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10 Best Motorcycles of All Time
Motorcycling has a long and storied history. In the time since its inception, elegantly designed bikes have seized the curiosity of interested riders, and a few have been so influential and iconic they've reached something of a legendary status.
Narrowing down exactly which motorcycles make the cut is a surefire way to start a spirited (but friendly) debate among fellow riders. There are plenty of factors by which to rate a bike as a classic -- design, cultural impact, numbers sold -- and not all agree on what the best metrics are, to say the least.
Since I'm feeling gutsy today, I'm going to throw out my personal top ten picks, along with a bit of background on what I think makes them worthy of being called some of the best models of all time.
1) The Honda CB77
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| By Mick from Northamptonshire, England - Honda Superhawk 305cc CB77 1965. Light years ahead of anything else. Those were the great days of early Japanese bikes,even if I preferred the earlier Super Dream, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18297416 |
If I'm going by influence, I've got to throw a nod to the Honda CB77. Also known as the "Superhawk," (when the 1961 version came out) this model, for a time in the early sixties, was one of the biggest and baddest Hondas around, capable of reaching speeds upwards of 100mph with 305cc engine.
It was among the very first sports bikes, helped propel Honda to prominence in Western markets, and to top it off, it had an electric starter too. For influencing generations of Japanese bikes to come, the CB77 surely deserves a spot on my top ten.
2) The Kawasaki H1
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| By 1969_Kawasaki_500_H1_MachIII.jpg: Mike Schinkelderivative work: Ligabo (talk) - 1969_Kawasaki_500_H1_MachIII.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10414477 |
When it comes to a mix of 70s-style and high performance, I tip my hat to the legendary Kawasaki H1 (also known as the Mach III). Built during a time when American bikers were demanding ample power, Kawasaki delivered with this 500cc beauty (for it's time, it was the fastest production bike ever) and left an indelible mark on the world of performance motorcycle craftsmanship.
3) The Norton Manx
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| By Martin Pettitt at Flickr - Cropped version of Flickr image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdpettitt/2621914686/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39775491 |
A true "classic's classic," the Norton Manx was one of the most successful racing machines ever created, with top speeds hitting 130mph and a reputation for domination at the track. It's design is still imitated in some form or another today, and it's not hard to find replicas of these beauties, as they're a piece of history everyone seems to want to get their hands on.
4) The Indian Chief
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| By Thilo Parg - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23185992 |
Going back in time a bit further, I'd like to call attention to the Indian Chief. First introduced in the 1920s, it enjoyed a successful reputation as a solid and powerful cycle with ample acceleration and a sturdy aesthetic until its eventual discontinuation in the 1950s. Legends like this never truly die, though, and the Chief has been brought back at several points over the years, with the most recent iterations combining a classic aesthetic with plenty of contemporary luxuries.
5) The Harley-Davidson WLA
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| By User:Bukvoed - Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1760253 |
There are a great many Harley-Davidson cycles that could make the cut on a top ten list, but the WLA gets this nod for its toughness, reliability, and distinguished military service. If it was rugged enough to handle WWII in large numbers, it's more than good enough for me; the dashing looks and influence on chopper culture following the war are just icing on the proverbial cake.
6) The KTM 950 Adventure
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| By Cowgirlonline - Flickr: 06 KTM 950 ADVENTURE R78500, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14852250 |
7) The Ducati Monster
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| By HORURUN@SRV250 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3088842 |
It's hard to point to just one Ducati and say "this is it." Pressed for an answer, though, I'll go with the Ducati Monster, the muscle bike that single-handedly shifted Ducati's fortunes throughout the 1990s. The Monster family has the looks, the cool factor, and definitely the power to make it on just about any bike fanatic's list of favorites. I consider myself no exception, and still hold those old M900s near the pinnacle of motorcycle design.
8) The Suzuki RG500
Ducatis are great, but they don't hold a monopoly on the sport bike scene. 80s riders may remember a little model by the name of Suzuki RG500, which hit the markets mid-decade and brought a bit of two-stroke, Grand Prix style to the masses. It lasted just two years, until 1987, when production was discontinued. Those that remember, though, will surely tell you stories of what a wild time it was.9) The BMW R60/2
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| By The original uploader was Motorrad-67 at English Wikipedia.Later versions were uploaded by Liftarn at en.wikipedia. - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2846217 |
BMW has most assuredly earned their place in the annals of motorcycle history, and among their many models, I hold the BMW R60/2 in the highest of esteem. This 1960s touring bike was a masterwork of German engineering, with loads of accessories and potential customizations that could tailor to just about any distance-rider's tastes. It even had the look of an elegantly-designed touring machine -- one that, in my opinion, has yet to be surpassed.
10) Kawasaki Ninja 1000
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| By PekePON - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23549641 |
The Kawasaki Ninja hit the scene in 1984, and I can still remember some of those old ads word for word. While that might be more of a statement on the company's awesome marketing, the fact remains that this family of bikes has built quite the reputation for their combination of sporty style and power. Of the thirty plus bikes to now bear the "Ninja" name, I've got to give the nod to the Ninja 1000 -- Kawasaki's 2011 iteration of the cycle geared toward serious street performance rather than racing. It's still got plenty of bite, but ergonomically, it's a street machine through-and-through.
What do you think of this top 10 motorcycles list? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below.
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Top 5 Motorcycle Movies to Add to Your Watchlist
Want to know one of my favorite things about motorcycle
culture? Thanks to the bike's cool factor (and the overwhelming influence it's
had on our collective psyche since post-WWII), cycles have been forever
immortalized on the silver screen -- time and again and in legendary fashion.
Sure, there are some duds and out there, and not every motorcycle flick is
balls-to-the-wall exciting, but by-and-large? Plenty of great
motorcycle-centric films to pick from if you're looking to enjoy an evening in.
Today, I'll be throwing out my top five flicks where the cycle takes center
stage.
The Wild One
Arguably the the originator of the "outlaw
biker" genre, The Wild One, released in 1953 and starring the legendary
Marlon Brando, tells the story of the "Black Rebels Motorcycle Club,"
based on a short from Harper's Magazine by Frank Rooney. Brando takes on the
role of Johnny Strabler, leader of the Black Rebels and an outlaw in every
sense of the word. This film has all the essentials that later films would
follow: small-town troubles, rival biker factions, friction between bikers and
police -- and of course the mesmerizing cool that would influence biker culture
for decades.
Was it dramatized? Naturally -- much of the source
material, The Cyclists' Raid was sensationalized to appeal to readers of the
time, so it makes sense that the movie would follow in those same footsteps.
I'd say that exaggeration made for a fine film, though, one that was
subsequently imitated, and only a few others could duplicate in terms of gripping
story and supernatural charisma. Critics of the time agreed, and you'll find
plenty of old-school bikers today who list the film as an influence.
Easy Rider
I can't talk about classic biker movies without
mentioning Easy Rider, the legendary 1969 film that saw Peter Fonda and Dennis
Hopper play two bikers transporting their score from a massive cocaine deal,
and, along the way, befriend a lawyer played by Jack Nicholson. I won't spoil
the whole plot, but I'll say this -- it's emotional. Some might even say the
ending is a massive downer, but for me, that's part of what makes the story so
impactful.
The awards it received back me up, I think, as does the
significance this film had going into the 1970s. It was straight up
counterculture (for the time) and helped kick off the wave of New Hollywood
films that would follow into the next decade. To top it off, the film made a
staggering $60 million worldwide, off a budget that was less than $400,000 --
impressed yet?
The movie's soundtrack is a treat (featuring tunes from
Jimi Hendrix and Steppenwolf, among others) and lest I forget, the bikes used
in the film were some serious lookers. The iconic choppers (the "Captain
America" and the "Billy Bike") influenced bike aesthetics for
years to come, and you can still find replicas of these classics at a few spots
across the country.
The Wild Angels
Maybe I really like Peter Fonda, because he stars in
another of my favorite biker movies -- The Wild Angels, released in 1966.
Feuding outlaw biker gangs duking it out in California with real bikers in
supporting roles? What could possibly go wrong?
I'll get this out of the way now -- this film was hardly a
critical darling, and you'll find some debate among the "general
audience" as to whether this film is any good or not. Even those who
"like" The Wild Angels might say it requires a fair bit of alcohol to
sit through, but I'm in the camp of enjoying it sober and unironically. Is it a
bit cheesy by today's standards? Perhaps, but it's got that (fictional) biker
gang heart and soul that's hard to deny, and a 60s counterculture aesthetic
that still holds a fair bit of charm, even in the 21st Century.
Biker Boyz
Jumping forward in film history, to the early 2000s
now, I'm going to stick my neck out and say I actually enjoyed Biker Boyz,
albeit, in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. With a star-studded cast including
Laurence Fishburne, Djimon Honsou, Terrence Howard, and Orlando Jones, this
film had potential. Critics and audiences, however, disagreed, panning this
effort and sentencing it to eternal humiliation.
I'll admit the story leaves much to be desired, but if you just want to laugh at cheesy dialogue, ridicule ridiculous scenarios, and see some slick motorcycles while you do it, Biker Boyz will scratch that itch. This film has some amazing sport bikes featured prominently in the action, including the 2000 Yamaha R1, Ducati 966S, and the ever-amazing 2000 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Rather than end with another of my controversial picks,
I'll conclude with a film just about everyone can agree is great. Now, we can
go back and forth about whether or not 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road qualifies as a
true "motorcycle movie," but there's no denying the movie features
plenty of bikes, and the epic motorcycle chase scene is perfection on
two-wheels.
The post-apocalyptic setting was ideal for that race
through the desert, and both Mad Max Rockatansky (played by Tom Hardy) and
Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron), ride some mean machines during said
sequence (a Yamaha R1 and a BMW R80, respectively). It's action, adventure, and
everything else you'd want from an outstanding movie, so be sure to add this
one to your short list.
Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know below!
Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know below!
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