “Another big weight reducer. It was a pain in the ass making all this stuff.” He picks up the one-piece tail section / seat pan / tank cover. “But I mean, at the end of the day, this entire thing was like three pounds.”

At 550 pounds and 375 bhp, the HF355 has a power-to-weight ratio of .68 hp per pound, or 1360 hp per ton. To put that in perspective, a modern F1 car weighs 1759 pounds and makes an estimated 1035 bhp, giving it a slightly lower power-to-weight ratio of just .59 hp per pound, or 1297 hp per ton. Insane indeed!

We’ll keep you posted as Hazan does more riding, tuning, and testing of this Italian-powered, American-built V8 motorcycle. 

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