1990s Motorcycle Revival
Fashion trends tend to come and go, but nostalgia is an undeniably powerful force. Wistful memories of simpler times are often enough motivation to open our wallets, especially when it comes to motorcycles. Generation X, in particular, is having a moment. Armed with disposable income, they’re old enough to be nostalgic for machines that they either owned or wished they could have from the 1990s. That’s a dangerous combination.
Search the wide selection of motorcycles from the 1990s on the Cycle Trader marketplace
It’s not just Gen-Xers driving a resurgence for 90s rides, as Gen-Z riders – many of whom are getting into riding for the first time – are discovering the now-vintage metal most appealing.
90s Style
So, what gives? Why are motorcycles from the 1990s – many of which we willfully forgot and left behind – enjoying a resurgence now? It turns out, there are a number of reasons. For one, that fickle fashion mentioned above? Well, it also tends to be cyclical. As is the case with a lot of other industries, 90s bikes are cool again.
Sport bikes from the 90s, for instance, still had remnants of the earliest of track bike looks with the bulbous, rounded body work and tri-spoke wheels, replaced by angry-insect-looking angular designs with squinty headlights as the 2000s came in.
Simplicity
For a lot of riders, the bike’s appearance is secondary to its riding experience. With a lot of these classic machines being analog or featuring early electronics, they can be a lot more engaging to ride than newer bikes. In many cases, their rudimentary electronics were responsible for little more than starting the bike and operating the lights. Gauges were usually classic dials instead of the convoluted infotainment screens we experience today. TFTs can be distracting to say the least, overwhelming the rider with vibrant graphics and a flood of information.
They also operate in a more mechanical way. The throttle response on a well-tuned carbureted bike feels more natural and linear to many riders than the sometimes-twitchy ride-by-wire set-ups we get on new bikes.
This lack of complexity, particularly with electronics, means for many shade tree mechanics, the classic bikes are much easier to wrench on. The 1990s and early 2000s represent something of a high-point for the old-school, simpler way of building bikes before advanced systems came into play either by consumer demand or government mandates. They’re modern enough to make sense, and be generally well-built, but old enough to still be mechanical and rich with character.
Usable, Accessible Performance
There’s been something of an arms race amongst the motorcycle makers over the last few decades. In the cruiser and touring classes, machines have not only become more digitally complex, but notably larger and heavier than they used to be. Meanwhile, sport and super sport bikes have seen power outputs essentially double in the past 20 years. A number of new machines easily surpass the 200 hp mark, while 90s sport bikes were plenty fast with around 100 ponies.
For older riders a little less wild than they used to be, a performance bike with 80-100 hp is still plenty fast enough to be thrilling. For newer riders, it’s a manageable number that can help them learn proper skills without all the techno-nannies, allowing them to possibly graduate to newer, faster bikes over time.
Best of all, there are thousands of bikes on Cycle Trader from the 90s, many of which are far more affordable than one might expect for these classic machines growing in popularity.
Cautionary Notes
Of course, there are compromises that come with classic bike ownership. Many of the aspects cited above as features – like their simplicity of technology – can make the 90s machines more challenging to ride and repair. For one thing, carburetors, when tuned properly, are a mechanical work of art, but they require more maintenance than fuel injection, and can be finicky at times. Beyond that, it’s important to remember that these bikes are now more than a quarter-century old, and in some instances, finding specific parts is becoming tricky.
The lack of technology also affects rider safety. Aside from a few applications on high-end BMW, Yamaha and Honda models, ABS brakes were virtually unheard of on motorcycles in the 1990s, with traction control systems even rarer. New tires should be a top consideration. Regardless of distance traveled, old rubber can dry out and lose grip.
Highlights of an Era
Regardless of the type of bike a rider prefers, there’s a 90s classic that should fit the bill. Some highlights – each of which have numerous examples available on Cycle Trader right now, are listed below.
Cruiser: Suzuki VS 1400 Intruder
Slim tank? Check. Super-plush seat? Check. Air-cooled V-Twin that loafs along at highway speed? You betcha. The big ‘truder is poised to go through a bit of a renaissance these days, and yet pristine examples are still available for dirt-cheap.
Sport Touring: Honda VFR 750
With its racy red paint and exotic NACA ducts on the fairing, Honda’s V4-powered sport touring machine took a race-ready machine and made it manageable for daily commuting or long trips. With sexy style and reliable build quality, the Honda VFR 750 still holds timeless appeal.
Adventure: BMW R1100GS and R1150 GS
Much more manageable in size and mass than the contemporary big Beemer ADV bikes, the BMW R1100GS is nevertheless nearly indestructible and capable of impressive feats off the pavement. Plus, with the 1150, you’ll be ready to follow McGregor and Boorman’s tracks the Long Way Round the planet.
Exotic: Ducati 916
Finding one of these can be a bit trickier than the other models on this list, but for pure sex appeal alone, it’s worth the search on Cycle Trader. With its wicked L-Twin engine, the Ducati 916 was wrapped in the decade’s sexiest bodywork, meaning that even if it proves to be as notoriously difficult to keep running properly as you might’ve heard, it’d still make a beautiful piece of stationary art in your garage or living room.
American V-twin: Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Classic, gruff Harley Evo engine stuffed into a relatively small machine (at least by the Motor Company’s standards, anyway), the Fat Boy is a minimalist classic cruiser, but one that bellows attitude. Heck, it was the Terminator’s ride in T2 – what’s more of a 90’s icon than that?
Sport Bike: Yamaha FZR600
Basically any 600cc Japanese machine from the 90s would be welcomed with open arms. This one’s a bit of a cop-out because it’s tough to pick a favorite amongst the mid-to-late 90s 600cc sport bikes. These are the otherworldly machines yours truly lusted after as a high school student, but was never allowed to have. The Honda CBR600F3 appeals to my head for its sensible riding position and relative ease to live with, but the 1993 Yamaha FZR600 with its twin, circular headlights is just achingly retro-cool before Yamaha went hardcore with the R6.
There’s no shortage of awesome classic 90s rides available out there, but we recommend starting to scour the ads on Cycle Trader’s marketplace to find yours before too many others catch on to their appeal.
Marketplace Inventory
Jeff Wilson
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