Those of us that survived the 80s can willfully recall some of the atrocious stuff that was produced in that neon-soaked, synth-fueled decade. There were terrible movies, like Jaws: The Revenge, music was at an all-time low, with bands like Milli Vanilli winning (and eventually giving back) Grammy's. And the motorcycle industry was certainly going through its own rough patch, with Harley-Davidson notoriously lobbying Washington for huge tax hikes on foreign bikes.
But it wasn't all bad. Harley managed to release a few great bikes to compete with the juggernaut that was THE BIG FOUR. And of course, the Japanese and European manufacturers released some of the most memorable motorcycles ever, that were destined to become future classics. Fast-forward to today, and these bikes are still being sold, bought and ridden. That's because their looks are ageless and their construction is bulletproof. And though today's motorcycles are better than ever, don't sleep on these 80s models, if you ever get the chance to own one.
10 Harley Sportster XLX61
In the early 1980s Harley-Davidson was going through some major turmoil, AMF, the company that had owned HD and fumbled the brand in the 70s, was ready to close the doors when a few investors (including the original Davidson's grandson) purchased the company. They wasted no time in turning things around by introducing new strategies, technologies and models.
One of those models was the Sportster XLX61. A back to basics model, the XLX61 was cheap, came with an electric starter and... well, that's pretty much it. But the sturdy V-twin proved to be popular with Harley fans and contributed to the overall return to form for Harley-Davidson. It's a motorcycle that is unapologetic about its simplicity and with 50 hp and top speed of slightly under 100 mph, it's a great vintage motorcycle to own and modify.
9 Kawasaki GPZ900R Ninja
Love him or hate him, Tom Cruise did one thing right in the 80s. He made the popularity of sport bikes explode into the stratosphere. The scene that did it was in a little movie called Top Gun, maybe you've heard of it? And the motorcycle? Well of course we're talking about none other than the GPZ900R, otherwise known in the states, as the Ninja. It was so popular, in fact, the word ninja became synonymous with sport bikes to this day.
Kawasaki, who'd originally resisted the codename, couldn't possibly dream of this type of publicity. The 908cc four-cylinder beast produced an exciting 113 hp, and could reach a stomach churning 151 mph. There are versions of this motorcycle that are still being built to this day, as Kawasaki knows what's good for it. But that original model is still a fantastic ride, and if you can find it in good shape, buy it, grab some aviators and head straight for the track.
8 Honda Africa Twin
That's right. Honda's excellent, and thoroughly modern, adventure motorcycle started its life in the 80s. And for our money, this is the better looking version. In an adventure market that was barely starting to wake up, the Honda Africa Twin ruled with an iron fist. It had a huge bash plate, protecting the underside of the bike. The front tire was 21-in, which was perfect for climbing over obstacles, but the massive cherry on top was the 6 gallon fuel tank, which allowed a rider to tour for a long period of time, without stopping for gas.
7 Suzuki GSX1100S Katana
In 1984, Kawasaki had fired a broadside against the other manufacturers with its Ninja sport bike. But Suzuki got there first, and with a lot more style. In the early 80s, the Japanese motorcycle brand hired a small German design firm and the revolutionary Katana was born. Up until this point, most Japanese motorcycles resembled your typical CB750. Big honkin' 2 or 4, cylinder engines, tank on top and neutral riding positions, with a plush seat.
That all changed when the Katana rolled off the assembly line. It looked like nothing else on the market, ready to slice the competition, true to its name. It could produce 110 hp, with 71 lbs of torque and if you were to show up to your local bike night on one of these, you'd be swarmed within minutes. And like the case with the Ninja, there is a current version of this bike as well.
6 Honda Gold Wing Interstate
Motorcycle manufacturers can definitely tell when one of their models becomes popular. They also know how to mine nostalgia and previously successful models for modern day sales. And though the latest version of the Gold Wing is an awesome machine, with the best possible features anyone could ever ask for, there's nothing quite like the original Interstate.
This is where the going got good for Honda lovers. The Gold Wing, a large displacement standard bike, had been around for a few years, but with the Interstate, Honda moved it into luxury touring territory. The seats were plush and comfortable. The windshield was large enough to deflect asteroids, if need be, and the luggage was big enough to carry just about anything you needed on a motorcycle trip. The Gold Wing would only get bigger and more luxurious over time, as did its pricing. But don't shy away from owning one of the older models. They're still Hondas, and they're still pretty reliable.
5 Ducati 851
Ducati has certainly been around the block a few times. They'd been hand-building motorcycles for decades when the 851 finally rolled of the factory floor. This was a sport bike like no other, and it looked ready to annihilate anyone in its way.
It had killer looks, a lethal L-Twin engine that produced 122 hp and only weighed 414 lbs (dry). It was able to achieve 155 mph and can still spank the daylights out of modern sport bikes. However, while they are amazing to ride, they do come with their own bag of gremlins. Ducatis were notorious for reliability issues around that time, so caution should be taken when choosing this as your next bike. Be sure to appraise it thoroughly.
4 Suzuki GSX-R750
Here at TopSpeed we're suckers for dual headlights and all the best bikes in the 80s had them, including Honda's VFR750R. The biggest challenge to the VFR750R, however, was this little gem from its rival Suzuki. They had similar looks, specs and were after the same market. But the good old Gixxer is just an objectively better machine. It certainly was more memorable, and not just for its funky nickname.
It weighed 388 lbs (dry) and produced 90 hp from its 749cc 4-cylinder engine. They're not very cheap these days, as they're still highly desirable, but if you manage to find one in good condition, the joy to money spent ratio would definitely dip in favor of joy. The GSX-R750 looks great and rides even better.
3 Yamaha V-Max
In the 80s, while its competitors were building modern sport bikes, Yamaha decided to lose their collective minds. Because there was no other way to explain why or how the V-Max was able to see the light of day and why it was still being made up until 2020.
It was a massive, 1198-cc V-four power cruiser, that no one knew what to do with. Despite the confusion it was an instant hit. It had 145 hp, with 83 lbs of torque and top speed of 146 mph. That's sport bike territory. It had a shaft drive and weighed a colossal 600 lbs. It also looked nothing like other contemporary cruisers of that time, and frankly, we think it still looks fairly modern to this day.
2 Honda Shadow
The Honda Shadow has always been the unpretentious version of a Harley Sportster. When you didn't want to pay extra for the lifestyle and stigma of the bar and shield brand, and just wanted to hit the highway on a reliable machine, you got yourself a Honda Shadow. What was true then, is true to this day, as the Shadow is still in production, albeit in a more modern form.
But the original is still a great ride that you can tune and customize however you want. Its no-frills looks are perfect for modifying and because Honda made thousands of these bad boys, there are plenty of after market accessories for just about any need.
1 BMW R80G/S
Let's get real, our adventure riding friends. Without BMW the ADV market would look very different right now. And that's all thanks to the R80G/S. Many mocked this machine when it first came out. Too heavy to be a true dual-sport, too much like a dual-sport to be good on pavement. But this beemer took the world by surprise and the German manufacturer never looked back.
Arguably, the most timeless motorcycle on this list, it still looks great. It's so great, in fact, other brands continue to pay homages to this design with new models. One only has to look at any model with the "scrambler" designation next to it, to see the original G/S in its bones. And by all accounts, it's still a fun motorcycle to ride, as BMW are well known for engineering perfection. And if we were given the option of owning a modern GS or the original it's based on? Hands down the R80G/S is the one to own.