During World War 2, the 1940 Harley-Davidson WLA Liberator won combat and film prizes. Captain America famously rode the WLA Liberator for support tasks like message delivery, reconnaissance, and mobile patrol.
The 1958 Honda Super Cub may seem like another little motorcycle to some. The 50cc bike barely exceeds 40 mph. The Super Cub's cost and accessibility introduced non-motorcyclists to motorcycling.
The Triumph Bonneville T120 was exceptional. The 650cc parallel-twin's 46 horsepower made it popular. The bike was the most popular engine donor for Norton frames to make Tritons.
The 1973 Ducati 750 Super Sport, the first bike with Ducati's distinctive engine, saved Ducati. L-twins, or desmodromic 90° V-twins, were Ducati's mainstay until the V4. The 750SS was a success with thrill-seekers when it debuted.
The Honda Gold Wing is still a popular touring bike. The original Gold Wings had no baggage or dressings, despite their many amenities and luxury. Honda's 1975 GL1000 had minimal fairings.
BMW's R 1200 GS and R 1250 GS have led adventure riding's growth. BMW's adventure bikes, sometimes called "dad bikes," are descended from the 1980 R80G/S, the first true adventure bike.
The Ducati Monster was the first factory-naked bike. Riders remarked its trellis structure and powerful engine when it was debuted. Monster sales funded Ducati's motorsport development.
The 1994 Ducati 916 astonished the world with its motorcycling elegance. The 916's trellis frame, single-sided swingarm, and undertail exhausts gave it a distinctive side profile.
The Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa, named after the Peregrine falcon and capable of the same speed, is well-known. The bike's 1299cc inline-four engine with 173 horsepower set it apart when it was introduced. The first bike to break 186 mph, it reached 194 mph.
The only bike with a factory supercharger, the Kawasaki Ninja H2R, set the standard. Kenan Sofuoglu established a high speed record of 249 mph on the track-only menace.