Classics are indeed immortal - and this statement is perfectly suited to the world of motorcycles. The layout principles born back in the 60s-80s have not become obsolete at all and still form the basis of modern models. Today we will recall the most successful retro bikes of medium displacement, which from the 90s to the 2010s became true icons of style and engineering art.
6th place. Kawasaki W650 - Greetings from the 60s
Released in 1999, the Kawasaki W650 became the epitome of the spirit of the 60s. It was an era of rounded shapes - smooth engine covers, a neat fuel tank and, of course, spoked wheels. The creators of the W650 approached the details with love: soft pads on the tank, an optional kickstarter, a vertical in-line engine with pushrods - everything looked like a genuine bike from the past.
Rubber dust covers on the fork and shiny chrome elements only enhanced the feeling of authenticity. In technical terms, the W650 is a typical Japanese classic: a 676 cc air-cooled engine produces 50 hp and 56 N⋅m of torque. Two carburetors, a five-speed gearbox and a classic brake system - a disc at the front and a drum at the rear. With a dry weight of only 195 kg and a 14-liter tank, this bike was also distinguished by its legendary reliability.
5th place. Triumph Bonneville - a British gentleman with charisma
In 2001, after a series of modern models, the British Triumph decided to turn to its roots and revived the name Bonneville - one of the most iconic in the history of the brand. The engineers were inspired not only by the appearance of classic bikes of the 60s, but also by their spirit.
Camshafts were hidden under the chrome covers, and instead of the usual injector - a pair of carburetors, as if a greeting from the past. The air-cooled in-line "twin" with 790 cm³ developed 62 hp and 60 N⋅m, working with a 5-speed gearbox. Disc brakes all around, a sophisticated silhouette, branded exhaust pipes and an abundance of shiny metal - all this made Bonneville not just a bike, but a symbol of the British school of motorcycle construction.
The Bonneville series quickly became successful and spawned many derivative models - from the brutal Bobber to the comfortable America.
4th place. Moto Guzzi V7 Classic - Italian classic with character
Appearing in 2008, the Moto Guzzi V7 Classic became a kind of bridge between the 70s and modernity. Unlike the soft forms of the 60s, the seventies dictated the fashion for straight lines, which was reflected in the appearance of the V7: spoked wheels, "cigar-shaped" mufflers and a flat quilted seat - a real greeting from the past.
The main feature is the longitudinally located V-shaped engine, the hallmark of the brand. The cylinders stick out on the sides, and the crankshaft runs along the axis of the motorcycle - only Guzzi uses this solution.
A modern injector is hidden under the classic appearance. With a volume of 744 cm³, the engine produces 48 hp and 58 N⋅m of torque. Yes, the power is not record-breaking - European environmental standards affect it - but the bike has a unique charm. Disc brakes at the front and rear, a five-speed gearbox, significant traction and a unique design - this is the formula for the success of the V7 Classic.
3rd place. Kawasaki W800 - a mature evolution of the legend
When it came time to transfer the beloved W650 to new environmental standards, Kawasaki engineers decided not just to update, but to rethink the model. So in 2011, the W800 appeared - an heir with the same spirit, but with a modern approach.
The engine capacity has increased, but the power has remained the same. At the same time, the traction at low and medium speeds has become noticeably better. Changes also affected the brakes: the front now has a 320 mm disc, and the rear drum has been replaced by a disc mechanism.
The W800 also received an ABS system, but the kickstarter, on the contrary, disappeared, giving way to more practical solutions. The weight remained within 200 kg, and the appearance retained a sophisticated retro aesthetic. This bike is the perfect compromise between classic and modern.
2nd place. Triumph Thunderbird 900 - strength and style
One of the first motorcycles of the "second birth" of the Triumph brand, the Thunderbird 900, was released in 1995. It did not copy antiquity literally, like the future Bonneville, but rather rethought it for modern realities.
A powerful three-cylinder engine with a volume of 885 cm³, developing 70 hp and 72 N⋅m of torque, was hidden under the laconic retro design. The engine received liquid cooling, and instead of the traditional two rear shock absorbers, there was a progressive monoshock absorber.
Despite its apparent compactness, the bike turned out to be heavy - the dry weight was about 220 kg. However, it was this that gave the Thunderbird stability and confidence on the track.
1st place. Honda CB1100 - a Japanese icon in the spirit of the 70s
Perhaps the best example of modern retro is the Honda CB1100, introduced in 2010. It became a kind of homage to the legendary Honda CB750, the world's first four-cylinder superbike of 1969, which changed the entire industry.
The CB1100 received the classic appearance of the 70s - chrome, spoked wheels, simple shapes. But under this shell was a technological engine: a four-cylinder air-cooled engine with a volume of 1140 cm³ produced an impressive 89 hp and 93 N⋅m of torque.
A telescopic front fork, two rear shock absorbers, two four-piston calipers on the front brake and balanced handling made the CB1100 a real benchmark among neoclassics. With a dry weight of about 220 kg, the motorcycle confidently combined vintage design and modern driving performance.
Eternal classics on two wheels
All these motorcycles are not just equipment. These are time machines that transport us to an era when style and soul meant more than dry numbers in specifications. Kawasaki, Triumph, Moto Guzzi and Honda have proven that you can create a bike that will bring pleasure even decades after its release.
Many of these models can still be found in excellent condition - and not only in museums, but also on the roads. After all, true classics, like freedom, are not subject to time.