The 10 Best Motorcycle Brands
Most motorcyclists feel much more alive when riding a motorcycle than when they are canned in a car. The sensation of riding a motorcycle gives a great feeling of absolute freedom. Some love the thrill of burning up the asphalt like Ghost Rider's famous motorcycle. Others have the feeling of belonging to the Hells Angels, Outlaws, and other famous motorcycle clubs. Whatever the reason, a motorcycle can provide an experience that no car can, no matter how fast or luxurious it is. Below, we are going to show you the 10 best motorcycle brands according to our criteria and experience.
Harley Davidson
Harley-Davidson is the two-wheeled equivalent of American muscle cars like Mustangs and Chevys, and it is one of the best and most iconic motorcycle brands in the world. You might not see them on MotoGP circuits or any other sporting event, but when it comes to feeling that sense of freedom, there's nothing better than cruising the roads on a Harley Davidson.
This brand is known for its distinctive chopper style that began to emerge in the 1950s. With radical steering angles and unusually elongated forks, it redefined what custom motorcycles should be. It's the perfect type of motorcycle if you just want to feel the rush of wind hitting your face.
In addition to its design, there are other features that make a Harley Davidson different from the rest. It has an engine sound that no other motorcycle brand dares to emulate for fear of being called an imitator. For the brand's most devoted fans, the roar of its engine is as beautiful as the finest of melodies.
The Harley-Davidson brand had its modest beginnings in 1903 when William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson created their first motorcycle. They integrated the design into an ordinary bicycle frame. The first design didn't fare very well on an uphill climb, but this didn't stop them from making improvements to their engine.
Ducati
Ducati doesn't have that characteristic engine roar of Harley-Davidsons, but it has a personality all its own. In short, Ducati is to motorcycles what Ferrari is to cars. Not many people understand that this is a great motorcycle brand that is not easy to ride, whether on circuits or mountain roads.
Winner with 14 riders in 17 Superbike World Championships, Ducati maintains an impeccable track record. The only area where it still needs to improve is the MotoGP World Championship, where it has only achieved one trophy so far, in 2007, thanks to Casey Stoner.
Like Harley-Davidson, Ducati relies on groups of enthusiasts to establish its brand worldwide. To date, the brand has more than 20,000 loyal followers in at least 400 clubs.
When Antonio Cavalieri Ducati founded the company in 1926 with his three sons, he never imagined it would become such a respected and valued motorcycle brand. Initially, the company aimed to produce only capacitors, vacuum tubes, and other components for radios.
BMW
About 3 years before the creation of the Ducati brand, BMW Motorrad had a clear advantage in motorcycle manufacturing in Europe. We've all seen the BMW Z series cars featured in James Bond films. What many of us don't know is that there is a James Bond film where a BMW motorcycle, the BMW R1200C, was also used. This German creation had some of the design elements of the classic Harley-Davidson: elongated forks and a more reclined seat. As such, when James Bond and Wai Lin had to navigate the busy streets of Saigon, they had to do so with the R1200C.
Hollywood films aside, you cannot mistake the identity of a BMW motorcycle. It has one of the most exclusive styles among two-wheeled machines in the world. From the striking C-series maxi scooters to the F-series parallel-twin engines and the S-series sports motorcycles. In short, BMW has everything you could ask for from a global motorcycle brand.
One thing we haven't seen from the German brand is joining the MotoGP championship. It competes in the Dakar Rally and the Superbike World Championship. Would you be surprised to learn that BMW Motorrad has brought home the Dakar Rally trophy 6 times? We are talking about competing in unforgiving terrains and climates. That's how solid the engineering of these motorcycles is.
For loyal BMW Motorrad followers, this is not surprising at all. After all, the first motorcycle the brand launched in 1923 came with a flat boxer engine. This is a drivetrain used by many cars, stationary power plants, and light aircraft. Therefore, with so much power, you would expect BMW to be a force to be reckoned with in the motorcycle market. Of course, the brand also uses other engine designs today.
Aprilia
Dethroning Ducati as Italy's leading motorcycle brand may not be Aprilia's immediate goal, but it certainly looks like it. This Italian brand is best known for its beginnings in manufacturing small motorcycles and mopeds, before expanding into more robust market segments. From small-capacity motorcycles and scooters, Aprilia is now a recognised brand on professional circuits. It is a testament to the brand's emphasis on superior engineering and style.
Aprilia started in 1945 as a bicycle manufacturer in Noale, Italy. Cavaliere Alberto Beggio established the company in an effort to stimulate the economy and the restoration of Venice after the Second World War. In 1968, Beggio's son, Ivano, designed and built the company's first motorcycle. This was a 50 cubic centimetre motorcycle with pedals, giving rise to the moped. As such, Aprilia is best known for its classic mopeds: Colibri, Packi, and Daniela.
The brand first entered the professional racing circuit in the 1976 Motocross World Championship, challenging other brands in the 125cc category. Aprilia joined MotoGP in 1985 and has had varying degrees of success ever since. This motorcycle brand also has experience in the Superbike World Championship and SuperMoto.
So, Aprilia may not have a very productive history on the racing circuit. However, it certainly has its own loyal fan base. Whether it's a moped or a scooter or a high-performance sports motorcycle, this is a brand you can always rely on to deliver a thrilling ride.
Honda
Honda is best known for its cars, becoming the 8th largest car manufacturer in 2015. However, many do not realise that this is a brand that has been making motorcycles long before car production began. The first motorcycle Honda produced was the D-Type in 1949.
With 24 MotoGP Constructors' World Championship trophies, Honda is a motorcycle brand that has grown by leaps and bounds over the decades. The brand was founded after the Second World War in 1948 and has had meteoric production ever since. It began motorcycle production in 1955, but this is a brand that has made a name for itself. Approximately 9 years after manufacturing its first mass-production motorcycle, Honda already claimed the title of the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer.
In the 1980s, the company could produce almost 3 million motorcycles a year. That's how in demand its motorcycles were. Seventy years after the first D-Type rolled off the factory floor in 1949, Honda celebrated its seventieth anniversary. In 2019, it reached the spectacular figure of 400 million motorcycles produced throughout its history.
It offers a wide selection of two-wheeled marvels. Its motorcycles combine the appeal of a Harley-Davidson with the sporty look of its Japanese rival, Yamaha. There are off-road variants, street motorcycles, scooters, and sports bikes.
Like its cars, Honda's motorcycles come with sporty and responsive handling while ensuring a comfortable ride. They are also more expensive than Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki. But when you consider the quality of their motorcycles, this is value beyond what is printed on the price tag.
Yamaha
Yamaha is one of Japan's Big Four motorcycle brands. It is also one of the best motorcycle brands in the world, having won 14 MotoGP Constructors' World Championships plus another 14 in the Moto2 series. It may not have the championship accolades of Honda, but it surely surpasses the other two Japanese motorcycle brands.
Its parent company, Yamaha Corporation, has existed since 1887. This makes Yamaha one of the oldest brands in the world. However, its motorcycle division became an independent entity as Yamaha Motor Company in 1955.
With Genichi Kawakami at the helm, Yamaha began more focused world-class motorcycle design and manufacturing, starting with the 125cc YA-1. The YA-1 proved to be an incredible machine, propelling it to the top of the All Japan Autobike Endurance Road Race. This also paved the way for Yamaha's entry into international racing competitions.
Yamaha motorcycles are best known for their sportier handling characteristics. These motorcycles are more fun to ride and are excellent for challenging unmarked trails. However, they are not known for long-distance touring.
In addition to motorcycles, Yamaha also produced scooters, all-terrain vehicles, motorised bicycles, and snowmobiles, among others. If you are unsure what type of motorcycle you would like to try, we are sure that Yamaha has something you will love.
Kawasaki
Kawasaki motorcycles may not be as popular as Honda or Yamaha in their homeland, but this is a machine that is attracting attention in other parts of the world. It is part of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a multinational corporation as diverse as the number of islands in Japan. Established in 1896, Kawasaki Heavy Industries separated its motorcycle division in 1949 to form KHI's Motorcycle and Engine Division.
The brand does not have a colourful history in MotoGP. However, this doesn't mean it lags behind in terms of motorcycle racing technology. It brought home 4 crowns in the 350cc MotoGP category, plus another 4 in Moto2. Furthermore, they also found success in the Superbike World Championship and Enduro. You could say there is still much room for improvement regarding racing performance.
Streetwise, however, Kawasaki motorcycles are a different story. Kawasaki produces sports performance motorcycles. The Ninja ZX series, for example, is known for its ultra-narrow chassis, radial brakes, and low weight. It's no wonder the ZX-10RR outperformed other brands for the best Superbike in 2004 and 2005.
What you need to understand about Kawasaki motorcycles is that their track performance filters down to the streets and roads of the world. These machines are born to compete. Therefore, they are best for the person who wants to unleash the spirit of the racer.
Suzuki
If you've seen the SV650X, you'll know that its manufacturer is one of the best in the world. Its SV comes with a café racer look that has captured the fascination of both the motorcycle-riding public and car enthusiasts. It is one of the best starter motorcycles on the market. Don't be fooled by its powerful appearance. This is a machine that is great fun to ride, regardless of individual skill level. This is solid proof of Suzuki's clear understanding and modern motorcycle technology.
From its humble beginnings as a loom manufacturer in Japan, Suzuki has grown to become one of the most respected motorcycle brands in the world. From 1909, the brand focused only on weaving looms. In 1937, however, they already began to experiment with automobiles.
It would take the Second World War and 15 more years before the company introduced its first motorised bicycle in 1952. In the early 1970s, Suzuki began producing a three-cylinder, 2-stroke, 2-wheeled marvel, the GT750 Le Mans. However, in the mid-1970s, the company began its four-stroke machines with the GS series. From this line, it created the world's first superbike: the GSXR750.
Today, Suzuki offers the world some of the most notable motorcycles. There are scooters, motorcycles, and trikes to meet the needs of the motorcycling community. And while it doesn't have the number of MotoGP championships of Honda and Yamaha, it boasts 7 Constructors' World Championships in the premier class.
KTM
This Austrian motorcycle brand had a humble beginning as a new car repair workshop in 1934. Three years later, Johann Trunkenpotz began selling DKW motorcycles. By 1951, Trunkenpotz began to design and manufacture his own motorcycle, the R100. From 1953 to 1991, the company designed and manufactured various scooters and motorcycles that people loved for the carefree ride they offered.
From the 1990s, however, KTM took a different route. The company underwent a major rebranding in 1992 and focused on perfecting its high-performance motorcycles. As such, the company is now famous for off-road motorcycles, including those used in the Motocross, Enduro, and Supermoto series.
In fact, when it comes to sports motorcycles, KTM has become a force to be reckoned with. Its road bikes can navigate through bends with ease without making you feel uneasy. KTM produces racing and off-road motorcycles.
Triumph
Triumph has one of the most colourful histories among the world's motorcycle brands. Established in 1902, the company has been producing high-quality, high-performance motorcycles for everyone to use and enjoy. Many of the motorcycles it manufactured in its early years are now collector's items and are still in operation.
In the First World War, Triumph contributed to the Allied effort by supplying them with 30,000 motorcycles. Through the Second World War and the reconstruction in the 1950s, the company continued to advance. What catapulted the brand to international fame was when Marlon Brando rode Triumph's 1950 Thunderbird 6T in the 1953 film, The Wild One.
Triumph may have had a change of leadership, but it remains one of the best motorcycle manufacturers in Great Britain and the world. They have rides that are similar to Harleys in design and functionality. And if you're the speed demon type, you'll find those kinds of motorcycles too.