1960s: Royal Enfield Continental GT250
At a time when café racers were the in-thing, the Royal Enfield Continental GT250 capitalized. It had everything that fans wanted from those bikes, and could hit 85 mph in real style. 1965 GT250s in good condition can sell for roughly $3,500 nowadays.
1960s: Triumph Bonneville T120
Making its bow in 1959, the Triumph Bonneville T120 went on to become one of the defining bikes of the 1960s. It was fast and incredibly stylish, winning the hearts of motorcycle fans across the world. Today, collectors can expect to pay just under $14,000 for an original Bonneville in good condition.
1960s: Honda CB77
Otherwise known as the Super Hawk, the Honda CB77 was an absolute beast. It boasted a twin-cylinder engine that could reach 28 horsepower. And boy, was this bike quick once it got going. It was one of the decade's coolest vehicles. 1961 CB77s in decent condition can be had for over $5,000 now.
1960s: Ducati Scrambler
The Scramber was a vital model for Ducati in the 1960s. After all, it helped scratch the itch of off-road fans, settting the company up for future success in America. It's an awesome bike to boot! If a collector wants to get their hands on an original 1962 Scrambler, they could pay anything between $2,500 to $10,000.
1960s: Piaggio Vespa Allstate Cruisaire
The Piaggio Vespa Allstate Cruisaire first arrived in America in 1960. And it didn't take long for the bike to reach iconic status. It's so cool! An original '60 Vespa was sold for just under $3,000 at an auction in 2022, so that's the sort of figure collectors should expect to pay.
1960s: Harley-Davidson Sprint C
The Sprint C was Harley-Davidson's response to the success of rival bikes such as the Honda Super Cub 50. And it worked — the motorcycle was pretty popular thoughout the 1960s. Today, original 1961 Sprint Cs are valued between $3,000 and $12,000.
1960s: BSA Gold Star
The BSA Gold Star was sadly retired in 1963. But this classic model still continued to capture the hearts of motorcycle enthusiasts across that decade. How could it not? It was so stylish! Today, a '63 Gold Star in excellent condition can be valued at over $20,000.
1960s: Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide
With its electric start, lockable saddlebags, and choice between foot or hand gear shifting, the Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide was a very modern bike for its time. It also boasted 60 horsepower. Is it a collector's item today, though? You bet! 1965 Electra Glides can be valued at over $20,000.
1960s: Yamaha DT1
The Yamaha DT1 was a road-legal trail motorcycle. Instead of heavily modifying their bikes for off-road use, fans could now just buy this ready-made motor and jump right into it. It was a very important vehicle for that decade. Original 1968 DT1s can be had for nearly $4,000 today.
1960s: Ducati Mach 1
Stylish, fast, and brimming with cool features, the Ducati Mach 1 was an awesome bike that won lots of fans across the 1960s. This beast could surpass 100 mph at top speed! As for its value today, a 1964 Mach 1 has an average price of roughly $10,000.
1960s: Norton Commando
By rubber mounting its gearbox and engine, the Norton Commando looked to eliminate uncomfortable vibrations for riders. And it largely worked — the bike developed a loyal fanbase at the back-end of the 1960s. Today, collectors can expect to pay just under $8,000 for a 1967 Commando in decent shape.
1960s: Triumph Trident
Boasting an inline three-cylinder engine, the Trident was a much-needed shot in the arm for Triumph in the 1960s. It provided an equally powerful and smooth ride. But how valuable are those bikes now? Well, 1968 Tridents in good condition are usually worth about $7,000.
1960s: Kawasaki H1 Mach 3
As the decade was coming to a close, the Kawasaki H1 Mach 3 made its bow in 1969. And boy, what a bike this was! It was fast, reliable, and excellently built. Nowadays, an original '69 H1 Mach 3 will set you back by over $12,000.
1960s: BMW R75/5
There's no other way of saying it, folks — the BMW R75/5 was an amazing motorcycle. Not only did it look great, but it could hit speeds of 107 mph thanks to its powerful boxer twin engine. You can pay anything between $4,000 and $13,000 for a 1969 R75/5 today.
1960s: Honda CB750
The Honda CB750 changed the game when it rolled out in 1969. This bike was reliable, smooth, powerful, and oil tight, while also boasting advanced electronic components. It was an incredible motor. And collectors have to be prepared to spend big bucks on them today. We're talking over $27,000 here!
1970s: BMW R90S
It's time to jump into the 1970s now, and what better place to start than the BMW R90S. This bike turned a lot of heads thanks to its eye-catching color and speed. It's highly-coveted today, with the average valuation for a 1976 R90S sitting at close to $16,000. Some have sold for around $60,000 in the past, though!
1970s: Moto Guzzi Le Mans 850 Mk. 1
Looked upon as a modern café racer when it came out, it didn't take long for the Moto Guzzi Le Mans 850 Mk.1 to become a classic. It was a really cool '70s bike. Now, collectors can expect to pay roughly $12,000 to get their hands on an original 1976 model.
1970s: Ducati 750SS
Sporting a truly iconic design, the Ducati 750SS took the world by storm in the 1970s. It was stable to ride, fast, and very stylish. What more could you ask for! It costs a pretty penny to buy an original model today, though. They're valued at close to $28,000.
1970s: Yamaha RD350
The Yamaha RD350 was a great motorcycle to own in the 1970s. It was nifty and speedy, equipped with a parallel twin two-stroke engine. Bike enthusiasts loved it! Today, 1973 RD350s can be valued between $5,000 and $15,000 depending on their condition.
1970s: Kawasaki Z1000
Without beating around the bush, the Kawasaki Z1000 was an absolute monster of a bike. It had a four-cylinder engine capable of hitting 132 mph. Talk about a speed demon! It looked amazing, too. Nowadays, an original 1977 Z1000 can be worth anything between $3,400 and $12,700.
1970s: Honda Gold Wing GL1000
Is the Honda Gold Wing GL1000 the best touring bike of the 1970s? It's got to be in the conversation! From the performance to the reliability, this motorcycle was ideal for long-distance journeys. Collectors can expect to pay over $2,500 for an original 1974 Gold Wing today.
1970s: Suzuki GS750
The Suzuki GS750 had a lot going for it when it first rolled out in 1977. Equipped with an inline four-cylinder engine and a solid chassis, this bike handled like a dream while hitting awesome speeds. The perfect combo, right? An original model in excellent condition can be worth close to $5,000 now.
1970s: Kawasaki H2 Mach IV 750
Both insanely fast and powerful, the Kawasaki H2 Mach IV 750 blew a lot of people away during the 1970s. This beast could hit speeds of 120 mph in a flash. It's no surprise that bike enthusiasts fell in love with it. 1972 models can sell for over $16,000 today — some have even gone for closer to $50,000 in the past!
1970s: Yamaha XS750
When it comes to naming popular motorcycles from the 1970s, we can't forget about the Yamaha XS750. This bike offered some really cool features, such as automatic headlights, alongside a reliable engine. If collectors want to buy an original model now that's in decent condition, the price is usually close to $3,000.
1970s: Harley-Davidson XR750
The Harley-Davidson XR750 handled brilliantly and relied on a strong engine. It's no wonder the bike dominated dirt tracks across the 1970s! And avid collectors still crave them today. Original XR750s from that decade can fetch up to $29,000.
1980s: Kawasaki Vulcan
On to the 1980s now, and we'll start off strongly. Yes, the Kawasaki Vulcan was an awesome bike that made its bow in 1984, boasting a powerful V-twin engine. It offered a fantastic ride. Today, collectors usually have to cough up about $2,400 to buy an original model.
1980s: Honda XRV650
Otherwise known as the Africa Twin, the Honda XRV650 made waves when it rolled out in 1988. This motorcycle was built to go anywhere, which thrilled adventurous riders. If you want to get your hands on an original model today, the valuation ranges between $5,000 and $15,000.
1980s: Yamaha VMAX 1200
Few motorcycles could match the sheer power of the Yamaha VMAX 1200 during the 1980s. This thing had a V-four engine that was capable of producing 145 horsepower. Trust us, you're reading that correctly! The iconic bike can fetch more than $11,000 today.
1980s: Suzuki DR Big
The Suzuki DR Big was exactly that — from the fuel tank to the engine, it was absolutely huge! It became one of the defining bikes of the decade. But is the original model still coveted today? Yep! Some DR Bigs from that era can be valued at $8,000.
1980s: Yamaha Virago
Due to its size and solid performance, the Yamaha Virago was the ideal first bike for lots of folks in the 1980s. It wasn't too intimidating! And the original model remains a collector's item today. 1988 Viragos can sell for close to $2,000.
1980s: Ducati 851
Sporting an iconic body and a mean V-twin liquid-cooled engine, the Ducati 851 earned a lot of attention when it released in 1988. It was a gorgeous bike. And unsurprisingly, it's still capable of stealing hearts even now! Original models can be worth up to $12,000 today.
1980s: Honda VFR750R RC30
A motorcycle that made its name as a successful racer, the Honda VFR750R RC30 was quite the vehicle. It won two World Superbike Championships in succession at the end of the 1980s. And now, original '87 models can fetch up to $40,000 from besotted collectors.
1980s: Kawasaki GPZ900R
The Kawasaki GPZ900R was a spectacular motorcycle. It not only looked great, but it could hit a whopping 151 mph at top speed. If that wasn't enough, the bike's appearance in Top Gun further cemented its place as an '80s icon. Original models can be worth around $5,000 now.
1980s: BMW R80 G/S
One of the most popular bikes to emerge in the 1980s, the BMW R80 G/S was a revelation. It was a touring motorcycle that could also go off-road. Today, this iconic model can be sold for close to $11,000.
1980s: Suzuki Katana
The Suzuki Katana's futuristic design and powerful engine went a long way to establishing it as a must-have '80s bike. It just oozed cool! How much are original models worth today, though? Well, it can fluctuate. The figure usually sits between $9,000 and $20,000.
Through: El Caganer