Motorcycles have been a sign of independence and rebellion for decades now. The two-wheeled vehicles have always had some sense of personality and taste to them, making them the perfect thing for the rough-n-tough, all the way to the casual city driver.
Whether you’re a leather jacket-donned strongman, an angsty neighborhood teen, or a style-driven sports driver, we think you can agree that these motorcycles are some of the most influential, and famous, of all time.
The Brough Superior SS100- 1937
The Brough Superior holds a place on this list for one very special reason: it was the original superbike.
That’s right. This motorcycle was the first to beat the 100 miles per hour mark, and because of how special it was it was even sent to customers with a certificate signed by the company’s founder. Now that’s luxury.
The bike was able to set such a record due to its 50-degree V-twin engine, and could push out 48 hp, while 30 hp was the big number of the decade. It was so widely famous that Lawrence of Arabia owned eight.
He also, ironically enough, died on one after he got into a massive crash in Dorset England.
Moto Guzzi V8- 1955
What words can we use to describe the Moto Guzzi V8 model?
It’s strange, flashy, and definitely eye-catching. It was the first motorcycle to ever see itself at a Grand Prix start, which is visible by its racing-style design. The vehicle was designed by Giulio Cesare Carcano for Moto Guzzi, the largest Italian race-car manufacturer back in the 50’s.
It’s been driven by massive names such as Fergus Anderson, Stanley Woods, Kev Kavanagh, and many more. The bike lost its popularity rather quickly however as its technology was behind by a few years, and even though it only raced from ’55-’57, it is one of the world’s most influential bikes.
Harley-Davidson Sportster- 1957
Harley Davidson is one of the most highly-regarded names in motorcycle history. When people think of motorcycles, they usually think of Harley Davidson.
And when they think of Harley Davidson, they think of the Sportster. The bike first launched in 1957, and is still in production today, showing just how famous this thing was. It had a 45-degree V-twin, allowing it to reach high speeds.
The line of Sportster vehicles is the company’s most famous to date, and its widely recognized as an American staple.
Honda CB750- 1969
The motorcycle pictured above was Honda’s very first major motorcycle, and it would change the entire game. This motorbike would shift the focus in motorcycle manufacturing after utilizing four-cylinder Japanese machines instead of the usual British singles and twins.
This bike is often nicknamed the Universal Japanese Motorcycle, and when it comes to modern superbikes and superbike racing, this one was one of the originals.
MV Agusta 750S- 1971
MV Agusta, a famous and still-standing motorbike manufacturer based in Italy, would produce the vehicle in racing in 1971, with the 750S. This bike was the final one produced by founder Count Domenico Agusta, and it was the fastest four-cylinder vehicle in the world at the time.
It utilized the company’s 600’s motor and was able to push its capacity up to 750 cc. The car itself has a gorgeous, 70’s design and only 583 were ever created.
Kawasaki Z1-1972
The early 70’s would see another competitive motorbike come out alongside the Agustas and Honda; the Kawasaki. The Z1 was a secretive project, developed under the nickname “New York Steak.: It was the world’s first Japanese four-cylinder that came with large-capacity and overhead camshafts. This gave it a massive edge over Honda’s widely-recognized CB750.
The bike could accelerate to a maximum of over 130 miles per hour, and until the 1980’s this bike was the undisputed champion.
BMW R80G/S- 1980
1980 saw the rise of the BMW Gelande Sport (referred to as ‘GS’) and it was a revolutionary superbike. It could travel practically anywhere, including the countryside. It saw massive success in the Paris-Dakar Rally, and after having a massive role in the tv series Long Way Round, this bike became incredibly famous.
It was so important to fans in fact that it quite literally saved BMW from bankruptcy.
Ducati 916- 1994
The Ducati 916 was the child of Massimo Tamburini, and it grew with time to begin a style revolution in the world of superbikes. According to Tamburini, the cycle was designed to have a shape similar to that of a woman, and it became an instant success due to its aerodynamic nature. It would win the World Superbike Championship for three years in a row and made Ducati what it is today.
Ducati Superleggera V4- 2020
Ducati is making the list yet again with their marvelous Superleggera V4. The bike was named The Robb Report’s best performance motorcycle of 2020, and it currently sits as one of the finest, yet most expensive, bikes on the market.
For $100,000 the bike will get you a carbon-fiber build and a 224 hp motor that can go up to 234 hp. Only 500 were ever built, and for good reason, as the bike is professional on every level and has an insane horsepower for its size.
