The 25 Greatest Motorcycles of the Last 100 Years

1937 Brough Superior SS100

The world’s first superbike. The SS100 was delivered with a certificate signed by company founder George Brough guaranteeing that the motorcycle would crack the magic 100 mph mark. Using a 990 cc, air-cooled 50-degree V-twin engine, the SS100 punched out a remarkable 48 hp at a time when anything above 30 hp was considered enormous.

T.E. Lawrence—better known as Lawrence of Arabia—owned eight Broughs, including the one pictured here (model year from the 1920s). He eventually lost his life on one when he crashed near his home in Dorset, England. The Brough Superior name has since been resurrected by Mark Upham, with 21st Century SS100’s now being manufactured.

1957 Harley-Davidson Sportster

There’s likely no motorcycle that provokes more passion, more staunch patriotism, than the Harley-Davidson Sportster. Still in production today, the Sportster first appeared in 1957 using a four-stroke, 45-degree V-twin. Of the latter, the first used was the Ironhead motor that ranged from 900 cc to 1000 cc, and was later changed to the Evolution motor (883 cc to 1100cc).

The Sportster line is easily the most important and lucrative to Harley-Davidson. It has powered the company through multiple financial hardships and is as much a part of the American motorcycle fabric as Harley-Davidson itself.

1958 Honda Super Cub

Honda’s 50 cc C100 Super Cub is the biggest selling motor vehicle in history, having racked up 100 million sales in the last 63 years, and is still going. With a simple 49 cc pushrod engine, automatic clutch engagement, large 17-inch wheels, pressed steel-spine-type frame and plastic leg shields and mudguards, the Super Cub could be ridden by anyone, and with nominal fuel consumption. The electric-start C102 version, introduced in 1960, further extended the appeal to riders who flocked to showrooms, partly due to a catchy and effective advertising campaign that simply stated, “You meet the nicest people on a Honda”.

1960 Triumph T120 Bonneville

Celebrated for its blend of performance, style, and cultural impact, the 1960 Triumph T120 Bonneville is one of the most iconic motorcycles of the 20th century. Named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, where Triumph set numerous land speed records, the T120 featured the brand’s first dual-carburetor 650 cc parallel-twin engine capable of reaching 115 mph, making it one of the fastest bikes of its time. Its signature two-tone paint, elongated chrome pipes, and pillion-friendly pancake seat made the Brit-bike cool.

The Bonneville became a symbol of 1960s counterculture, famously associated with the café racer scene and ridden by the likes of Steve McQueen and Bob Dylan. Its timeless design and racing pedigree helped Triumph establish a rich legacy in both the American and British markets, with near-original silhouettes still among the best-selling models on the market today. To that point, the 1960 example shown here was sold through Mecum Auctions in March of this year.   

1968 Norton Commando

In 1968, Norton did the unthinkable—it ditched its legendary “Featherbed” frame to create the Commando. True, the model wasn’t an entirely new design—the basic engine dated back to 1949, but the 750 cc Commando breathed fresh life into what had been an ailing brand. That engine was now suspended on rubber mounts within the new frame to cure the vibrations that plagued the Atlas model. The Commando Fastback Mk1 embodied bold new styling for the cycle parts, which was a big hit in Norton’s biggest market, the USA. In 1973, the engine was further expanded to 850 cc, which also expanded the model’s (and Norton’s) production life.

1972 Kawasaki Z1

Honda may have set the ball rolling for four-cylinder street bikes, followed closely by MV Agusta, but Kawasaki was the one to really knock it out of the park with its Z1. Developed under the project name “New York Steak,” the Z1 was the first large-capacity, Japanese four-cylinder offering to come with double overhead camshafts, trumping arch-rival Honda’s CB750 as well as offering a 153 cc capacity hike for the rider. With 82 hp on tap and the potential to go over 130 mph, the Z1 became the ultimate 1970’s production sports machine on two wheels— at least until Honda started to hit back in the early 1980s.

1973 Yamaha RD350

The 1973 Yamaha RD350 was pivotal in the evolution of performance motorcycles. The RD350 was a lightweight, two-stroke bike that offered an exceptional power-to-weight ratio, making it a favorite among enthusiasts and racers. Its affordability and accessibility spread the concept of a high-performance motorcycle that was within reach of most riders.

The RD350’s design and engineering laid the groundwork for the RD400F Daytona Special, which further refined the formula with more power and better handling. These models became icons in the street racing scene, influencing the development of future sportbikes and cementing Yamaha’s reputation for building fast, fun, and affordable motorcycles.

1974 Ducati 750SS

Any motorcycle Top 25 list would be incomplete without listing the 1974 Ducati 750SS Green Frame. Comprising a production run of only 401 examples, the 750SS was based off the 1972 Imola 200–winning 750 cc racer, ridden by Paul Smart. The Green Frame, however, quickly grew to such levels of adoration that the Bologna-based factory soon produced a larger 900SS to satisfy demand.

The Green Frame was the only round case, bevel-drive desmo produced primarily for the street. Featured in the Guggenheim museum exhibit “The Art of Motorcycle,” it has become one of the single best investments in the history of motorcycling, with values often fetching well over $100,000.

1980 BMW R 80 G/S

In 1980, BMW not only created a new category, but an entire movement with the Gelände Sport, or G/S (the acronym was later changed to GS). A maxi-travel bike that could go anywhere, the G/S saved BMW Motorrad from financial extinction and is still considered the ultimate adventure bike to cross paddocks, states, or even countries.

Success in the grueling Paris-Dakar Rally, its starring role in Ewan McGregor’s hit television series Long Way Round and generations of happy adventure riders make the G/S the most important motorcycle BMW has ever built.

1980 Honda GL1100 Gold Wing Interstate

In 1980, Honda’s Gold Wing revolutionized long-distance touring with its introduction of the first full-dress touring motorcycle. Featuring a horizontally opposed 1,100 cc four-cylinder engine, the GL1100 offered unparalleled smoothness and reliability. The Interstate model came equipped with a full fairing, saddlebags, and a trunk, setting a new standard for touring comfort and convenience.

The ‘Wing not only defined the modern touring motorcycle but also established Honda’s dominance in the segment, creating a loyal following and influencing the design of touring bikes for generations—the combination of engineering excellence and luxury made it a best-seller, solidifying Honda’s position as a market leader in the 1980s.

1984 Harley-Davidson Softail with the Evolution Engine

The 1970’s were darker days for Harley-Davidson, when the brand found itself under ownership that wasn’t savvy about motorcycles or the manufacturer’s audience. But after a management buyout in 1981, the first matter of business was a new motor. In short order, the 1984 Harley-Davidson Softail, featuring the Evolution engine, marked a turning point for Harley-Davidson, both technically and economically. The 1,340 cc all-aluminum power plant was a significant advancement over its predecessors, offering improved reliability, performance, and lower emissions.

The Softail design, which hid the rear suspension to mimic the look of a hardtail, became an instant classic, blending modern comfort with traditional aesthetics. It was a huge hit, one that helped revitalize Harley-Davidson and pave the way for its resurgence in the ‘90s and secure its place as a cultural and economic juggernaut.

1985 Suzuki GSX-R750

Suzuki’s contribution to superbike history can be summed up in one name—GSX-R. The GSX-R750 of 1985 started this long, successful road for the company, a road paved with race wins and championship titles.

A rider had never before been able to purchase a machine that was as close to what was being raced by the pro’s around the world—until this model. And it proved an enormously successful enterprise for Suzuki, which still manufactures the bike today, even though the 750 cc class has long been considered deceased.

1992 Honda CBR900RR FireBlade

Often referred to as the Father of the Fireblade, Tadao Baba—a Honda engineer (now retired)—convinced the Honda board to create a new class of sport bike in the early 1990s, one that focused on the handling and power that riders really needed for the road, rather than the razor-sharp race bikes produced at the time. Thus, the Honda CBR900RR was born.

Named the FireBlade in all countries save the United States (until 2020), it changed the way the world looked at sport bikes and was the catalyst for the superbike category, eventually moving from 750 cc four-cylinder machines to the 1000 cc monsters of today.

1992 Honda NR750

Honda’s NR750 is one of those bikes you will never forget once you see it in the metal. A 747 cc, oval-piston V-4 with a staggering 32 valves, the 750 was the pinnacle of the NR program that started back in 1979 with the NR500 500cc Grand Prix machine.

The NR750 led a series of firsts for a production motorcycle: electronic fuel injection, carbon-fiber bodywork, inverted forks, under-seat exhausts and, of course, the oval piston layout that was reserved for only the very finest of Honda race bikes. So exquisite was the aesthetic that Massimo Tamburini freely admitted to copying the under-seat exhaust design for a bike that is often described as the most beautiful ever created—his Ducati 916.

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1992 Britten V1000

There has quite simply never been a motorcycle like the Britten V1000. The product of the late John Britten and his team of hard-graft mates in a Christchurch garage on New Zealand’s South Island, the Britten challenged and beat the best twin-cylinder machines in the world, winning races at Daytona, all over Europe and in Australasia.

More than that, however, the Britten is a symbol of what happens when you dedicate your life to a single goal. John Britten was a visionary. The documentary One Man’s Dream is essential viewing for anyone remotely interested in motorcycles, and his untimely death from cancer in 1995—at the age of 45—robbed motorcycling of one of its finest minds.

1994 Ducati 916

Massimo Tamburini’s masterpiece. The Ducati 916 crossed boundaries, becoming a style icon that is still revered today. The motorcycle reflects the shape of a woman, at least according to Tamburini, and was instantly successful in competition. It won the World Superbike Championship three years straight and put Ducati onto the commercial path it now enjoys.

The 916’s impact on motorcycling as a whole can never be understated, moving design from the boxy, early 1990’s aesthetic to the flowing lines copied by so many now. More so than the 750SS, the 916 is without a doubt the most important motorcycle, both financially and culturally, Ducati has ever created.

1998 Yamaha YZF-R1

The R1 is the Yamaha sport bike. It brought levels of performance that were unheard of for production motorcycles at the time, and permanently changed how sport bikes were designed and packaged. Yamaha designer Kunihiko Miwa mounted the gearbox output shaft above the crankshaft, rather than in a line as per conventional wisdom. Thus, the world’s first vertically-stacked gearbox was created, and the tighter packaging flowed to every area of the machine to make the first “no compromise” superbike, as Miwa coined it. The R1 continues to capture the imaginations and wallets of riders to this day.

2000 Harley-Davidson XR750

It’s not entirely fair to single out the 2000 XR750 for special mention, as it is part of a story that stretches close to half a century on America’s dirt tracks. The XR can legitimately claim the title of ‘most successful race bike of all time’ in any class, in any form of competition.

It was considered the only bike to be on for much of the 50-odd years it raced in AMA Flat Track competition, piloted by greats like Jay Springsteen, Scott Parker, Joe Kopp, Jared Mees and Brad Baker. It was retired from competition when the XG750R came into being in 2016, a machine that has an impossible task ahead of replicating the reputation of its predecessors as the greatest flat track racer in history.

2001 Honda NSR500

The Honda NSR500 was the most dominant 500 cc Grand Prix racing motorcycle of all time. Between 1984 and 2001 (1997 model pictured), the NSR took over 130 race wins as well as 10 rider and 11 constructor world championship titles with Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner, Eddie Lawson, Mick Doohan, Àlex Crivillé and Valentino Rossi.

In 1984, the model started life with 140 hp from its 499 cc two-stroke engine and ended its Grand Prix tenure with 185 hp and a wet weight around a scant 285 pounds. The NSR was the ultimate two-stroke racer in an age of unruly machines that were incredibly difficult to ride at the limit.

2015 Kawasaki Ninja H2R

This is Kawasaki’s “because-we-can” motorcycle. The Ninja H2R has a supercharged, 999 cc, inline four-cylinder motor with a claimed 310 hp on tap. When you think of the current climate that is riddled with litigation, it’s amazing Kawasaki allowed themselves to build such a bike and sell it to the public.

The H2R signaled the start of Kawasaki slowly bringing supercharged technology to the market, and it’s ironic that a motorcycle so blisteringly fast will likely be the forefather to supercharged motorcycles less than half its size and based on better fuel and emissions economy, rather than outright speed.

2018 Ducati Panigale V4

The 2018 Ducati Panigale V4 represents a significant leap forward in superbike engineering and design. As the first mass-produced Ducati to feature a V4 “Desmosedici Stradale” engine, derived from the manufacturer’s MotoGP technology, the Panigale V4 set new benchmarks for power, handling, and electronic sophistication in a production motorcycle. The bike’s “frameless” design, advanced aerodynamics, and suite of electronic aids such as traction control, cornering ABS, and a quick-shifter made it a game-changer in the sportbike segment.

The Panigale V4’s influence extends beyond its performance; it redefined what a superbike could be, blending cutting-edge technology with Italian design flair. And, the Panigale V4 heralded in future fantastics, such as the Superleggera V4—a bike we named Robb Report’s Best Performance Motorcycle when it arrived in 2020.

2020 Ducati Superleggera V4

Named Robb Report‘s Best Performance Motorcycle for this year, the Superleggera V4 is the finest Ducati Superbike available on the market. Carbon fiber abounds with the Superleggera V4, including the bodywork, wheels, frame, swingarm and subframe. And the model’s 224 hp motor gets bumped to 234 hp when you fit the racing exhaust.

Only 500 examples will be built, each priced at $100,000. This is as close as the public can get to owning MotoGP technology (not including the 2015 Honda RC213V-S). It offers incredible agility, arm-wrenching horsepower and the very top tier in electronics—all wrapped in a beautiful, biplane-winged body. Ducati at its best.