Digital ones and zeros rule our lives more than ever, with the words ‘smart’ and ‘AI’ being thrown around like confetti at a wedding. However, there was a time when mechanical engineering took precedence over computer engineering. That’s when analog machines made of metal ruled the roost.
Some of us would like that era back, even though we know that electronics will not relinquish their hold on our lives. Or our motorcycles. And if you want throwback motorcycles, this list is for you. Here are ten bikes that prove old-school engineering still works.
Kawasaki KLR650
Price: $6,999
We start off with the poster boy for the title of this article. The KLR650 was engineered to be unbreakable, and it has minimal electronics. There is an LCD, the engine has liquid cooling and fuel injection, and ABS is now an optional extra that Kawasaki will charge an extra $200 for. Other than that and some styling changes, it hasn’t really changed over two decades – and it doesn’t really need to, either.
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Engine Type |
Single cylinder |
|
Displacement |
652 cc |
|
Max Power |
38.5 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
39.1 LB-FT @ 4,500 RPM |
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650
Price: $7,899
Royal Enfield has had a renaissance of sorts nearly a decade ago, when it began working on its 650 cc parallel twin engine. The Super Meteor 650 has an air-cooled SOHC design with a 270-degree firing order. It prioritizes torque and reliability over a high horsepower figure, and it has proven that Royal Enfields can be reliable as well. You don’t get much else in terms of electronics other than the ‘Tripper’ TFT pod – it’s all just mechanical goodness that contribute to a pleasurable ride.
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Engine Type |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
648 cc |
|
Max Power |
47 HP @ 7,250 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
38.6 LB-FT @ 5,650 RPM |
Suzuki SV650 ABS
Price: $8,149
We could write exactly what we did for the KLR here, and it would all be correct. The SV650’s claim to fame was that it was a budget alternative to the Ducati Monster when it launched. But along the way, it proved to be something special in itself. It remains a very simple machine with a cable throttle and no electronics other than its injection and ignition, and it does not affect how much fun it is one bit.
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Engine Type |
90° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
645 cc |
|
Max Power |
73 HP @ 8,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
47.2 LB-FT @ 8,100 RPM |
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Honda Shadow Phantom
Price: $8,699
The Shadow is the only middleweight cruiser that opts for a driveshaft. There is a good reason for this: when you have a transverse engine, a driveshaft in a motorcycle means massive transmission losses. This, in turn, means lower performance and fuel efficiency. The Shadow has stuck to this formula of transverse engine and driveshaft for decades, and it still manages to make it work today. It works so well, in fact, that it got an update in 2024 that added ABS and a rear disc brake.
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Engine Type |
52° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
745 cc |
|
Max Power |
44.9 HP @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
47.9 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM |
Honda CRF450RL
Price: $10,099
The CRF450RL isn’t as extreme as other 450 cc enduro-type dual-sport bikes. Honda has given it a character that makes it usable on nearly a daily basis, with just great engineering. Exotic materials are used to keep weight down: there is an aluminum twin-spar chassis, a titanium fuel tank, and a Lithium-ion battery. The knobby tires can make life difficult on the highway, so the swingarm has urethane injected in it to reduce resonance. The result is a great motorcycle that doesn’t use electronics as a crutch.
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Engine Type |
Single cylinder |
|
Displacement |
449 cc |
|
Max Power |
52.9 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
35.4 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
Yamaha Tenere 700
Price: $10,999
The Tenere 700 got an update recently that made it easier to live with. Before that, it was so agrarian, it had a cable throttle and no traction control! Now, there are two ride modes, switchable traction control, and an optional two-way quickshifter. These are bare-basic needs for a middleweight adventure bike today, and they help make the Tenere a better bike to live with. Its brilliance still lies in the fact that it is light and has been tuned to be great off-road – and that is down to great engineering, plain and simple.
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Engine Type |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
689 cc |
|
Max Power |
72.4 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
50.2 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
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Suzuki GSX-R750
Price: $13,249
Sport bikes are always looking to shave that fraction of a second from a lap time. The easiest way to do this is to add power, reduce weight, and, these days, calibrate the electronics. This chase for the last few tenths of a second works when it is racing, but if you’re someone who wants to work on himself, there’s no real need for this. The GSX-R750 understands this and gives you only the basic requirements. There is a fully adjustable suspension, monobloc front brake calipers, and an engine and chassis that allow you to have fun whether on a road or a racetrack.
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Engine Type |
I4 |
|
Displacement |
749 cc |
|
Max Power |
148 HP @ 13,200 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
63.7 LB-FT @ 11,200 RPM |
Suzuki Boulevard M109R
Price: $15,799
The big Boulevard is a power cruiser that turns twenty years old this year. Back when it launched, things were done mechanically, so Suzuki engineered a V-twin with some of the biggest pistons that the automotive world had ever seen. The rear tire was the widest ever seen on a production motorcycle when it launched. It is extremely reliable, but rumor has it that during development, the torque of the engine kept breaking the gearbox. So Suzuki had to limit the torque output electronically. Now THIS is the kind of electronic control we can get behind!
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Engine Type |
54° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,783 cc |
|
Max Power |
123 HP @ 6,200 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
118 LB-FT @ 3,200 RPM |
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R
Price: $17,599
Since we’re discussing large engines, the Ninja ZX-14R has the largest four-cylinder engine ever fitted to a production motorcycle. This motorcycle was built to beat the Hayabusa, and by extension, the production top speed record. Kawasaki proved its speed on the dragstrip with a certain Rickey Gadson, making this bike a poster child for the ‘no replacement for displacement’ slogan. It sticks stubbornly to its roots, and when the emission norms catch up to it (and they will), it will be the end of one of the greatest motorcycles in history.
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Engine Type |
I4 |
|
Displacement |
1,441 cc |
|
Max Power |
200 HP @ 10,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
113.2 LB-FT @ 7,500 RPM |
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Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price: $22,599
The Fat Boy does have Harley’s full safety suite, and it does have a by-wire throttle and ride modes, but in this case, it uses the electronics to enhance the experience of riding a motorcycle that is firmly grounded in the past. The design has been updated to look modern, but it is every inch the historical Fat Boy design. Even the engine gets water cooling for the heads to enhance reliability, but it sticks to pushrods because the look and feel is what the customer prefers. This is old-school engineering with a very different perspective!
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Engine Type |
45° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,917 cc |
|
Max Power |
104 HP @ 4,800 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
126 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM |
Sources: Kawasaki USA, Suzuki Cycles