Old motorcycles aren’t as powerful and fast as modern bikes, they handle worse, and they’re nowhere near as reliable. Yet, for some reason, we find them extremely desirable. As it turns out, you can have your cake and eat it, too, as retro motorcycles offer the best of the old and new bikes.
Retro bikes may look like motorcycles from a distant past, but they aren’t in constant need of TLC. After all, underneath their classic looks, these are modern bikes and are just as reliable as any other motorcycle you’ll find in a showroom.
We’ve gathered 10 of the most awesome retro motorcycles on the market (both new and used), ranging from comfortable models for everyday use to hardcore café racers that are more at home on the racetrack.
Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe
Kawasaki is one of the pioneers of high-performance motorcycles. In 1972, the company’s Z1 900 became the world’s fastest mass-produced motorcycle. The modern-day Z900RS Cafe is arguably the most retro of all the retro motorcycles. Its lineage can be traced directly to the ZRX1200 of the early 2000s, which was an improved version of the ZRX1100. And that was a tribute to the KZ1000 Eddie Lawson won the Superbike championship on in 1981.
The Z900RS Cafe looks like a classic bike, but it’s all modern technology underneath. While it’s nowhere close to being the world’s fastest bike, with a 100 horsepower 948cc engine, it’ll leave the original Z1 in its dust.
Triumph Bonneville
Triumph first introduced the Bonneville name in 1959, and it has been one of its most important models ever since. It still offers classic looks but is now packing modern tech, such as ride-by-wire and USB charging.
Triumph’s original Bonneville had a 650cc engine, but the modern version either has a 900cc or 1200cc parallel twin unit. The larger one produces around 80 horsepower, making it a great all-rounder that can be ridden every day.
Moto Guzzi V9
Moto Guzzi has been around for more than a century, and even some of the manufacturer’s new cruiser bikes look like they were designed in the 1960s. Moto Guzzi’s first creation was a 500cc motorcycle, and since then, their models have only grown in size.
In the early 1960s, Moto Guzzi developed its transverse V-twin engine with a shaft drive, and it’s been a staple ever since. The Moto Guzzi V9, with its 850cc engine, continues that tradition. With only 55 horsepower, this retro motorcycle is built more for comfort than outright speed.
Janus Halcyon 450
The Janus Halcyon 450 looks like a proper vintage bike from the 1920s and 1930s. In fact, this American machine bears more than a passing resemblance to the legendary Brough Superior, and that’s not a bad thing.
Most of the parts used for the build are produced in-house by Janus, but the liquid-cooled single-cylinder 450 engine is supplied by SWM, a Chinese-owned Italian manufacturer. With only 30 horsepower, the Halcyon 450 will never set any speed records, but that’s also not the point of this vintage look-alike bike; this is a machine you take out to enjoy a slow ride on. There’s one downside to the Halcyon 450, though: with a price tag that starts just north of $13,000, it’s fairly expensive for what you get.
Ducati Sport Classic 1000
In the mid-2000s, Ducati unveiled its then-new Sport Classic 1000 as a tribute to the brand’s legendary 1974 Super Sport 750. At this point, retro motorcycles weren’t really a thing, and since there wasn’t a real market for it yet, the Ducati Sport Classic wasn’t as popular as it could, and should, have been. If they’d released it today, there would probably be a waiting list.
It looks amazing in the way only old (or retro) bikes can. In true Ducati fashion, there’s a 992cc desmodromic L-Twin engine nestled in the Sport Classic’s frame. With 90 horsepower, the Sport Classic 1000 is probably faster than most race bikes from the ‘70s.
Norton Commando 961
The Norton Commando 961 is practically the definition of a café racer-style motorcycle. Whereas most retro motorcycles still feel mass-produced, that’s not the case with the Commando 961. While it may come off as a classic motorcycle, it’s still as competent as any of the retro-styled bikes from other brands.
As its name suggests, the Commando 961 has a 961cc engine that’s oil- and air-cooled and produces 80 horsepower. All those horses are kept in check thanks to Brembo brakes and fully adjustable Öhlins suspension. Other than that, the Commando is a proper old-school bike without any fancy riding modes, traction control, or USB chargers. In fact, if it wasn’t required by law, we’re not sure if Norton would even bother to include ABS. Unfortunately, this retro monster isn’t available in the States.
BSA Gold Star 650
Back in the day, the original BSA Gold Star was right up there with the legendary Triumph Bonneville. BSA went bankrupt in 1972, and Mahindra bought the name in 2016. In 2022, the new BSA Gold Star 650 was revealed, and both journalists and motorcyclists loved it.
The Gold Star 650 isn’t among the most powerful or fastest retro motorcycles money can buy, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. This is simply a remake of a 1950s bike, but with some modern technology, such as ABS, fuel injection, and electric start.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
If you really want the Norton Commando but can’t justify its price tag, or you’re based somewhere it’s not available, check out the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 instead.
It’s been on the market since 2018, so R-E has ironed out any issues by now. The Continental GT is affordable to purchase and simple to maintain, and those are some rare qualities in modern motorcycles. Design-wise, the R-E Continental GT looks just like a 1960s café racer, and thanks to its air-cooled 650cc parallel twin, it sounds like one, too.
BMW R NineT Racer
Most of BMW’s R nineT lineup consists of modern-looking bikes with some retro styling cues, and they’re relatively comfortable to ride. Then there’s the R nineT Racer, which is a whole other different beast and does its best to live up to its Racer name.
While the R nineT Racer is uncompromising, it’s also one of the coolest retro motorcycles ever! It looks like the bubble-screened racebikes of yesteryear, and its riding position feels closer to that of the S1000RR than its more relaxed R nineT siblings. With the twin-cylinder boxer engine producing 108 horsepower, it has the power to back up its aggressive looks and feel.
Triumph Thruxton RS
If you’ve ever swung a leg over the Triumph Bonneville, you’d probably agree that it’s a fairly relaxed bike, despite its name that hints at Bonneville Salt Flats speed records. The Triumph Thruxton RS, on the other hand, is far from relaxed. This is a much more aggressive take on the retro-styled segment.
This retro-styled café racer has low clip-on handlebars, a solo seat, tail cowl, and the rear has been lifted to give it a proper aggressive stance and riding style. It’s not comfortable, but just like the BMW R nineT Racer, it’s not supposed to be. Thanks to a 1200cc parallel-twin, the Thruxton RS sends 103 horsepower to the rear wheel, and it’s loaded with high-end equipment to keep things under control as the scenery turns into a blur.
Yamaha XSR900 GP
Retro motorcycles are all about capturing the spirit of a bygone era, and the Yamaha XSR900 GP nails it better than most. Inspired by Yamaha’s 1980s Grand Prix race bikes, particularly the YZR500 and FZR750, the XSR900 GP blends iconic looks with cutting-edge performance.
Underneath the full fairing and old-school paintwork is Yamaha’s excellent CP3 890cc inline-triple engine with 117 horsepower, which gives it real punch on twisty roads or a track day. The GP isn’t just a throwback, it’s a celebration of Yamaha’s racing heritage, with modern-day muscle to match.
Honda CB1100 RS
Honda’s CB series helped define the Universal Japanese Motorcycle in the ‘70s, and the CB1100 RS carries on that legacy with grace and grunt. It looks every bit the part of a ‘70s UJM, complete with a teardrop tank, polished engine cases, and twin rear shocks.
Air- and oil-cooled engines are a rarity today, and the Euro5 emissions regulations spelled the end of Honda’s 1140cc inline-four mill. It’s a shame, as it was as sturdy and smooth as we’ve come to expect from Honda, and it makes around 88 horsepower. I think the CB1100 RS is a fitting send-off to the era of big, retro-styled Japanese muscle bikes.
CFMOTO 700CL-X Heritage
CFMOTO might not have the same legacy as Ducati or Triumph, but the 700CL-X Heritage proves they understand the assignment when it comes to retro motorcycles. This resembles a mashup of 1980s enduros and classic naked bikes, yet has a very modern heart.
It’s powered by a 693cc parallel twin that cranks out around 74 horsepower, which is plenty for everyday fun. With a round headlight, brushed aluminum details, and minimalist styling, it hits the right visual cues. And the best part? The price! The 700CL-X Heritage undercuts many of its retro rivals, making it a budget-friendly way into the retro motorcycle scene.
MV Agusta Superveloce 800
Few bikes mix beauty and performance like the MV Agusta Superveloce 800. While most retro bikes pay homage to the ’60s and ’70s, this one draws inspiration from MV’s glorious racing past and turns it into a design masterpiece.
Its 798cc triple-cylinder engine delivers a blistering 147 horsepower, which makes it far more aggressive than its vintage aesthetics suggest. The retro-futuristic fairing, leather tank strap, and sculpted bodywork might make you think it’s a showpiece, but this thing is fast… really fast! It’s the kind of bike that turns heads whether it’s parked or in motion. Think of it as a work of art that just happens to be able to hit 150 mph.
Kawasaki W800
The Kawasaki W800 is the kind of bike that makes you do a double-take, as it looks like it rolled right out of the 1960s. That’s no coincidence; it’s a direct descendant of the original W series bikes Kawasaki built in the mid-20th century, which themselves were inspired by British machines of that era.
You’ll find an air-cooled 773cc parallel twin under the tank, complete with distinctive bevel-drive camshaft gear — a rare touch in modern motorcycles. With about 50 horsepower, it’s certainly no rocket, but the W800 is all about charm and feel. From the wire-spoke wheels to the sculpted tank, this bike is vintage cool done right.
Ducati Scrambler Café Racer
If the standard Ducati Scrambler leans into the laid-back, retro trail bike vibe of the ‘60s, the Café Racer version flips the script with low clip-ons, bar-end mirrors, and a 1960s-inspired livery that wouldn’t look out of place at London’s Ace Café.
The Scrambler Café Racer uses an 803cc L-twin engine that makes around 73 horsepower, which is more than enough for spirited rides through twisty roads or urban backstreets. It’s light, nimble, and stylish, making it the perfect choice for riders who want a touch of Italian flair without going full-on superbike-style. Ducati eventually discontinued this variant, but it remains one of the coolest takes on the café racer formula from a modern manufacturer.
Retro Rides
The bikes featured here were just a little amuse-bouche, as there are several other retro-styled models out there.
If you think we left some out, feel free to let us know in the comments. Please, follow us on Facebook to stay on top of our motorcycle content.
