1970s motorcycles

The Yamaha R5 350 was the first 350cc twin cylinder air cooled two-stroke motorcycle made available by the company to the biking public.  Yamaha’s two stroke factory racers, the TD …

Mention 6 cylinders to most bikers and an image of the Honda CBX immediately pops into their head yet it was the Italian Benelli Sei that was actually the first …

Yamaha produced their first 247cc two-stroke in 1957, the YD1. Following a series of YDS piston port machines it was December 1972 when the first Yamaha RD250 was released.  Little …

In this article we look back at the short lived but memorable Suzuki T250 Hustler which dominated the quarter litre scene in the early 70’s. In the early 70’s Japanese …

The 1978 Suzuki X7 was an all new ground-up design, however the origins of the bike go way back to 1966 with the original T250.  Following the T250 came the …

Launched in 1973 the Yamaha FS1-E was every young motorcyclist’s path to freedom. The ‘E’ suffix at the end of the models name simply represented which countries regulations the FS1 …

The Yamaha TZ750 is up there with being one of the most influential motorcycles in history.  From the foundation of the design to its racing and record setting achievements, it …

Nobody can blow the original Kawasaki H2 750 trumpet like Kawasaki themselves who wrote in their catalog: “We’ve just pulled a fast one on the competition. Named the Kawasaki 750cc …

The Yamaha RD400 had a relatively short lifespan and was produced between 1976-1979 having been first introduced in the Summer of 1975.  The RD line can be directly traced to …

The Yamaha DT250 started life in 1968 as the DT-1 and it very quickly sold through the initial 12,000 unit production run.  The US market was slowing down and yet …

During the early 1970s, the off-road motorcycle market was in full stride. With models from Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha entering and leaving the showrooms like a revolving door, this had …

When the new and updated Honda Monkey was re-introduced in 2018 I partially thought the Japanese giants had lost their mind.  Then I remembered the success of the Grom and …

Back in the mid-70’s middle-weight motorcycles ruled the roost. The big four Japanese manufacturers were all competing in the same category and for the same audience: Young and New riders.  …

This classic here is one I am excited about, a genuine truly rare Italian beauty. If the MV Agusta 750 S was likened to a person it would be the …

The 1975 Honda CB400F Super Sport is a motorcycle that divides opinion and has done since day one. On one side are those who believe it to be a gutless …

The Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans caught the world’s attention when released in 1976 and it has continued to captivate ever since, developing an adoring audience that keeps the motorcycle …

Take a moment to think of your favorite big dual-sport or adventure bike of all time. Got it in your mind’s eye? Ok. Now, repeat after me: “Thank you, Yamaha …

The Kawasaki KZ650 (or the Z650 outside the US) was one of the most popular motorcycles of the 1970s. Affordable, quick, reliable and it made Kawasaki’s Z series accessible to …

As amazing as motorcycles are today, there will never be anything quite like the noise, smell and speed of the classic Yamaha 2 stroke motorcycles of time gone by.  The …

There was never a period for motorcycles quite as wild as the 1970s.  Manufacturers were ready and willing to try anything to capture the imaginations of the motorcycling public, from …

The Kawasaki Kz1000 was a motorcycle that set the bar for the litre capacity bikes that would follow. It was one of the fastest production motorcycles of the time and …