10 Best Motorcycle Brands in 2022

Rider’s 2021 Motorcycle of the Year

Our first Motorcycle of the Year was awarded to the 1990 BMW K1, and for the past 31 years we’ve limited contenders to current model-year motorcycles that are new or significantly updated. In recent years, however, production timing and model-year designations have become more fluid.

And then there’s the economic shutdown last year caused by the pandemic, which disrupted the global supply chain for everything from toilet paper to semiconductors. Some manufacturers were forced to delay the release of certain models, while others skipped the 2021 model year altogether.

We’ve posted announcements of new/updated 2022 models as early as January of this year. And so far, we’ve ridden 2022 motorcycles from BMW, Honda, Indian, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. To give all makes and models a fair shake during the calendar year when they are released and most relevant, eligible contenders for this year’s MOTY include any new/updated motorcycle released since last year’s award that are available for testing.

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2021 Motorcycle Buyers Guide: New Street Models

2022 Motorcycle Buyers Guide: New Street Models

There were plenty of motorcycles to consider, and we’ve narrowed them down to 10 contenders and one winner. Without further ado…

THE CONTENDERS

1) BMW R 18 B/Transcontinental

2022 BMW R 18 Transcontinental (Photo by Kevin Wing)

BMW entered the traditional cruiser segment in 2021 with the standard R 18 and windshield-and-saddlebags-equipped R 18 Classic, built around the 1,802cc “Big Boxer.” The 2022 R 18 B “Bagger” and R 18 Transcontinental are touring-ready with a batwing-style fairing, infotainment system, hard saddlebags, and a passenger seat, and the TC adds a top trunk with a passenger backrest.

Read our 2022 BMW R 18 B / Transcontinental review

2) Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250/Special

2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special (Photo by Kevin Wing)

Yes, pigs – or more accurately, hogs – can fly. The Motor Company shook up the hyper-competitive ADV segment when it introduced the 2021 Pan America 1250/Special. Powered by a 150-horsepower V-Twin and fully equipped with all the latest bells and whistles, it proved itself to be highly capable on- and off-road, and the optional Adaptive Ride Height is its killer app.

Read our 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special review

3) Honda Gold Wing Tour/DCT

2021 Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT (Photo by Drew Ruiz)

Honda’s GL1800 won Rider’s MOTY when it debuted in 2001 and again when it was thoroughly overhauled in 2018. Updates for 2021 may seem minor, but they make all the difference when it comes to the two-up touring the Wing was designed for. The larger trunk holds more stuff, the improved passenger accommodations are appreciated, and the audio and styling updates add refinement.

Read our 2021 Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT review

4) Honda Rebel 1100/DCT

2021 Honda Rebel 1100 DCT (Photo by Drew Ruiz)

The all-new Rebel 1100 is the sort of cruiser only Honda could make. It has styling like its smaller Rebel 300/500 siblings, a powerful engine adapted from the Africa Twin CRF1100L (including an optional 6-speed automatic Dual Clutch Transmission), ride modes and other electronics, well-damped suspension, good cornering clearance, modest weight, and a base price of just $9,299 (add $700 for DCT).

Read our 2021 Honda Rebel 1100 DCT review

5) Kawasaki KLR650

2022 Kawasaki KLR650 (Photo by Drew Ruiz)

The KLR is dead, long live the KLR! After a two-year absence, Kawasaki’s legendary dual-sport returns for 2022 with fuel injection (at last!), optional ABS, and other updates aimed at improving reliability, comfort, stability, load capacity, and user-friendliness. It remains one of the best deals on two wheels with a base price of $6,699.

Read our 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure review

6) KTM 890 Adventure R

2021 KTM 890 Adventure R (Photo by Kevin Wing)

KTM’s street-oriented 790 Adventure and off-road-ready 790 Adventure R shared Rider’s 2019 MOTY. Just two years later, the folks in Mattighofen kicked it up a notch with a larger, more powerful engine from the 890 Duke R, chassis updates, and tweaks to the suspension, brakes, and electronics, all of which contribute to the 890 Adventure R’s all-terrain capability.

Read our 2021 KTM 890 Adventure R review

7) Indian Super Chief Limited

2022 Indian Super Chief Limited (Photo by Jordan Pay)

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original Chief, Indian revamped its entire Chief lineup, with six models that strike a balance between old-school style and new-school technology. Powered by the Thunderstroke 116 V-Twin, the all-new Super Chief Limited has a quick-release windscreen, saddlebags, a two-up seat, ABS, and a Ride Command-equipped display.

Read our 2022 Indian Super Chief Limited review

8) Royal Enfield Meteor 350

2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (Photo by Kevin Wing)

Yes, the Meteor 350’s air-/oil-cooled Single makes just 18 horsepower and 18 lb-ft of torque. But rarely have we encountered a motorcycle that offers so much substance for so little money. In top-spec Supernova trim, the Meteor comes with ABS, turn-by-turn navigation, a two-up seat with a passenger backrest, a windshield, and a two-tone paint scheme for just $4,599.

Read our 2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 review

9) Suzuki Hayabusa

2022 Suzuki Hayabusa (Photo by Kevin Wing)

The former winner of the late-’90s top-speed wars got its first major update since 2008. Thanks to more grunt in the midrange, the Hayabusa’s updated 187-horsepower 1,340cc inline-Four helps it accelerate faster than ever before. Refined and reworked from nose to tail, the ’Busa has more aerodynamic bodywork, a full suite of IMU-enabled electronics, and much more.

Read our 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa review

10) Yamaha Ténéré 700

2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 (Photo by Brian J. Nelson)

Designed to be equally capable on- and off-road, Yamaha’s middleweight adventure bike is powered by a liquid-cooled, 689cc CP2 parallel-Twin and has a durable tubular-steel frame, adjustable long-travel suspension, switchable ABS, and spoked wheels in 21-inch front/18-inch rear sizes. Contributor Arden Kysely liked the T7 so much, he bought our test bike from Yamaha.

Read our 2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700 review

And the winner is…

Yamaha Tracer 9 GT

2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT (Photos by Joseph Agustin)

For the better part of the past decade, the adventure bike segment has been the darling of the motorcycle industry, growing while other segments have been flat or declining and siphoning off R&D resources. With some adventure bikes making 150 horsepower or more, traditional sport-tourers have been all but neglected. Stalwarts such as the Honda ST1300, Kawasaki Concours 14, and Yamaha FJR1300 haven’t been updated in years.

That’s what makes the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT such a breath of fresh air. At less than 500 pounds fully fueled, it’s much easier to handle than the 600-plus-pound S-T bikes on the market. And with a claimed 115 horsepower on tap, there are few motorcycles that will leave it behind.

We first tested the bike that would evolve into the Tracer 9 GT when Yamaha introduced the FJ-09 for 2015. At its heart was the liquid-cooled 847cc CP3 Triple from the FZ-09 – an absolute ripper of a motor. It had an ADV-ish upright seating position and wind-blocking handguards but rolled on 17-inch wheels with sport-touring rubber, while its windscreen, centerstand, and optional 22-liter saddlebags added touring capability. The FJ-09 was light and fun to ride, but it was held back by fueling issues, poorly damped suspension, and weak brakes.

Yamaha did its homework and gave its middleweight sport-tourer an overhaul for 2019, renaming it the Tracer 900 GT in the process. Updates included better throttle response, a longer swingarm for more stability, higher-quality suspension, a new TFT color display, and a larger, one-hand-adjustable windscreen. The saddlebags were made standard as were other features, such as cruise control, heated grips, and a quickshifter.

Two years later, Yamaha went even further. For 2021, the new Tracer 9 GT gets the larger 890cc CP3 Triple from the MT-09, which is lighter, more fuel efficient, and more powerful. An all-new lightweight aluminum frame is made using a controlled-fill diecast process that reduces mass and increases rigidity. A new aluminum swingarm is longer and stronger, and a new steel subframe increases load capacity to 425 pounds and allows an accessory top trunk to be mounted along with the larger 30-liter saddlebags. New spinforged wheels reduce unsprung weight, and they’re shod with grippy Bridgestone Battlax T32 GT sport-touring tires.

In addition to updated throttle response modes and all-new KYB semi-active suspension, the Tracer 9 GT now has a 6-axis IMU that enables a suite of electronic rider aids adapted from the YZF-R1, including lean-angle-sensitive traction control, ABS, slide control, and lift control. It also has full LED lighting (including cornering lights) and a new dual-screen TFT display. The rider/passenger seats have been upgraded, and the rider’s ergonomics are adjustable.

We had an opportunity to test the Tracer 9 GT just before the MOTY polls closed, and it swept the field. Thanks to steady evolution and improvement over three generations, Yamaha has demonstrated just how good a modern sport-tourer can be, especially for riders who value agility over couch-like luxury. Performance, sophistication, comfort, versatility, load/luggage capacity – the Tracer checks all the right boxes and leaves nothing on the table.

Congratulations to Yamaha for the Tracer 9 GT, Rider’s 2021 Motorcycle of the Year!

Top Bikes For The Track [2022 Update]

There’s nothing quite like a track day. We all know the bikes under us are capable of great speeds, exhilarating acceleration, and lean angles that would make a Michael Jackson “Smooth Criminal” dancer jealous. We also all know, or at least should know, that such things are not entirely legal, or safe, on public roads.

But when a dedicated race track hosts a track day, or your motorcycle club rents out a track for a day of fun, you can finally twist the wrist all the way, push your bike the way it was meant to be pushed, maybe even drag a knee or two through some tight apexes. Of course, you need to be properly equipped for such a day: full race leathers, racing gloves and boots, helmet, and, of course… motorcycle.

2022 Suzuki SV650

Yes, a naked bike is on our recommended list for a track day bike, and let me explain why. Not everyone that attends a track day has been there before. Some riders may have just started their journey into our favorite hobby, and some may have been riding for years on the street but never on the track. So, more often than not, those riders have a street bike with some sporting ability and they want to bring it to the track to get a feel for if they want to do track days.

Anyone that knows, knows that the SV650 is one of the most highly recommended beginner bikes out there. It’s comfortable, lightweight, has a rev-happy, willing engine, and is incredibly easy to work on should anything go wrong. As well, it has the soul of a GSX-R650R pulsing about it, in a much easier-to-digest package.

For a novice track rider, the SV650 is a perfect all-around bike that can scream down a straightaway just as well as it can comfortably commute. On top of that, it’s a very inexpensive bike compared to many others on this list, so it’s also great for budget-conscious track day riders.

Suzuki SV650 scraping the pegs a little on a twisty European road:

2022 Kawasaki Ninja 400

The Kawasaki Ninja 400 is a great first pure track bike if you’ve tested the waters and want to get more involved in the trackside of things. Like the SV650 mentioned above, it’s a great beginner bike, however, unlike the SV650, the Ninja 400 is an out-and-out sportbike instead of a jack-of-all-trades naked.

The key difference lies in power delivery, where the Ninja 400 doesn’t really wake up as a track monster until you pass 6000 RPM. However, once into that powerband, and in the hands of an experienced rider, the Ninja 400 has been known to embarrass liter bikes.

In the hands of a beginner, it’s also incredibly forgiving, with lots of feel through the bike as to what the tires are doing, and has pegs high enough up the frame that you can get some pretty decent lean angles going.

While you won’t be setting any lap records at whatever track you visit, what you are sure to do with a Ninja 400 at the track is learn how to ride on the limit, which is much more forgiving on a 399cc instead of a 1000+ cc bike.

AchMoto on YouTube at Inde Motorsports Ranch:

2022 BMW S1000RR

The BMW S1000RR is what you get when you let the M Division and the BMW Motorrad groups get together over coffee. Originally designed to be a homologation special in 2009 for BMW’s entry into the World SBK Championship, multiple years and multiple upgrades have brought forth a 2021 model that is more at home on the track than on the road. The M Division also got their own bike for 2021, the M1000RR, but we don’t have it here as a recommendation because it is definitely a bike for the highly experienced rider, as it is the BMW World SBK bike with mirrors.

The S1000RR produces 207 HP from 999cc, in a bike that weighs less than 440 lbs. It has a race mode in its driver aids controls that dials back the ABS, traction control, and stability control to let the rider feel more through the bike, while also kicking them into full power should it detect the start of a crash. It has a narrow, blade-like profile to slice through the air, coupled with aggressive air intake to ram as much air into the engine as possible.

And, of course, being a BMW, there is an M Sport package available for the bike if you order one new, which gives you the BMW racing team paint scheme, carbon fiber wheels, a lightened battery, M chassis kit with rear ride height and swingarm pivot adjustability, an M sport seat and an upgraded version of the “race” mode in the control system known as “Race Pro” mode.

BMW S1000R M package track day from Makoni Pakoni on YouTube:

2022 Aprilia RS660

After years of teasing, waiting, riders losing their sanity slowly day after day, Aprilia finally relented and released the RS660 sportbike this year. And they couldn’t have chosen a better time, with the recent discontinuation of the previous ultimate track 600, the Yamaha YZF-R6.

While the RSV4 RR and even the RSV4 1100 Factory may be better all-around supersports for the track with huge grunt and screaming V4 engines, the RS660 is the one that everyone’s been wanting. This is because, at a modest price for an Aprilia ($11,299 USD), you get all of the technology, experience, and quality that Aprilia is famous for in its bigger supersports, in a 600cc class bike that will devour any corner and straight you throw at it.

With a liquid-cooled 659cc parallel-twin engine, this little screamer puts out 100 HP at over 10,000 RPM, with a weight that is near as makes no difference 400 lbs wet. The clip-on’s are low and forward, giving a much more aggressive lean for the rider than most sportbikes. This makes it comfortable for both street riding in a more upright position, but slide your butt back a little on the seat at the track and you can get into a full tuck no problem.

The only considerations for the bike being somewhat more of a street bike is the fact that the pegs are lower than on a proper supersport, but of course, the aftermarket has been extremely active. You can get rear peg kits from companies such as Spider Racing, IRC Components, Rizoma, and Crosstrax, which bring the pegs, shifter, and rear brake up higher.

Watch YammieNoob on YouTube thrash his own Aprilia RS660 on the track for 15 minutes

2022 Yamaha YZF-R7

The 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 is all-new for 2022, replacing the venerable and well-loved YZF-R6. The first thing that needs to be said outright is that the R7 is not as aggressive or as fast as an R6, that’s just not happening. What the R7 is, however, is a racing homologation model to allow a SuperTwin-class R7M to take part in the MotoAmerica SuperTwin Championship.

Sharing the same engine as the “hypernaked” MT-07 with a crossplane crank 689cc parallel-twin, you get roughly 75 HP and 50 lb-ft of torque. The R7 was designed and built from the ground up to be lightweight and up on its tires, making it immensely flickable without flicking you off of it in a highside, and while the HP number may be low, parallel-twins are known for their tractor-like torque out of corners. The same happens with the R7, as you can roll on the throttle as you clear the apex and the bike will just grunt-n-go. No need to wind it up to the stratosphere, just keep the revs anywhere above 2,500 and it’ll pull nicely.

It’s one of those rare beasts that is both welcoming and forgiving for novice track riders, and a scalpel in the hands of experienced one. Because it’s so light and so agile, lean-in and counter-steering is almost telepathic, the front wheel letting you know exactly what is happening in a tribute to the R6 before it. The seat is supportive and narrow, allowing you to hang off the side with your knee slider scraping the tarmac as you clip the apex, and with the low and mid-range grunt of the parallel-twin, rolling on the throttle brings you back upright as you tuck behind the tall windscreen.

It’s very easy to forget that this bike was designed to be a racer first, and a street bike second. Yet, its street manners are those of a gentleman, with the beast inside ready to howl down the front straight at your local track. There are still other bikes you can get for the track, but in the hands of an intermediate rider looking to gain confidence and skills as well as have a great bike for their everyday ride, Yamaha has a genuine winner here.

10 Best Motorcycle Brands in 2022

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If you’re in the market for a motorcycle, you’ll notice there are countless motorcycle brands to choose from. All these brands of motorcycles will have their pros and cons. Asking your motorcycle friends what brand to go for will probably turn up a lengthy motorcycle brands list. Let’s face it, all the top motorcycle manufacturers have their loyal fans. So how do you identify the top motorcycle brands for you?

You want to make sure to choose the motorcycle type and motorcycle brand that fits you like a motorcycle glove. Are you after style and speed? Maybe consider a machine from one of the European motorcycle brands. Are reliability and low maintenance at the top of your priorities? A two-wheeler made by a Japanese motorcycle brand might be just what you’re after. Are you after a strong statement? American motorcycle brands offer plenty of edge.

To help you on your merry motorcycle way, we listed the top 10 motorcycle brands for you according to popularity, reliability, design, and power.

Honda

Honda Motorcycles

We start our list with what could be considered one of the most inspiring motorcycle companies. The story of Honda begins during World War II with the manufacturing of piston rings. Unfortunately, the company is ravaged by the war, and founder Soichiro Honda is forced to sell his failing business. All but deterred, the visionary engineer uses the proceeds of the sale to establish Honda Motor Co. and he starts producing a motorized bicycle.

From its humble beginnings, Honda has grown to be the biggest motorcycle company in the world. Since its inception, Honda has sold over 300 million motorcycles. Given its sales volume and popularity, Honda could be considered as one of the best motorcycle companies worldwide. Honda is also responsible for the single most sold motorcycle worldwide: the iconic Honda Cub.

To date, Honda has a finger in the pie in all motorcycle disciplines. Their range spans from the lofty and luxurious 1800CC GoldWing and their sporty CBR series to their indestructible CRF off road bikes and street motorcycles aimed at urban riders. Across the various riding disciplines, Hondas have one thing in common: They are praised for their reliability and low maintenance.

If you’re looking for a solid, reliable bike that will serve you for years, Honda might be one of the best choices.

Yamaha

Yamaha Motorcycles

Yamaha is the second Japanese motorcycle brand on our list. The Yamaha motorcycle factory branched off from the world’s largest piano manufacturer. Its origin is still carried in the Yamaha logo – the three intersecting tuning forks. If you ask us, that just adds to the poetry of riding!

Yamaha is currently the second biggest motorcycle company in the world. Out of all the brands of motorcycles, Yamaha might enjoy the largest fan base. Since 2004, the legendary MotoGP racer Valentino Rossi has been the star of the Yamaha team. Many of his loyal fans will touch only Yamaha blue.

Yamaha caters to motorbikes lovers of all kinds. Starting from the iconic PW50 for the kids to the $3-million, 1700cc V-twin, 24-karat gold Yamaha Roadster Chopper for the connoisseur with the big wallet, Yamaha motorcycles span a wide range of disciplines and there’s something for everyone whether it’s sportbike riding, off-road adventures, or road riding.

Suzuki

Suzuki Motorcycles

Much like Yamaha, Suzuki didn’t start off as a motorcycle brand. And yet, the popularity of its motorized bicycle revived the company after World War II. Until the early 1970s, Suzuki only built two-stroke motorcycles. The biggest capacity two-stroke Suzuki ever produced was the GT750.

In 1970, Suzuki was the first of the Japanese manufacturers to win the motocross world championship with a 250CC. In that same year, Suzuki also took out the 500CC class in both road racing and motocross.

Suzuki’s sports bikes are the motorcycle brands’ secret weapon. While globally sport bikes don’t account for much of the motorcycle market, one in four Suzukis sold is a sports bike. The Suzuki GSX-R, colloquially referred to as a “jixxer”, comes in different displacements. All of them are well-loved by motorcycle enthusiasts. Suzuki also sells one of the fastest off-the-shelve two-wheelers, the GSX1300R Hayabusa.

In addition to dominating the sports bike market, Suzuki is well-loved by dual-sport and off-road riders. So much so, in fact, that riders worldwide still cherish Suzuki’s DR650 single-cylinder dual-sport model which hasn’t seen any essential changes since the 80’s. Similarly to Honda, Suzuki is well-known for reliability and durability – all bonus points in our book.

Kawasaki

Kawasaki Motorcycles

With Kawasaki, we complete the Japanese Big Four – the largest motorcycle manufacturers in Japan and indeed some of the top motorcycle brands in the world.

Kawasaki started off as an aircraft manufacturer. Because of this, some of their early motorcycles display an emblem with “Kawasaki Aircraft” on the fuel tank. Imagine how cool it would be if it actually took off!

Kawasaki is another motorcycle brand famous for its sports bikes. The Kawasaki name is almost synonymous with its iconic Ninja range. Most of these bikes are bright green, fast, and agile. These bikes have stolen the hearts of many a rider and launched plenty of track-racing stars.

In addition to its sports bike range, Kawasaki is well-loved among adventure riders: their iconic Kawasaki KLR650 is still being used for round-the-world motorcycle journeys and weekend adventures alike.

BMW

BMW Motorrad

BMW Motorrad has been producing motorcycles since 1923. It has manufactured solidly engineered, proven motorcycles for many years. But when BMW’s bikes became the stars of the wildly popular Long Way Round series, it re-established itself.

With the LRW TV series, adventure riding became an almost overnight craze. Unsurprisingly, BMW saw itself at the forefront of the muddy madness. The R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure at one point accounted for almost a third of all BMW sales. Whether these bikes are indeed the best to ride around the world on will forever be debated. But one thing is for sure: they position BMW as one of the best motorcycle brands in the adventure market.

The adventure mania aside, BMW is also known for its well-built sport bikes, sport tourers, urban motorcycles, and street bikes. If you’re looking for prestige, excellent engineering, and a motorcycle brand name that speaks for itself, BMW is the way to go.

Ducati

Ducati Motorcycles

Italian Ducati is one of those motorcycle brands people fall in love with. In their bikes, Ducati perfectly marries form and function. The result is fast, expertly made bikes that look like modern art pieces. To top it off, much like true Italian nonnas will never change their recipes, all Ducatis are still made by hand in Italy.

Ducati is also among the top motorcycle brands that have seen great success in racing. This further solidified the brand in riders’ hearts and ears. Ducati’s trademark V-twin engines’ distinctive sound adds to the allure of the brand. Some devotees even believe that Ducatis are the only motorcycles with souls!

Ducati is the undisputed king of style, so if you’re looking for a motorcycle that’s more than a bike but also a statement, this is the brand to pick.

Triumph

Triumph Motorcycles

British Triumph is technically one of the youngest in our top 10 motorcycle brands list. The current company started manufacturing in 1984. However, they carried on a lineage that has been making a name for itself since 1902.

As a young company with an old established name, Triumph entered the cruiser market with the Thunderbird model. It fit in well with the streetbike brands with the Triumph Speed Triple and its baby sister, the Street Triple. These magnificent machines were literally the engine behind the new era of success at Triumph. The Triumph Daytona captured the hearts of the speed-hungry. And with the range of Tigers, Triumph managed to secure a slice of the adventure market as well.

Ultimately, however, the Triumph name belongs on this best motorcycle brands list because of its classic lookers. The Bonneville and Thruxton have brought the old into the new, and with that defined the café racer as a style that came to stay.

KTM

KTM Motorcycles

Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM traces its foundation back to 1934. KTM is one of the best motorcycle brands for off-road bikes. Over the years, KTM’s designs and color schemes have changed; in 1996, KTM went orange to stand out from the field. Thanks to KTM’s unparalleled Paris-Dakar race wins year after year, nowadays, KTM orange is as iconic as the Ferrari red.

In the late 1990s, KTM first tried its hand at manufacturing road bikes. Being one of the leading off-road motorcycles brands helped KTM to nestle itself among the streetbike brands. Since 2015, KTM sells roughly equal amounts of road bikes and off-road bikes.

KTM is one of the largest European motorcycle brands, and among the best motorcycle brands worldwide. Whether you’re looking for a powerful enduro machine or a large-capacity adventure bike, few other motorcycle brands can compete with KTM’s explosive engines and highly-strung racing capacity.

Indian Motorcycle

Indian Motorcycles

One of the most iconic American motorcycle brands, Indian Motorcycles started production in 1901. Indian enjoyed a successful entry into the market as well as the racing scene. The Indian Motorcycle factory team secured first, second, and third place in the 1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy.

Having experienced plenty of ups and downs, Indian Motorcycles went bankrupt in 1953. Yet, arguably the biggest achievement on an Indian motorcycle took place in 1967: Burt Munro, a 68-year-old New Zealand native, piloted a heavily modified 1920 Indian Scout to a new land speed record. His 184 mph record still stands today, and Indian Motorcycles have made history.

After a chain of bankruptcies and acquisitions, Polaris took the Indian Motorcycle reins in 2011. Since then, they have successfully produced a range of cruisers, and due its iconic roots, Indian Motorcycles remains one of the most beloved American motorcycle brands. If you’re looking for a cruiser with a name, Indian is the way to go.

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

Harley-Davidson was founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The motorcycle brand experienced plenty of fluctuations throughout the past century. Eventually, however, it came out on top with a religiously loyal following worldwide, numerous owner clubs, events across the globe, and a myriad of merchandise. When it comes to motorcycle brands, Harley-Davidson is possibly the biggest in the world and arguably the best-known.

The Harley-Davidson motorcycles paved the road for the chopper style. Originally, Harley-Davidsons were large displacement cruiser-style machines. More recently, however, the brand also warmed to the smaller displacement market with the Harley-Davidson Street 750 and 500. In addition, Harley-Davidson has ventured into the adventure motorcycle market with their Pan America beast, and in North America, it’s selling like hot cakes. We bet that has something to do with Jason Momoa endorsing the brand – but shiny marketing images aside, the Pan America does show promise.

Harley-Davidson also produces the LiveWire, an electric motorcycle meant for urban and adventure riding. Made famous by – once again – Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in the Long Way Up series where the duo rode two LiveWires from South America to Los Angeles, Harley Davidson proves they’re up for a challenge of venturing deep into new waters.

Whether you’re into cruiser motorcycles, street bikes, electric machines, or large-capacity adventure bikes, Harley-Davidson is a motorcycle brand that needs no introductions and sticks to its origins of an all-American, chrome-decked, powerful bike. If this is your cup of tea, it’s impossible to go wrong with Harley.

What is the largest selling brand of motorcycles in the world?

No one wants to be stuck on the side of the highway wondering why their motorcycle fails to do its job. That’s why reliability is a key priority, although the reliability of each machine will be influenced by age, service history, and handling.. The motorcycle brands may have something to do with it, too. So, what are the most reliable motorcycle brands?

Topping the list of most reliable motorcycle brands are Yamaha, Kawasaki and Victory. With respectively 11%, 15% and 17% of their bikes requiring early repairs. These three are safe choices to keep the wheels turning. Unfortunately, Victory had to close its manufacturing doors. This is why this dependable motorcycle brand didn’t make our list of top 10 motorcycle brands.

We don’t have the same numbers to report for Honda and Suzuki. But these popular motorcycle brands are considered on par with the other Japanese motorcycle brands when it comes to reliability.

The USA flagship motorcycle manufacturers at Harley Davidson find themselves comparable to Italian Ducati and British Triumph on the reliability scale. At the bottom of the reliability ladder are Can-am and BMW. Over 40% of their bikes require early repairs.

What are the worst motorcycle brands?

We’ve looked at the best motorcycle brands. However, let’s not forget some popular motorcycle brands you might want to avoid. Potentially due to their reliability, Can-Am receives pretty low consumer ratings. Moto-Guzzi also didn’t live up to the owners’ expectations. Still, it may be Royal Enfield at the very bottom of the motorcycle brands list. Despite RE being one of the most popular motorcycle brands in India, Royal Enfield often fails to update their two-wheelers for the American market.

By contrast, motorcycle owners rated Yamaha, Honda, and Kawasaki as the top motorcycle brands.

So now you know…

With the best motorcycle brands listed here, you’re one step closer to finding your perfect two-wheeler. There is plenty of variety to choose from, and each motorcycle brand brings something unique to the table. It may be style, design, function, reliability, or a combination of all, and ultimately, it’s up to you to choose what works best. The best Japanese motorcycle brands like Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki offer reliability and performance. Italian motorcycle brands like Ducati are all about power and style, whereas German bike brands like BMW are known for their superior design and quality. British motorcycle brands like Triumph are aimed at cafe racer-nostalgic bike fans, and American motorcycle brands like Indian or Harley-Davidson combine heritage, statement, and powerful engines.

If you still need some guidance on the way to your best bike, check out the best motorcycles of 2021. Perhaps that can point your handlebars down the right road – or off-road!

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