BMW R80G/S
Do we have any fans of the BMW R80G/S in the house? We thought so. This bike is incredibly cool! It debuted in 1980 at the Cologne Motor Show, and went on to become one of the most popular models of the decade. By the end of 1981, the R80G/S had doubled its original sales target. That's quite the achievement, wouldn't you agree? And there are more awesome motorcycles on the way...
Suzuki GSX1100S Katana
Is the Suzuki GSX1100S Katana the greatest motorcycle of the '80s? It's got to be in the conversation, at least! This thing has so much in its favor. It looks amazing, offers a fantastic riding position, and boasts a tremendous engine. Yep, the 1,075cc transverse four-cylinder can produce around 109 horsepower on the road.
Kawasaki GPZ900R
The Kawasaki GPZ900R is an absolute beast of a bike. When it debuted in 1984, it became the first production motorcycle to smash past 150 mph. The 16-valve liquid-cooled inline-four engine doesn't play around, folks! It can also produce 115 horsepower. The GPZ900R was also immortalized on the big screen thanks to its appearance in Top Gun.
Suzuki RG500 Gamma
Although it made its bow on the race circuit in 1973, the Suzuki RG500 Gamma wasn't available to the public until 1984. And boy, did they lap it up! This awesome bike housed a naturally aspirated four-cylinder two-stroke engine, capable of jaw-dropping power. How could you turn your nose up at it?
Suzuki DR Big
The motorcycle world owes a lot to the Suzuki DR Big. After all, this was the bike that popularized large fuel tanks, high seats, and adventure beaks at the back-end of the '80s. It was an enormous machine. And its engine? Oh man. That single-cylinder was the largest ever built at that stage.
Honda VFR750R RC30
Struggling to take your eyes off the Honda VFR750R RC30? We don't blame you! It's a gorgeous motorcycle. And this thing is still a monster on the road as well. Rocking a 748cc gear-driven double overhead camshaft V4 engine, it can produce 118 horsepower in full-flight. Lovely stuff.
Honda Africa Twin
Lightweight, versatile, and dripping with style, the Honda Africa Twin turned a lot of heads upon its release in 1988. It was such a fun bike to ride, especially for longer trips. This motorcycle housed a 647cc V-twin engine, capable of producing 57 horsepower at 8,000 rpm. An icon? You bet!
Honda CB1100R
The Honda CB1100R is a very hard bike to miss. It's huge! Weighing 500 pounds dry, you'd think this '80s beast would be a little sluggish on the road. That's not the case, though. It handles and steers brilliantly, while also being capable of producing 115 horsepower. Woah.
Yamaha RD350LC
Was there a more nimble motorcycle in the '80s than the Yamaha RD350LC? We're not so sure. This beautiful bike was an absolute blast to ride — the wheelies you could pull off were crazy! The water-cooled engine deserves its flowers as well. It really helped performances on the road.
Triumph T140 TSX
Was the Triumph T140 TSX an '80s triumph? We'd say so — for American riders, at least! This bike was designed with the U.S. market in mind. It had a lowered chassis, a stepped seat, and a 16-inch rear wheel. Today, it's something of a rarity in the motorcycle world.
Honda CB900F
The Honda CB900F has a wonderfully unassuming look about it. It's eye-catching without being too overbearing. And performance-wise, you could argue that it's much the same. The bike is surprisingly easy to handle, despite churning out 95 horsepower at 9,000 rpm. A hidden gem? We'd say so, folks.
Suzuki GS850
The Suzuki GS850 is a very easy motorcycle to love. Thanks to its shaft drive, it's incredibly simple to maintain. Music to the ears, right? And that's not all. While its engine isn't insanely powerful, the bike is still a lot of fun to take out for lengthy journeys.
Honda XL500
It's fair to say that the Honda XL500 ticks a lot of boxes. Yep, this '80s bike is easy to maintain, versatile, and extremely durable. The 498cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine isn't a slouch, either! It's no surprise that so many people see the XL500 as a brilliant "starter classic."
Yamaha Chappy
Is the Yamaha Chappy an undisputed icon of '80s biking? Probably not. But is it one of the biggest cult favorites from that decade? Absolutely! This unique motorcycle is simple to own and reliable to a fault. The two-stroke engine won't let you down. Would you ride a Chappy if given the chance?
Honda CD200
Did any other commuter bike match the Honda CD200 during the '80s? No way! This simplistic classic was robust, fuel-efficient, reliable, and very easy to maintain. Mechanical headaches were few and far between. As such, some folks even refer to it as the "invisible Honda." A unique compliment, right?
Harley-Davidson FXR
Making its bow in 1982, the Harley-Davidson FXR garnered a lot of attention. It was the first motorcyle from the company to include a five-speed transmission and a factory-installed rear disc brake. On top of that, it had a tremendous riding position and a monstrous 1,300cc V-twin engine. Nice!
Suzuki GSX-R750
Excitement and fun times abound whenever the Suzuki GSX-R750 makes an appearance. This '80s bike is incredible! It's got a fantastic suspension system and a light frame, aiding its performances on the road. And the engine? It's no joke, folks. The 750cc inline-four is absolutely brimming with power.
Kawasaki Vulcan 750
A great engine? Check. An iconic design? Check. Fun to ride? You know it! Yep, the Kawasaki Vulcan 750 did so much right. Its 750cc engine was the company's first V-twin, and boy was it smooth. After launching in 1984, the model stuck around for an impressive 22 years.
Yamaha VMAX
We're going to be blunt here — the Yamaha VMAX is a monster. This hulking bike took performance cruising to new heights during the '80s, cranking out some insane numbers. 145 horsepower? Holy smokes! To call the 1,197cc liquid-cooled V4 engine potent feels like an understatement.
Yamaha Virago
The Yamaha Virago is pretty unspectacular. But that's not meant as an insult, folks! Following its introduction in 1988, this motorcycle became one of the go-to cruisers for novice riders. It's really engaging on the road, despite the V-twin engine's lack of power. How does our next entry compare? Let's find out...
Ducati 851
Is the Ducati 851 the best-looking motorcycle of the 1980s? You won't get any arguments from us! It's a stunning vehicle. And it's more than a pretty face, too. The bike has a 853cc V-twin liquid-cooled engine, capable of producing 93 horsepower in full-flight. Impressive stuff.
Honda Shadow
How can anyone hate the Honda Shadow? This bike managed to light up the '80s without being insanely exciting. The VT750C model was arguably the standout. It had a six-speed transmission, a 750cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine, and offered a very comfortable ride on the road.
Yamaha FZR600 Genesis
The Yamaha FZR600 Genesis is an exceptionally cool motorcyle. Folks loved it back in the '80s — and it's not hard to understand why. The bike is equipped with a 599cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine that can produce 89.6 horsepower. And at 399 pounds, it isn't that heavy, either.
BMW R100GS
While the BMW R80G/S gets a lot of love, we can't forget about the R100GS. This stylish '80s model is incredibly fun to ride, boasting a Paralever rear suspension. It can crank out 60 horsepower when pushed to the limit, which isn't bad for its weight.
Cagiva Elefant 650
Unique, charming, and sporting a great look, the Cagiva Elefant 650 is a real cult favorite. Although tighter paths were a struggle, it offered fantastic performances both on and off-road. Today, the bike is something of a collector's item. It rarely demands huge prices on the used market.
Kawasaki KLR650 Tengai
Are there any fans of the Kawasaki KLR650 Tengai here? Don't be shy! This cool bike deserves some appreciation. It's an extremely reliable machine, even now. Finding spare parts isn't that challenging, folks. As for its performances, it's very steady when pushed to the limit.
Suzuki DR600
Is the Suzuki DR600 rough around the edges? Without a doubt. Its kick-start air-cooled engine can be pretty unforgiving — the vibrations are crazy! But this isn't a bad bike at all. It's reliable to a fault, which you can't say about every motorcycle from the '80s.
Yamaha XTZ750 Super Ténéré
The Yamaha XTZ750 Super Ténéré is a pretty striking motorcycle. Debuting in 1989, it has a huge fuel tank, a gorgeous frame, and a liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that doesn't take any prisoners. The bike is absolutely rapid off-road. You could ride this beauty for hours on end!
Honda Transalp XL600V
Name a more underrated '80s motorcycle than the Honda Transalp XL600V. We'll wait! This awesome vehicle really struggled to find its feet in America following its release — and it's tough to figure out why. It had an excellent suspension, plenty of space for riders, and a smooth V-twin engine. The bike wasn't heavy, either.
Honda NX250
It's been said that the Honda NX250 was ahead of its time. And we have to agree! This adventure bike didn't have the expected stripped-down dual sport look upon its release in 1988. Instead, it had proper bodywork. To say it stood out would be underselling it.
Bimota DB1
Motorcycles from the '80s don't get more stylish than the Bimota DB1. You could gawk at this thing all day! The bike is credited for saving Bimota, as the company faced bankruptcy upon its release. Quite the feather to have in your cap, right?
Ducati Paso
Another stunner from Ducati, the Paso is a tremendous motorcycle. It's comfortable to ride, offers crisp handling, and has two exciting models from the '80s. Both the 750 and 906 options are brimming with power — but the latter edges it.
Yamaha RX-Z
You won't struggle to find fans of the Yamaha RX-Z in Malaysia, folks. It's the country's most popular two-stroke bike — ever. Talk about a wild accolade! The motorcycle debuted in 1985, and stayed in production until 2011. It was a great run.
Honda CBR600F
The Honda CBR600F had everything you could want from an '80s sportbike. It looked cool, had a comfortable riding position, and produced plenty of power. People flocked to it upon its release, making it one of the more popular motorcycles of the decade.
BMW K1
The BMW K1 is both beauty and the beast. Its gorgeous frame houses a 16-valve inline-four engine, aided by fuel injectors. As a result, it can produce 100 horsepower on the road. Nice! And the top speed? 143 mph. BMW weren't playing around here.
Through: Gastair / Wikimedia Commons