Some of you might remember the Tomahawk, a non–street legal concept vehicle introduced by Dodge at the 2003 North American International Auto Show. While not sporting an 8.3-litre V10 like that one, the LM 847 is scarily close. Frenchman Ludovic Lazareth has stuffed a 4.7-litre V8 engine, sourced from a Maserati Quattroporte, into this contraption, along with four single-sided swingarms, rim-mounted brakes, dual hub-centre steering and numerous other bits.

But why build this in the first place? Well, for the past three decades, French motorcyclists had to live with a law that restricted all motorbikes to a maximum of 100 horsepower. Every bike that was sold in Europe needed a French version made, which meant adding electronic or mechanical restrictors to bring power down to the aforementioned number. As unfortunate as it was, the authorities finally killed the law this year, and what better way to celebrate than building an extreme machine?

Lazareth is no stranger to building seemingly insane projects, and the LM 847 only reconfirms the madness. The massively over-engineered hulk of metal makes 470 horsepower and 620Nm of torque – all of which meet the tarmac via a single-speed viscous clutch automatic transmission and not one, but two rear tyres, each with its own chain drive, and each on its own single-sided swingarm. There is a pair of massive single-sided swingarms up front as well, each with its own hub-steered front wheel, rim-mounted brake, and independent shocks – unlike the transversely mounted TFX rear shock.

Split carbon-fibre shields between the pair of wheels front and aft, super wide handlebars, reverse-action levers, and a ton of unorthodox components make this 400kg, tilting quad bike a thing of wonder, and then you notice that stock Ducati Panigale tail section. God bless the man.

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