14 Legendary Motorcycles That Made Their Brands Famous

Almost every year, motorcycle manufacturers have to introduce specific new and innovative models or make changes to the existing ones to stay alive and relevant. This is how you keep new and existing riders or buyers engaged with the brand. However, there come times when a revolution occurs. There comes a time when a legend is born.

There are certain legendary bikes that completely changed the game for a brand. These legendary motorbikes made their brands famous. These bikes gained too much attention and became so famous that they became the trademark of their makers.

Today, in this article, we will be listing these 14 legendary motorcycles that made their brands famous. These bikes created history. It can be said that these legendary bikes turned the tables for their respective motorcycle brands. Keep on reading this article to find out about these iconic motorcycles.

The Honda Gold Wing is undoubtedly the flagship model of the Honda lineup. This bike revolutionized motorcycling and made riders think about covering long distances with ease and comfort. It came as a big, touring bike, which evolved to become better.

Riders around the world love the Gold Wing for:

• Smooth ride

• Notable features

• Iconic engine

• Size

• Vast dashboard.

It turned the game for Honda, and riders started thinking of Honda as one of the serious large touring bike makers.

The Honda Gold Wing’s journey started in the mid-1970s. It wasn’t as big initially as it is now. However, the ride quality and design engineering are still top-notch. Over time, the Gold Wing got loaded with tech features, and it now comes with:

• Airbags

• DCT

• A comprehensive infotainment system

And whatnot.

The Honda Gold Wing stands out for many reasons. One of them is:

• Wide and Soft Seat: The seat installed on this bike is vast and soft, especially designed for long rides.

• Well-Designed Ergonomics: The ergonomics are specially crafted to make this bike easy to ride for long hauls.

• Riding Stance: Whether it is an upright riding stance or a decent mid-forward foot controls, everything contributes to the best laid-back riding experience.

• Horizontally Opposed Flat-Six Engine: The flat-six engine installed on the Gold Wing is remarkably smooth and quiet. It pulls with ease, so you can cruise and tour on this bike in both style and comfort.

• Most Reliable: Honda excels when it comes to producing the most reliable bikes in the history of the motorcycle industry, and the Gold Wing is no exception. It is meant to last decades.

The Honda Gold Wing is an ideal choice for those who love to go on cross-country rides on a motorcycle.

The Honda CB750 is often named as one of the greatest motorcycles ever produced. It is among those Honda bikes that is the reason why Honda remains at the top of the list of most famous motorcycle brands.

The Honda CB750 became a game-changer for Honda as soon as it was introduced to the market. It is known to set the bars high for street bikes that were produced at that time and modern ones as well.

The CB750 became available to riders in the late 1960s. This bike was ahead of its time and carried bells and whistles that many bikes didn’t have at that time. What made the Honda CB750 so special among riders is:

• The ease of use

• Smooth ride

• Real speed

The Honda CB750 led the market trend and shaped the industry at that time. The big, fast motorbikes became a thing thanks to the CB750. This bike changed the way bikes were built and designed.

The key highlights of the Honda CB750 that were not common at that time are:

• Inline-Four Engine: The Honda CB750 was powered by the inline-four engine that was quite strong and smooth at the same time.

• Front-Disc Brake: It was one of the first few motorbikes that started featuring the front disc brake for safer rides.

• Kick and Electric Start: The bike also had both kick and electric start.

The Honda CB750 made a new class in the motorcycle world. It urged many brands to step up and compete with this iconic motorbike. With the advent of the legendary CB750, the era of bigger bikes started.

Despite being a quick and big street bike of its time, the Honda CB750 was quite plain in its craft. It delivered power in a fun and easy way. Above all, the bike was cheap and easy to keep.

Harley in itself is a huge motorcycle brand and one of the oldest ones. It is considered to be the household and the National American motorcycle brand. The Harley Sportster has a considerable role to play in the success of Harley. The Sportster became the revolution and change that fans were looking for and demanding from the brand.

The big-bore, large, and bulky cruisers, tourers, and baggers were the main product line when the Sportster came in. It was sporty, smooth, and easy with better handling features. The H-D Sportster opened the doors for young and new riders.

Even in modern times, the Harley Sportster bikes have earned the most business among the whole lineup. It made Harley accessible to most riders who were only craving to ride a Harley motorbike one day.

The Harley Sportster became known to riders in the late 1950s. It was a quick Harley that leaned well around corners, perfect for city streets and club riders. Finally, there was a Harley that was specifically built for daily use.

There are numerous factors that made the Harley Sportster so iconic that it multiplied Harley’s fame and success. These factors are:

• Unique Selling Point: The Sportster became famous due to its unique selling point, which was to offer an agile and lightweight alternative to Harley’s heavier and bigger V-Twins.

• High Customization Potential: What started a whole new culture in motorcycling is the Sportster’s customization potential. The Harley Sportster models became a symbol of personalized expressions through a bike.

• Sports Version of Harley: Harley has always focused on its classic niche, especially popular among American riders. The company never thought of stepping into the sports bike arena. This is the reason why the Sportster models were considered Harley’s sports bikes.

• Chopper Culture: The Sportser also gave birth to the chopper culture in the US, as it became the primary choice of custom builders.

• Celebrities: Later, the Sportster game was further lifted when celebrities like Elvis Presley and Evel Knievel rode the Sportster models.

• Became the Modern Harley: The Harley Sportster became the true definition of modern Harley. This is the major reason behind its success.

Harley’s emergence as the best American highway two-wheel machines and cross-country tourers is due to the H-D Electra Glide and its evolved sibling, the Harley Street Glide. There is no doubt behind the role of the Street Glide in Harley’s success. This is among those H-D models in the Harley lineup that not only survived but helped Harley in the toughest times and recessions.

The Harley Street Glide has remained the top-selling Harley for years, securing enough business to keep the company running. The Street Glide is a good reason why Harley has such a great command over the global touring bike market. It has been credited with the global fame of Harley-Davidson.

The Street Glide, unlike the traditional touring bikes, is different. It was Harley’s fresh take on touring models. It features both long-range comfort and urban styling.

The Harley Street Glide is widely recognized and easily identifiable because of its iconic Batwing Fairing. The fairing was not designed for better aerodynamics. Instead, it was attached to create the iconic visual identity of the bike. The batwing fairing is wide enough to carry the infotainment system, side mirrors, speakers, and gauges. Not to forget, the Street Glide isn’t a fully dressed touring bike. It created its own class, known as the American bagger.

Besides the batwing fairing, Harley has also incorporated one of its most powerful Milwaukee-Eight engine variants in the Street Glide. This is to make motorcycle touring more fun and easier.

The Harley Street Glide became the cultural icon. This is the bike that you can imagine riding while traversing through coastal highways. It is the dream bike of almost every Harley fan. The H-D Street Glide is the legend that carries both innovation and the company’s original class and vibe. This is the bike that has not been there for a decade; it is there to rule the era.

Harley is one of the few motorcycle brands that has so many iconic models that contributed towards its success and popularity. In fact, there is not just a single model we can pinpoint; the whole of the H-D series made its mark. Whether Harley Dyna, Harley Softail, Harley Sportsters, or Harley Grand American Touring Bikes, all of them have made a separate place in the market. Every series is a brand in itself.

However, we must not forget those Harley bikes that laid the foundation for the success. One such model is the Harley Electra Glide, which formed the basis of the Harley touring lineup that we know today. It was one of the coolest, yet very classic, touring bikes with the iconic wide and bulky design.

The Electra Glide was a type of bike that could still be reintroduced with the same style and linings, and it would remain relevant. It is still one of the most precious collector items for those who know how much it is worth.

The Harley-Davidson Electra Glide featured a variety of distinct features and pioneered innovation and electronics at its time. All of this made it successful and reached the epitome of popularity. These distinctive qualities include:

• Electric Starter: As the name suggests, the Harley Electra Glide featured the electric starter, eliminating the kick start system on this bike.

• Iconic 1207 cc Panhead Engine: It was the last H-D model that used the iconic 74 cu-in (1207 cc) Panhead V-Twin engine.

• Replaced the 6V Battery with 12V: The Electra Glide also replaced the old 6-volt battery system and came with the 12-volt battery to provide more power to the modern electronics.

• Long-Ride Comfort: The Electra Glide was specifically built for comfort on long rides.

• Saddlebags and Luggage Rack: The bike had saddlebags, along with a specialized luggage rack, as it came with the wide and large solo rider seat.

• Epitome of American Touring Bike Models: The H-D Electra Glide became the epitome of American touring bikes as it featured an ideal mix of performance, comfort, styling, and long-haul comfort.

Suzuki began to receive immense public attention, particularly when it dominated the racing arena. There are many race bikes made by Suzuki that rose to fame due to their incredible power and aggressiveness on race tracks. There are a few that surpassed the level of fame around the world and became legendary motorbikes. The first one that comes to mind is the Suzuki GSX-R750.

The Suzuki GSX-R750 created a category and world of its own in the motorcycle racing world. This beast earned many titles in endurance racing. Also, it secured the Isle of Man TT title. The GSX-R750 helped Suzuki make a strong mark in the sportsbike industry and attracted many sports bike racers.

Several key factors contributed to the Suzuki GSX-R750 earning its legendary status. Let’s dive into them:

• First Street-Legal Race-Replica Bike: The Suzuki GSX-R750F is considered the first-ever racer-replica sports bike that was street-legal.

• Super Lightweight Build: What was revolutionary about the Suzuki GSX-R750 that amazed the whole sportsbike industry and racing world was its super lightweight design and build. This bike featured a lightweight alloy frame, which turned out to be the game-changer for this bike.

• High-Revving Engine: What made the GSX-R750 stand out from its rivals was its high-revving engine, which was oil-cooled.

• Isle of Man TT Win: After winning the Isle of Man TT event, the Suzuki GSX-R750 got huge recognition in the Western world.

• Big Bike Power, Middleweight Bike Handling: The GSX-R 750 had the power and speed of a big bike. However, what was stunning about this bike was its handling. It handled like a middleweight bike.

• Appealing Look: In addition to its incredibly quick and agile performance, the Suzuki GSX-R750 had a very appealing appearance. It can make any sports bike rider fall in love with this bike.

Whether you are a sports bike rider, cruiser rider, or love motorcycle touring, there is likely no one who doesn’t know Hayabusa. The Suzuki Hayabusa is the most familiar name in the biker world. This name will come instantly to your mind if someone’s talking about the fastest production bike in the world. It is a speed legend and a monster in the world of drag racing and creating speed records.

The Suzuki Hayabusa has earned a top spot for Suzuki in the racing world. It immediately broke all speed records. Some may consider this as Suzuki’s luck. However, those with knowledge about motorbikes know it was a hard-earned success for the Japanese bike maker.

It is strange to learn that the Suzuki Hayabusa isn’t a supersports bike that was primarily designed for track racing. It is a sports touring bike for aggressive long-distance riding in comfort. It features a broad and beefy design with smooth aerodynamics, perfect for a muscle sports bike.

The Suzuki Hayabusa is the bike that changed the world of sports motorbiking. It made the whole world think about the speed laws. Almost every bike maker had to come to the table to re-strategize their production strategies and norms.

There are many things that are rare about the Hayabusa, which in turn took Suzuki to a whole new level. Let’s get into these:

• Created the Ultimate Sports Bike Category: Nobody in the biker community was aware of the ultimate sports bike category that the Hayabusa introduced. It made its own aura and class.

• Became the Speed King:The Busa immediately became the speed king by setting the land speed record of 188-194 mph (303-312 km/h). It remained the fastest and carried the “Speed King” title for over two decades.

• Became a Pop Culture Icon: The Hayabusa, due to its immense popularity and recognition as the fastest motorbike on earth, became a pop culture icon. It started appearing in movies and video games, like Torque, Biker Boys, Need for Speed, and Gran Turismo.

• The Introduction of the Gentleman’s Agreement: Later, a Gentleman’s Agreement was made between all major motorcycle manufacturers to ensure a speed limit of 186 mph. The Hayabusa ended the trend of the speed competition, which was at its peak at that time.

• It Was Very Quick, But Safe: The most notable thing about the Hayabusa, which makes it unique from the rest, is the inclusion of safety features. It was not a usual speed monster at that time. The bike was speedy, but it also ensured safety with the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS) and other modern electronics.

For Indian Motorcycle, it was the Indian Scout that proved to be the game-changer for the brand. The Indian Scout represents the true Indian heritage, class, and styling. Even today, the company takes pride in producing the Scout models that carry forward the legacy and the same persona.

The Indian Scout belongs to the super classic cruiser bike category. However, initially, when the distinction between the different types of motorbikes was not clear, the Scout used to be the speed icon. Most new riders may have no idea, but the Indian Scout was the preferred bike of many racers and daredevils. It was a well-known competitor at racing events in the early times.

Let’s talk about the key factors that earned the Indian Scout its legendary status and reached the heights where it changed the game for the Indian brand:

• Setting Burt Munro’s Land Speed Record:The Indian Scout has proved its supremacy when it comes to speed and maneuverability by setting Burt Munro’s land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.

• Excellent Handling and Maneuverability: The Scout is well-known for its superb handling, maneuverability, and agility. It was the preferred choice of speed racers and stunt performers at its time.

• Earned the ‘Reliability’ Tag: The Indian Scout became iconic and memorable as it earned the reputation of being one of the most reliable and dependable legendary bikes. It was also capable of stunts without breaking down.

• Helped Overcome World Wars and Great Depression Eras: The Indian Scout has helped the Indian brand remain strong and stand tall even in the Great Depression era and World Wars.

• Still Relevant and Growing in Popularity: As of today, the Indian Scout models are still the backbone of the company. There are various stylish Scout models to choose from with great performance abilities.

This is where the Japanese bikes started gaining a reputation for being immensely powerful, on top of being very reliable. The Kawasaki Z1 picked the game up for UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycles). The Z1 900 was introduced in 1972, and it soon became the most powerful Japanese bike with a four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.

The Z series by Kawasaki, especially the Z1, became the trademark of powerful performance. It was a standard motorcycle with a stripped-down look. However, it still earned the status of a superbike, due to its incredible power delivery and response.

The Kawasaki Z1 was quite advanced for its time. This is when the ‘Horsepower War’ started among the rivals. Let’s dive deeper into the Kawasaki Z1’s abilities and milestones that made it a true legendary superbike and turned the tables for Kawasaki:

• Become the Most Powerful UJM:Remember the Honda CB750 that we discussed above? The Kawasaki Z1 is the bike that dethroned it as the most powerful machine. It became the first true ‘Superbike’ that challenged all street bikes.

• Engineering Prowess: Kawasaki took engineering to a whole different level with the Kawasaki Z1. This bike featured a robust inline-four-cylinder, air-cooled, Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) engine that was the successor of the previous single-camshaft design found in the Honda CB750.

• Initiated the Horsepower War: The Z1 achieved a top speed of above 130 mph, which wasn’t common at that time. The 82 horsepower it produced was awe-inspiring for its time.

• Highly Reliable: On top of being ruthless, the Kawasaki Z1 became one of the most reliable, durable, and stable bikes of its time.

• Superior Handling: The Z1 surpassed the Honda CB750 when it came to handling and agility.

• The “Z” Moniker: Like the “Ninja”, the “Z” moniker also became a brand in itself for Kawasaki, which represented the special class, legacy, and ultimate reliable build.

There may be more popular Kawasaki Ninja models that remained successful and noteworthy throughout their tenures. For example, the Kawasaki ZX-10R, and especially the ZX-14R, is the one that took the crown from the Hayabusa.

However, the Ninja H2R, introduced in 2015, is still a more notable bike as it became a symbol of engineering marvel. It is a sign of what Kawasaki can do. It is at the extreme of what we call motorcycling innovation. This bike features the most potent supercharged motorcycle engine. The scope of the bike may be limited as it is only designed for track racing. There are street-legal variants, too, that you can buy if you love speed monsters.

It is not only a simple 998 cc inline-four engine, but it is also a supercharged engine designed by Kawasaki, making it a hypersports bike. Thanks to this turbocharged engine, the Kawasaki H2R became the fastest production motorcycle on the planet. The H2R has set a speed record of 250 mph (400 km/h), which seems difficult to break.

No doubt, Kawasaki was already an established brand before the H2R’s arrival on the scene. However, it has become another prominent pillar in the success of this Japanese brand. There are many things that make the H2R out of the box. Here are a few:

• Joint Collaboration of Aerospace and Turbine Departments: The supercharged 998 cc inline-four engine was prepared as a result of a joint effort between Kawasaki's multiple divisions. These include Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) departments, including Turbine and Aerospace divisions.

• Top Engine with Superior Chassis Design: The specially-built engine, along with brilliantly designed chassis and aerodynamics, made the H2R reach top speeds in no time. This is the reason why there is no match for this bike in the race-ready, race-track-only supersports bike category.

• Reputation Enhancer; Not a Brand Builder: The Ninja H2R is not the bike that built the brand or made it famous. Instead, it took the popularity and reputation to the next level.

Another major motorcycle brand that is equally worthwhile and notable is Triumph. The brand was established in 1902 and features a unique style and character. The term ‘Bonneville’ was first introduced in 1959, and it immediately became iconic. The Triumph Bonneville series remains one of the most popular bikes worldwide to this day.

The Bonneville models are known for their premium, classic attire and plush styling. Despite being made in the UK, these bikes are popular in the US and other parts of the world. The iconic name ‘Boneville’ came from the land speed record set by the Triumph on Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Let’s list down the finest qualities and major successes of the Triumph Bonneville that made it a true British icon:

• Best Blend of Heritage and Modern Tech: The Triumph Bonneville is renowned for blending the best iconic heritage and classic styling, along with modern features and cutting-edge tech. It offers both the best of modern performance and premium old-school styling that attracts young and senior riders alike.

• Lifting Cafe Racer Culture:The Bonneville played a major role in promoting the cafe racer culture among pro riders and teenagers in the 1960s.

• Popularity in the US:Along with the UK, it gained quite a lot of popularity in the U.S., due to being high-performance, powerful bikes.

• Pop Culture Icon:The Triumph Bonneville also featured in many movies and shows, and became a pop culture icon. It appeared in one of the most notable motorcycle movies of all time, The Great Escape.

• Racing DNA: Though the bike ensures quite a classic cruiser styling, it was quite a successful racing bike of its time. The Triumph Bonneville had secured victories at the Isle of Man TT and in AMA racing.

• Timeless Design: Even in today’s world, the Triumph Bonneville is quite relevant and has a timeless design. The craftsmanship and detailing are truly amazing and top-notch.

The Yamaha YZF-R1 has left its mark as one of the most iconic sports bikes of all time. It was initially introduced in 1998, and it set a new standard of speed, style, and track-ready performance. The R1 was designed with a sharp frame and low weight to dominate the road and the race track.

The R1 was unique because of the combination of raw speed and smooth ride. It was not only fast, but smooth and maneuverable. Riders found it very enjoyable as it provided them with complete trust at high speed, and it was still enjoyable to ride in day use.

The Yamaha YZF-R1 became the image of the Yamaha sports bike. It had the fierce road posture with its bold appearance, having twin lights with sharp lines. The engine was, however, the heart of the bike, and that is what made it a legend.

Let’s explore the features that enabled the Yamaha YZF-R1 to be a breakthrough:

• Race DNA on the Street: The Yamaha R1 has been built using the MOTOGP-inspired features and tech. This provided riders with an experience of racing expertise on a street-legal sports bike.

• High Power: Low Weight:The Yamaha R1 has a 998 cc CP4 (Crossplane Inline-Four-Cylinder) Engine that delivers 200 hp of horsepower at 13,500 rpm and 112.53 Nm of torque at 11,500 rpm. On top of such massive power figures, this bike is exceptionally lightweight and has an impressive power-to-weight ratio.

• Start-of-the-Art Frame: Yamaha has employed a relatively smaller frame for the Yamaha R1, called the Deltabox, to keep the bike lightweight and slim. This provided the R1 with great cornering abilities and fast maneuverability.

• Top Speed Thrill: The Yamaha YZF-R1 was capable of accelerating to about 170 mph, and it was considered to be a lot in the late 1970s.

• Updates and Improvements: Each succeeding YZF-R1 model retained the same spirit but introduced some new tech improvements, such as ride modes, traction control, and crossplane crank.

The Yamaha YZF-R1 not only set the bar for superbikes, but it also elevated it a great deal.

The Ducati 916 is one of the most popular sport bikes of all time. It was a great combo of art and speed, which was launched in 1994. The Ducati 916 was a bike that resembled none other in its era because of its slim body, twin lights, and sharp tail. It was not only a quick ride, but also a style icon that was a trendsetter in the design of bikes.

The Ducati 916 was designed to perform well on tracks, and it did exactly that. It was a L-Twin powered and had a powerful pull at any rev. The Ducati 916 had a deep and rough sound, making it even more prominent. Riders appreciated the fact that it was fierce and smooth at the same time.

The Ducati 916 became the face of the brand very soon. It was more than just a bike. It became the symbol of speed, race victories, and class.

Let us explore what was great about the Ducati 916m and what made it a legend:

• Race Wins: The Ducati 916 was a winning machine in the 1990s in the World Superbike racing. It showed its competency on the track and created a good name for Ducati.

• The L-Twin Power: The L-Twin engine installed in the Ducati 916 was a 916 cc, 90˚ L-Twin, 4 Desmodromically actuated valves per cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. It produced nearly 114 hp at 9,000 rpm and about 91 Nm at around 7,000 rpm. It was powerful, but simple to operate on roads and tracks.

• Light and Slim: The frame of the Ducati 916 was light and slim, which ensured sharp turns and quick maneuvers.

• Classic-Modern Look:The Ducati 916 had a slim tail, single-side swingarm, twin lights, and was one of the best classic-modern vibes. It was no doubt one of the best-looking bikes ever produced, even today.

• Ducati 916 Legacy: The Ducati 916 provided the foundation of future Ducati superbikes, such as the Ducati 996 and the Ducati 998.

The Ducati 916 was not just a bike; it was an icon of art, speed, and race prowess that made Ducati a global icon in the world of sports bike racing.

The BMW R80 G/S is the BMW model that brought about the dual-sport category. Introduced in 1980, it became the first bike capable of riding fast on the road and at the same time on the dirt. The BMW R80 G/S was built to ride far in the remote areas. It was able to conquer all roads, thanks to its long-travel shocks and flat-twin motor.

Building the BMW R80 G/S was a risky decision taken by the German bike maker, BMW. It is because road bikes and dirt bikes were considered two poles apart at that time. The R80 G/S amazingly broke the barriers and wall that was creating the difference between the two domains. It became the single bike that was able to do both, including on-roading and off-roading. It became the bike that became a preferred option when it comes to long-distance rides and off-road tours.

The R80 G/S also left an impression on motorcycle sports racing. It also won the Paris-Dakar Rally on more than one occasion. This testifies to its ability to perform under the most extreme conditions on earth. This victory brought BMW a new name in the world of off-road and long-distance bikes.

Let’s take a closer look at the BMW R80 G/S and find out what has made it a real legend:

• Birth of the BMW GS Line: The R80 G/S was the first one of the GS family. The G/S was an abbreviation of Galande/Strasse, meaning off-road and tarmac. This name became a separate brand of its own.

• Boxer Motor: The BMW R80 G/S was powered by the 797 cc air-cooled, boxer engine that produced 50 hp (37 kW) at 6,500 rpm and around 61 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. The 797 cc Boxer engine was powerful, good, and easy to service during long journeys.

• Mono-Shock Tech: The R80 G/S was among the first BMW motorcycles to have a single rear shock. This provided it with a superior hold and ease on uneven trails.

• Paris-Dakar Wins: The victories of the bike during the Dakar Rally made it more popular and showed its real purpose and spirit.

• Long-Distance Icon:The BMW R80 G/S formed the basis of the GS line that is currently the most popular choice of riders who love touring long miles.

The BMW R80 G/S was not just a bike; it marked the beginning of a new riding style.