There's something special about the looks of a vintage motorcycle. Whether it's the brightly colored fenders of an old Harley or the sleek and simple lines of a Cafe Racer, many vintage motorcycles can be considered a work of art on two wheels. Among even these works of art, some stand out as simply stunning, unmatched for their beauty
While taste is subjective, it's hard not to be smitten with a vintage motorcycle, even if you're a firm believer in modern ones being better. Whether it's the raw mechanical nature and looks of an old cruiser, the sculptural fairings of a vintage racer, or the military-inspired style of 1950's sports bikes, there's something for everyone to fall in love with when it comes to these machines.
But pictures are worth more than a thousand words, so read on to see 15 stunning vintage motorcycles that are sure to make you fall in love:
15 1955 Vincent Black Shadow
Known by many as the first Superbike, the Vincent Black Shadow was a technological wonder when new, and remains a gorgeous classic to this day. As well, when the prototype Black Shadow set a top speed of 122 mph in 1948, and a modified one set a speed record of 150 mph that same year, Vincent began using "The World's Fastest Standard Motorcycle, This Is A Fact Not A Slogan" In their advertisements for the Black Shadow.
14 1964 Triton Cafe Racer
Born from the Cafe Racer craze of the 1960s, Triton motorcycles are less of their own brand and more of a mashup of two beloved brands. Using a Triumph T120 Engine, and a Norton Featherbed frame (Triumph + Norton = Triton), these jaw-dropping, and period-correct, custom bikes are as cool as they come, with great speed and handling to boot.
13 1945 Indian Chief
A true American classic, Indian motorcycles are revered among cruiser enthusiasts as some of the best and most beautiful of all time. This one, in particular, is a Civilian Model Chief, built during a time when most mechanical production was used for the war effort. Yet, despite the troubled times, this bike is simply gorgeous, embodying everything great about American cruisers.
12 1954 Royal Enfield Bullet G2
Another classic British motorcycle, Royal Enfield has been around as a company since 1893 and has been building motorcycles since 1901. Their supplying of motorcycles through WWII helped secure them a place as a legend, with later bikes like this Bullet G2 carrying with them the spirit and gorgeous design cues of the original Bullets of the 1930s, and their wartime workhorses. This one, in particular, is a simply stunning piece of classic British bike design.
11 1957 Moto Guzzi V8 Racer
Hearing "V8" in a motorcycle's name may be confusing, is it just some model code or does it truly have an entire V8 engine in the frame? Well, this one actually does have a V8, one that only displaces 500cc at that!
Originally built for Moto GP racing, the Moto Guzzi V8 unfortunately didn't see much success due to mechanical issues, but it lives on in legend as one of the coolest motorcycles ever made.
10 1978 Honda CB750
A stunning take on Honda's world-beating CB750, even without any custom work, CB750s are great looking and riding bikes, but this one has been taken to a new level. With details like the heat-treated exhaust manifolds, big disc brakes, and a slick custom paint job, it's hard not to love this build, especially with such a reliable and fun bike being the base.
9 1985 BMW K100
As Honda's CB750 proved to be a massive success, it scared traditional motorcycle makers like BMW, much like imported Hondas and Toyotas scared American car makers. As a response, the BMW K100 was created, offering reliability, smoothness, and power with it's sideways mounted Inline 4 engine.
Years down the road, K100s have become a favorite of bike customizers, and for good reason, this example here looks stunning with the fairings removed, and the earth-tone color scheme.
8 1966 Ural M-63
Ural bikes are some of the most rugged and mil-spec cool 2 wheeled vehicles you can buy. The typical flat green paint and mechanical ruggedness call to mind military Jeeps with its function over form aesthetic. But that doesn't mean they look bad when the aesthetics are customized, as this 1966 model proves with its gorgeous custom paintwork and lowered ride height.
7 1949 Harley-Davidson Panhead FL
Harley's bikes were workhorses of the US Army in WWII, once the war was over, returning troops had a strong desire to cruise the new highways of America on two wheels thanks to the Harleys they rode in combat.
To accommodate this new demand, Harley-Davidson got to work improving their bikes for road use. The result was the Panhead FL, a truly stunning bike that would help secure Harley-Davidson's legacy as the best name in American cruisers.
6 1977 Hercules Wankel 2000
Yes, you read that correctly. This is a motorcycle powered by a Wankel Rotary engine. Less than 2,000 of these bikes were made through the 1970s, which is a shame as its 294cc single-rotor engine made 32 hp and offered a silky smooth riding experience.
Just like rotary-powered cars (that aren't RX7s), this sweet bike has faded into obscurity and the collections of the dedicated few enthusiasts who know and love it.
5 1926 Excelsior Super X
Even if you've never heard of Excelsior Motorcycles, you've probably heard the name Steve McQueen. That's right, the King Of Cool himself rode this fantastic inter-war speed machine. The engine is also noteworthy, as it was the first mass-produced American V-Twin engine, a type that would go on to be a staple of brands like Harley-Davidson and Indian.
4 1988 Honda GB250
While Honda's bikes took the rest of the world by storm, in Japan, they already were a force to be reckoned with. Making reliable, affordable, good looking, and fun, bikes like the GB250 helped them keep that position on top of the game, and provided riders with an excellent choice for any budget. This particular GB250 looks perfect against the backdrop of a quiet Japanese street, a place that's no doubt great fun to ride through.
3 1971 Honda Super Cub
"You meet the nicest people on a Honda." That original advertising slogan helped Honda's motorcycles gain the respect they deserved worldwide. But that wouldn't have been enough without the Cub and Super Cub backing them up. These reliable workhorses went on to be one of the best selling vehicles of all time and brought motor vehicles to all corners of the world. It also looks beautiful, but that's just a plus.
2 1979 KTM 175
Dirt bikes may not be the first thing you think of when you hear "stunning vintage motorcycle," but there's a certain beauty in the ruggedness of these old trail ripping machines. The classic KTM paint scheme also just looks amazing here, with the simple frame proudly standing out under a coat of orange paint. The graphics as well add a certain retro-cool to the bike that makes it all the more beautiful.
1 1968 MV Augusta 861 Magni
Born out of a legendary partnership between the classic Italian brand MV Augusta, and engineer Arturo Magni. With Magni at the helm of MV Augusta's racing team, they would go on to win 270 Grand Prix races and 75 World Championships, dominating the world of motorcycle racing.
This bike, in particular, is part of the Magni/MV Augusta partnership, taking an already fast MV Augusta 750S, and modifying it into a race-ready monster, with a new Magni designed frame, and overhauled engine for maximum performance. It also happens to look just as good as it performs.