Most Iconic Motorcycles of the 21st Century So Far
The first quarter of the 21st century has been a great one for motorcycle lovers. Tastes and fashions have motivated movement in fantastic two-wheeled directions like café and retro-styled machines, a rise in popularity of raw, naked performance bikes, and the explosion of the ADV and dual-sport segment. It’s also seen an incredible transition from simple and basic machines to mind-blowing technological achievements.
We’ve compiled a top-ten list of the most important, most significant, most exciting two-wheeled machines of the past 25 years.
BMW R1200 GS
The 2000s have seen BMW’s Motorrad division shake things up not only internally, but within the motorcycle industry overall. For decades, the company’s iconic two-cylinder “Boxer” engines have powered all sorts of bikes, but by the 2000s, it was the dual-sport GS models that defined the brand and became the company’s sales leader.
The 2006 R1200 GS shed weight versus its 1150 predecessor but gained nearly 20% more power, making it properly capable on-road as a spirited touring machine as much as an all-terrain overland adventure bike. BMW has continued to evolve the GS since, but the 1200 set the ADV standard that the company has held ever since.
Honda Africa Twin
A decade after BMW’s R1200 GS defined the segment, competitors from Triumph and KTM were on the scene with their own big-boned adventure bikes. Honda recognized a gap in the ADV segment between the category leaders and the smaller, sub-1000 cc dual sports, launching the CRF1000L Africa Twin.
Powered by a compact 998 cc parallel twin engine, the Africa Twin arrived on the scene as a “right-sized” and highly capable adventure bike for riders who might want something a little more manageable off-road.
Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa
The earliest of Hayabusa models have the greatest collectible cachet since they were designed for top speed before market pressures forced an industry-wide motorcycle speed limit of 186 mph. This means Suzuki was free to flex its muscle in 1999 and early 2000 to rocket their new superbike to record-setting top speeds (up to 194 mph).
Triumph Bonneville
There is no motorcycle shape more iconic than the Triumph Bonneville. The standard-style bike has been around since the 1950s and, for many, it defines what a motorcycle should look like. Although Triumph struggled through the ’80s and ’90s, a new Bonneville was released in the early 2000s that was remarkably true to the original design.
By 2009, American-spec Bonnevilles were fuel-injected and featured an 865 cc parallel twin engine that gave them respectable, if not exhilarating, performance, but made them wonderfully easy to ride and live with. The new Bonnevilles carry on today as the T100 models and have spawned other variations like the Street Cup, Scrambler, and Thruxton variants, with a strong aftermarket letting owners customize their rides to their tastes.
Honda GL1800 Gold Wing
While Harley-Davidson’s biggest touring bikes feature the brand’s characterful V-twin engines, Honda has equipped its largest and most luxurious motorcycle with incredibly smooth, horizontally opposed (flat) engines since its inception in the ’70s. For 2001, the GL1800 Gold Wing arrived with a larger six-cylinder engine, fuel injection, and high-tech options like ABS braking.
The Gold Wing’s flat-six is strong and, despite its considerable size, can be made to hustle impressively around corners. Honda continues to improve the Gold Wing, adding features like heated seats, intercom integration, an airbag, and Apple CarPlay, and has even added a “walking gear” to help park the big bike at parking lot speeds.
Aprilia RSV4 and Tuono
We’re cheating a bit here by including two models from Aprilia. The RSV4 was Milan-based Piaggio’s first four-cylinder motorcycle—and wow, did it impress. Built with the intention of racing, in its first season (2009), it helped Max Biaggi reach the podium nine times. In 2010 and 2012, Biaggi rode the RSV4 to win the championship.
The street version of the RSV4 was remarkably close to the track version, making it an exhilarating ride (and still featuring the awesome sound of the angry V4 engine). Aprilia also helped generate excitement into a “naked superbike” segment with its Tuono—a version of the RSV4 with a less aggressive riding position and minimalized fairing.
BMW S 1000 RR
At the same time Aprilia was getting serious, so was BMW, introducing its S 1000 RR for the 2009 racing season as well. Until this point, BMW’s motorcycles tended toward high-speed sport touring, dual-sport, or the classic Boxer-style machines, so the introduction of this fire-breathing inline-four-powered machine was shocking.
The S 1000 RR quickly impressed with its 200 hp output, but it also pioneered a lot of technology that modern superbike riders now come to expect—with advanced traction control, multiple computerized ride modes, and even a clutchless quick-shifter appearing here before anywhere else.
Kawasaki Ninja H2
Kawasaki made a big splash in the superbike segment for 2015, earning bragging rights for having the most powerful production motorcycle on the market. With a centrifugal supercharger bolted to its 998 cc inline four-cylinder engine, the track-ready H2R delivered up to 326 horsepower with ram-air.
Street-legal variants are still supercharged but detuned to 200 hp. While not the quickest track bike, the Ninja H2 has repeatedly been used for top speed runs, with some unverified claims showing the bike exceeding 250 mph.
Honda VFR
Like the other Hondas on this list, the VFR range is notable for durability and longevity, but also the company’s engineering prowess. Honda’s VFR bikes have featured a V4 engine format since their introduction in the 1980s. By 2002, the sixth generation of the VFR800 had arrived with more power, but also optional ABS brakes with a system that linked both front and rear braking for increased safety.
It also featured Honda’s VTEC system—better known in the automotive world—where two of each cylinder’s four valves remained closed until 6,800 rpm, at which point there was both more thrust and more noise. The following generation of VFR1200 saw the implementation of a dual-clutch, semi-automated transmission that was well ahead of its time.
The VFR continues to be revered for its exotic-looking appearance (thanks to sleek fairings and a single-sided rear swingarm), plus its blend of performance and comfort that make it an excellent sport-touring machine.
Zero SR/F
Our list wouldn’t be complete without recognizing the impact electric motorcycles have had in the last decade or so. California-based Zero is the company that has advanced the viability of electric motorcycles in the real world. Electric bikes have always enjoyed the benefit of instant, abundant torque, but managing that can be tricky. By 2020, the Zero SR/F finally got traction control to help keep things manageable. Range is now up to more than 175 miles per charge, making it a reasonable machine for many riders’ needs. Quick, stylish, and silent, the Zero may not be for every rider, but it makes a compelling case for many.
The past 25 years have brought some truly unforgettable motorcycles, each with its own style and impact. And as motorcycle design keeps moving forward, these models continue to stand out as icons of the 21st century.
Jeff Wilson