Rare bikes abound! One of the great things about motorcycles is how passionate owners are about keeping old machines on the road. And we’re not talking about just ‘70s-era Honda CB750s (as fun and classic as they are). Bikes going back practically to the turn of the last century are still on the road.
There are literally hundreds of rare motorcycles out there. From classic vintage British marques like Vincent, Brough Superior, Ariel and Sunbeam, to even rarer American Crocker, Ace and Cleveland motorcycles, rare classic bikes are alive and well, thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts, restorers, and vintage parts suppliers.
But rare doesn’t have to mean ridiculously old or obscenely expensive. Some great rides were made in such small numbers that their scarcity alone makes them desirable. Others are sought after because of their quirkiness. Some, simply because they’re cool.
Check out this list of top 10 rare rides. While some may be nothing more than unattainable daydreams, others are as close as your next purchase.
- Triumph X-75 Hurricane – designed by legendary fairing maker Craig Vetter, the X-75 was sleek, sexy, and totally original (even if it did have all three exhaust pipes slung on one side).
- Vincent Black Knight – while most folks automatically think of the Black Shadow or the Black Lightning, the fully shrouded Black Knight is even more rare and exists in its own world of ultra-rarity.
- Scott Flying Squirrel – a two-stroke water-cooled twin that was way ahead of its time, the Flying Squirrel was the road-going version of Scott’s race-winning TT model.
- Honda CB77 Super Hawk – outfitted with a 305cc straight twin, this landmark motorcycle is seen as Honda’s very first sport bike.
- Suzuki RE-5 – yes, Virginia, there really was a rotary engine-powered motorcycle. Made from 1974 – 76, the RE-5 was a complicated, futuristic take on the possible direction of motorcycles, a direction that was not destined to last.
- Harley Davidson XLCR – with racy lines, straight bars and a café fairing, the XLCR was a short-lived entry by The Motor Company into the world of café racing and is one of the most sought-after modern Harleys.
- Henderson Deluxe In-Line Four – we’re not talking the modern incarnation of this classic ride but the original beauty, including the KJ and KL models that lasted until 1931.
- Brough Superior SS100 – it was the favorite of Lawrence of Arabia, the bike he was killed on, and over-the-top expensive today, but nothing matches this elegant British classic.
- Kawasaki Z1 – codenamed “New York Steak” when it was being developed, this machine was the superbike of its day, both responsive and wicked fast.
- Suzuki GS1000SZ Katana – in 1982 this bike was the shape of things to come, breaking all the old molds and setting direction for every sport and superbike to come.