In the 1950s and 1960s, numerous upstart companies from Italy, Britain, Spain, Germany, and Japan poured out waves of new motorcycle offerings, flooding the market with innumerable choices. But when the '70s kicked in, smaller manufacturers gradually dropped off the radar, and a steady consolidation turned motorcycle manufacturing into a game played by a capable few. In Japan, the legendary Big Four of Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki emerged from the dizzying number of small manufacturers to deliver enormously influential motorcycles.
With some exceptions, it's no big secret that classic Japanese bikes have previously been criticized for lacking personality, while others got viewed as consumer items to use and cast aside. On the bright side, Japan's motorcycle history is undoubtedly rich with trendsetters and myth busters that shaped the motorcycle landscape. These genuinely remarkable models offered something different, and they rose above the pack to become icons in their time. The classic motorcycles in this article do well to remind us of a unique era in motorcycling history, and we would jump at a chance to take them out for a ride.
10 1974 Yamaha YZ250
Yamaha did not design the YZ250 for regular commute, but it was the perfect bike to extend a rich motocross history that started with the 1955 YA-1 model. Yamaha aimed the bike straight at the expert rider, with potential buyers getting screened to provide evidence of racing experience. Between 1973 and 2004, Yamaha won over ten motocross championship titles and 17 off-road titles, all thanks to the YZ250.
The YZ250 was so good that it still holds the longest-standing two-stroke dirt bike record, with over 43 variations throughout its lifetime. Considering Gary Jones and Hakan Anderson played a role in its development, the original 1974 YZ250 is certainly a bike that guarantees some off-road fun.
9 1980 Honda GL1100 Gold Wing
Although Honda intended to make the Gold Wing a sporty power cruiser after the well-received CB 750, it quickly evolved into a tourer that became the king of full-fairing baggers. Today, the Gold Wing is revered for redefining what it means to cruise around in luxury, making it the preferred choice for hardcore touring.
The Interstate model is arguably one of the best touring bikes ever made, and Honda ensured it handles the saddlebags, fairing, and top box easily. Besides the beautiful package, the GL1100's unusual liquid-cooled opposed four is smooth, torquey, powerful, and durable enough to last for a well-mapped road trip.
8 1976 Suzuki RG500
Over 45 years ago, Suzuki won its first 500GP world title at Assen with the RG500, a racing bike that changed the face of 500cc GP racing in its debut year. At the time, entering the 500GPs with a two-stroke motor would have been considered a joke, but the RG500's dominance won seven constructor's championships in a row for Suzuki.
In addition to the constructor championships, the Suzuki RG500 also won four world titles and 50 individual races. Considering two-stroke bikes are a dying breed, it would be thrilling to experience the raw power, crazy torque, and of course, the easy wheelies on the road.
7 1985 Yamaha VMax
Many riders remember the original V-Max for one thing; its prodigious amount of power. Often teased as the undisputed King of Quick, the V-Max boasts a 1200cc V-Four with four valves per cylinder, a modified motor derived from Yamaha's Venture touring bike.
The 1985 V-Max puts out 113hp and 83lb-ft of torque, impressive performance levels that took years for other street bikes to match. Although the V-Max received a mixed bag of opinions about its subtly, the unique design and fast acceleration with up to 150mph top speed make it a tempting proposition for attacking the highway.
6 1984 Kawasaki GPz900R
When the Kawasaki GPz900R debuted in 1984, it was the cutting-edge technology and the first of several things. The 900R was the first warrior bike to wear the Ninja badge, and also the first to use a "diamond" frame that incorporated the engine as a stressed member.
Fitted with 16 valves, dual overhead camshafts, an internal counterbalance, and a 908cc liquid-cooled four-cylinder, the GPz900R could easily burn down the quarter-mile in 11 seconds. The Ninja 900R earned numerous 'Bike of the Year' awards for its superb performance at high speeds and how it made riders feel and look great, but we would also throw a leg over it for its crisp handling and forceful braking.
5 1973 Honda Elsinore CR250M
European motorcycle brands dominated the motocross scene by the turn of the '70s, but the arrival of the Honda CR250M Elsinore in 1973 stirred things up. The CR250M put everyone on alert for its ability to become a contender right out of the crate, requiring relatively less modification than most racing bikes at the time.
The Honda Elsinore changed the game with a 65hp 250cc motor and a substantial list of standard trick items like lightweight aluminum construction, lightweight rims, big shocks with cooling fins, and good handlebars and levers. Since this classic dirt bike influenced the evolution of motocross, paved the way for modern Honda dirt bikes, and boasts a few titles under its belt, it would certainly make good company for speeding in the dirt.
4 1985 Suzuki GSX-R750
Japan got serious about sportbikes around the mid-1980s, and the legendary GSX-R750 that started Suzuki's long, prosperous superbike heritage is a testament to that. The GSX-R750 was arguably one of the sexiest bikes in showrooms at the time, boasting drop-dead gorgeous styling with all the hallmarks of a factory endurance racer.
Affectionately nicknamed 'slabby' due to the slab-sided styling, the GSX made its mark in history in the way it set racetracks alight with several wins since its debut. The GSX-R750 undoubtedly revolutionized sports bikes, offering performances close to what the pros raced on the tracks with the ability to cope with the hammering of street riding.
3 1969 Honda CB750
Honda flipped the motorcycle world on its head and set the standard for sophistication with the iconic CB750 in 1969. Recognized as the first superbike, the CB750 was the first mass-produced bike to feature an inline-four, electric start, and disc brakes.
From the manufacturer's racing history, Honda's engineers used the experience to build a bike that beat the contemporary Harley by 1hp and still matched the displacement of the contemporary Triumph. Besides blowing the lid off what affordable power looked like on a bike, the Honda CB750 boasts the classic design that most riders enjoy from the '60s.
2 1972 Kawasaki Z1
Kawasaki has delivered some gems over the years, but the Z1's indelible mark on the motorcycle scene stands heads and shoulders above most. Widely recognized as Japan's first literbike thanks to a 903cc engine, the quintessential Z1 also broke new ground as the first UJM with a transverse-mount air-cooled four-cylinder.
Before its public release, the Z1 had made a statement with a pair of Daytona endurance world records, another reason why it's so deeply entrenched in bike culture. From the upright sitting position to the mid-mount controls, spring-preload adjustable rear suspension, RWU non-adjustable front forks, and the laced wheels, everything about the Z1 makes it a nostalgic bike to ride today.
1 1999 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa
The original Hayabusa was everything Suzuki set it out to be; the ultimate road-legal beast with the highest performance of any mass-produced bike on the market. On its debut, the jaw-dropping aerodynamic bodywork had everyone throwing every superlative imaginable in the bike's direction. However, the massive 175hp liquid-cooled 1298cc four-stroke underneath certainly earned it a place in motorcycling folklore.
The legendary 'Busa clears a standing quarter-mile in 10.3 seconds, and its impressive 190mph top speed had it crowned as the fastest production motorcycle of the 20th century. Besides the futuristic design and neck-breaking speed, the abundance of torque makes the GSX1300R Hayabusa as usable on everyday roads as it was over 20 years ago.