There are multiple motorcycle companies out there in the market. There’s nothing like experiencing pure wind-in-your-face with an open highway ahead of you and some interesting machinery between your legs. We are all also well aware of how exciting it is to purchase your first motorcycle, but with the variety that’s out there, it is particularly hard to choose the best. We shortlist five of the best motorcycle brands in the world that will help you decide.
1) Harley Davidson
There is no list that is complete without mentioning the Harley Davidson motorcycle brand. This is one of the most iconic motorcycle companies in the world. The brand has had its share of dedicated customers and enthusiasts ever since it was first established in 1903. Harley Davidson is the brainchild of William S Harley, William and Walter Davidson and Arthur Davidson. What started out as a small venture by a few ambitious men, eventually stemmed into what we know as one of the largest bike manufacturers on the globe. The brand has a rather a wide range of models for every lifestyle. Their most affordable entry-level model is the Street 750. And if you’re on the lookout for a massive, cross-country tourer, then the Touring and CVO models have a whole lot to offer, albeit at a handsome price. Harley Davidson is the quintessential American motorbike brand and sells models like the Street Rod, Iron 883, 1200 Custom, Forty-Eight, Low Rider and Fat Boy.
2) Yamaha
Yamaha bikes was one among the first Japanese motorcycle companies to have been founded. Yamaha came into being, thanks to Genichi Kawakami. Their first motorcycle was built in 1954. But production of their first bike, the YA-1, started a year later. This bike was sold throughout Japan in 1958. In the 1960s, the brand began selling motorcycles overseas and also started the exercise of exporting bikes to the United States. Yamaha focuses on various models, like supersports, street nakeds and off-road motorcycles. A lot of customers prefer their adventure bikes for off-road expeditions. While they continue to primarily be a motorcycle manufacturer, they have managed to diversify into various vehicles like ATVs, snowmobiles and watercraft. Yamaha’s models are competitively priced and the brand also sells touring models for those looking for a comfortable ride experience. Yamaha is a pioneer and one of the most well built brands in the world, as they are also an integral part of Moto GP. The most popular Yamaha motorcycle is the R6.
3) Honda
Honda is a renowned Japanese motorcycle brand and was founded by Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa. They are one of biggest motorcycle manufacturers in the world and build the internal combustion engine in the largest numbers possible. The first Honda motorcycle came into being in 1949, and by 1964, it became one of the most established brands. Honda offers a plethora of models that include sports bikes, street nakeds and long-distance touring models as well. Their Powersports division offers off-road bikes, ATVs, street bikes and even scooters for various markets like India. A Honda is great motorcycle that you can use tackling a set of corners and also offer sporty handling attributes and a comfortable ride. Honda’s bikes may be slightly pricier than what other companies offer, but they also bring a lot to the table in terms of quality. Their superbikes in particular are very expensive, but Honda still has millions of customers.
4) Ducati
The Ducati brand has been around for over 90 years now. This iconic motorcycle marque came into being in 1926, thanks to Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his sons – Bruno, Adriano and Marcello. The first Borgo Panigale Ducati bike factory facility was built in 1935 in Central Italy. Their first motorcycle was the Cucciolo and looked unlike anything else out there. It was basically a bicycle with an engine bolted on. Their first proper motorcycle was unveiled in 1949. Ducati continues to produce bikes in Italy and Ducati’s bikes are known for their gorgeous designs and of course, performance. However, Ducati’s bikes are also known to be some of the most expensive ones you can buy. The Italian brand is now owned by Audi, and Ducati is known for its lovely V-twin engines. These two-cylinder engines are high on performance. The Scrambler Icon is one of their most popular models.
5) Kawasaki
Kawasaki bikes Heavy Industries was founded in 1896 by Kawasaki Shozo. However, their first motorcycle to make its foray in the industry was in 1949. Kawasaki’s bikes became hugely popular among enthusiasts, and then later, the bike maker opened shop in the United States. In 1966, Chicago, Kawasaki Motor Corp came into being. Business kicked with tiny, two-stroke bikes but customers were looking for faster models, which resulted in the introduction of two rotary valve twin bikes: the Samurai and Avenger. From there after, the brand was considered a high-performance motorcycle company. Today, Kawasaki builds some of the most refined and modern looking bikes on the market, with a really low ground clearance. A lot of bikers prefer Kawasakis for street racing and track days. These bikes are ridden to the limit. Kawasaki’s Z1000 is an outlandish bike they have on offer; so is the Ninja H2.
