Drysdale - All Models

Company History

Ian Drysdale is an Australian engineer whose V8 motorcycles have captivated tinkerers and connoisseurs since the 1990s. Built in tiny numbers, the Drysdale V8s use compact, multi-cylinder engines derived from clever modularity—essentially combining small-capacity architectures into a smooth, revvy unit—then mount them in chassis tuned for balance rather than spectacle. Some projects explored two-wheel drive, alternative front ends, and packaging that challenged conventional assumptions about weight distribution. The result is not just noise (though the soundtrack is glorious) but rideability: tractable torque, linear response, and steering that belies cylinder count. Drysdale’s workshop approach—design, fabricate, iterate—recalls the best of shed-born innovation where the barrier to entry is determination backed by machining talent. Commercial realities keep volumes minuscule, but that scarcity is part of the appeal; each bike is a statement that a single mind, with the right tools, can build something both exotic and functional. Historically, Drysdale stands alongside Britten and other mavericks as proof that brilliant motorcycles can come from outside big factories, and that the craft of making is itself a form of performance worth celebrating.