Yamaha/Star V-Max

Perhaps it seems a bit odd to label a Yamaha-built bike as an exotic, but consider its monstrous 200-horsepower V-Four engine stuffed in an aluminum frame, a ride-by-wire throttle, variable-length throttle intakes, bespoke radial master cylinders and hand-polished aluminum intake scoops. A lofty $17,990 MSRP keeps out the punters, helping to ensure its exotic and rare status. Mountains of power throughout the rev range is like engaging hyper-drive, and tire-smoking corner exits are delivered easier than anything else with two wheels. Yamaha has brought an icon back to life with the new Max, and it's crazier and more capable than ever.

The V-Max isn't a cruiser and it's not a sportbike - it's both, and there's nothing else quite like it. It's an accessible exotic.