Motorcycle History
TANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: The 5 Weirdest Motorcycles Ever Used in War
Forgive me if I sound about 10 years old, but as a grown-ass man I still have my childhood obsession with weird and wonderful WWII vehicles in full effect. Be it their wild creativity, overblown mechanicals or straight-up ‘let’s cross our fingers and see if this works’ hopefulness, they still to this day inspire customisers, …
WAR STORIES: Lawrence of Arabia and his Brough Superior SS100
So, just how much do you know about T.E. Lawrence? Who, you ask? And as you do, the long dead legends of motorcycling like Burt Munro, Evel Knieval, and Steve McQueen all roll in their graves. See, without Tomas Edward Lawrence there’d likely be none of them to follow in his footsteps. And that’s because …
10 of the Most Important Motorcycles Ever Made
Since the very first 1885 Daimler Reitwagen motorcycle, the passion for two-wheeled goodness has covered the globe. Motorcycles fill all manner of human needs, from basic transportation to mind-boggling adrenaline pursuits. This naturally made me wonder, what would be some of the most important motorcycles ever made? I love these sorts of questions, the type …
The Best Harley Davidson Motorcycles Ever Made
The world is full of amazing motorcycle brands, but I cannot think of a single other manufacturer that can claim to have a lifestyle. Is there any other brand of motorcycle in the world that has the level of global recognition of Harley Davidson? I cannot think of a single one. How did Harley-Davidson get …
DESERT STORM TROOPERS: The Secret History of BMW’s Boxer Motorcycle
All brands have certain challenges to overcome, especially the historical ones. Be it a poor marketing decision, failed product launches, or embarrassing social media boo-boos, it’s almost expected that at some point all brands will make a misstep. Think Ford’s Edsel, ‘New’ Coke from the 80s, or even U2 and Apple downloading music onto people’s …
Total Wankel: A Brief History of Rotary-Engined Motorcycles
Like many teenagers in 1980s Australia, I was a willing participant in the Japanese rotary-engined street racer phase that swept the country at the time. Hell, there was even a magazine called Fast Fours & Rotaries that sold here like hotcakes. But for me, the whole thing crystallized when my mate Daryl rolled up in …
The Best Motorcycles of the 1990s
Next up on our voyage through the decades, we arrive at the 1990s. While the 80s was a decade of innovation and excitement, the party really got started in the 90s. If you were a young and impressionable youth with a taste for high-speed thrills, jaw-dropping lean angles, and a penchant for general mischief, then …
The Best Motorcycles of the 1980s
As we continue our journey through the decades, it’s time to take a look at the best motorcycles of the 1980s. While every decade in the industry’s history has been a transformative one, the 80s was on another level. It was a decade of immense vision, with motorcycle manufacturers pushing the boundaries of design and …
Road Guardians Harley-Davidson New Glory Flag Bike Sweepstakes Extended!
As we reported earlier this month, Road Guardians is auctioning off the Harley-Davidson New Glory Flag Bike, with the entries ending next Monday, May 31. We’re happy to report that this deadline has been extended! The official drawing will be on July 4, 2021, in a LIVE broadcast from Choppertown at the Cross Country Chase …
The Best Motorcycles of the 1970s
While every decade has its icons, the 1970s have so many good models to choose from. It was a time when the Japanese were really stamping their authority over the scene, flexing muscles and cylinders with each other, and driving once-mighty international brands into obscurity. Despite the changing landscape, the 70s created some of the …
The Best Motorcycles of the 1960s
The 1960s was a transformative time for the motorcycle industry. As the mobility culture shifted from affordable motorcycles to affordable four-wheelers, the industry found itself at something of crossroads and on the cusp of an identity crisis. The 60s would bring about the beginning of the end for the British industry, an unexpected rise of …
The Best Motorcycles of the 1950s
The 1950s was an interesting decade for the motorcycle industry. As countries began to show signs of economic improvement after the devastation of World War II, motorcycle manufacturers could begin to innovate in new directions. While affordable mobility was still an important part of a motorcycle’s design, the humble motorcycle was slowly being replaced by …
The Best Motorcycles of the 1940s
The 1940s was a particularly turbulent decade in world history, dominated by the Second World War causing widespread destruction all over the globe. As the Allies and Axis powers battled in different theatres, the world’s largest industrial manufacturers were forced to support the war effort in whatever way they could, and a wave of innovation …
