The 70s proved to be a turning point for the motorcycle industry. All the way through the 60s, European manufacturers dominated the landscape, but towards the end of the decade, Japan arrived in a big way. For a time, Japanese manufacturers were content to play nice, offering a wide selection of reliable small-displacement motorcycles. Everything changed with the arrival of the very first UJM: the Honda CB750.

Not only was it more reliable and more powerful than just about any other motorcycle on the market back then, but it was also cheaper. Each of the other big Japanese manufacturers responded in kind, and as the 70s wore on, consumer confidence in the Japanese brands only grew. On the back of this success, other models from different segments also flew off the shelves. By the end of the decade, Japanese bikes were beating everyone both on track and in terms of sales. Harley was on its knees, and the entire British motorcycle industry had collapsed.

Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research, and proceed with caution. The motorcycles on this list go from oldest to newest.

While buying a used motorcycle will never be a completely risk-free experience, these bikes all offer impeccable reliability records

The 70s are a decade Harley-Davidson would rather forget. With AMF at the helm, quality was at an all-time low, and so was consumer confidence. The one beacon of hope was the XR750 race bike. Not only did it march from one racing success to another, but it was also the bike of choice for one Evel Knievel. He used the famous red, white, and blue Harley for the vast majority of his stunts.

Although the DT-1 might be more historically significant, it was a short-lived model. By 1971, Yamaha updated the platform and rechristened it the DT250. It enjoyed a long production run and became one of the most popular motorcycles of the decade. With around 23 horsepower and a dry weight of just a shade over 260 pounds, it compares favorably to some modern trail bikes over 50 years later.

Kawasaki saw what Honda was up to with the CB750 and set to work on a bike that could beat it. The Z1 was significantly more powerful than the Honda, and in many ways, too powerful for its own good. The chassis, suspension, tires, and brakes could not cope with all the added power. In the wrong hands, this was a dangerous motorcycle.

Unrivaled performance and handling made it a legend in its own time

While the T100 and T120 have become highly collectible, the T140 – introduced in 1973 – is still an affordable classic. By the time this came out, it was already seriously outgunned by its Japanese rivals, yet it remained a popular model through the decade, largely thanks to its timeless design. Unfortunately, this model would prove to be the famous British brand’s swansong. The original Triumph brand was dead and gone a mere decade later, along with every other major British manufacturer.

The original Super Sports helped establish the Ducati brand back in the 70s. While the Japanese manufacturers were able to offer more powerful bikes, this exotic Italian wasn’t just a pretty face. These bikes offered superior handling, and this fact was underscored by some famous victories on the global stage. The bike pictured here was commissioned to commemorate Paul Smart’s Imola 200 victory. Only 401 of these "Green Frame" bikes were made, and are now collectors' gold.

Honda noticed that most CB750 buyers were using their bikes for touring. It became clear that there was room in the market for a bigger, more comfortable bike that could be ridden across the country. Everything about the Gold Wing was bigger. It had a longer wheelbase, a more robust frame, and an entirely new 1,000cc flat four engine which sent power to the rear wheel via shaft drive. It was another big hit for the brand, which was going from strength to strength.

The RE-5 is a different kind of icon. With the benefit of hindsight, we know all too well that apex seals were the Achilles heel of the rotary engine, but back in the 70s, it seemed like “the next big thing.” When you look at the RE-5 alongside the Gold Wing, you can see where Suzuki was coming from. The Wankel engine offered buttery smooth performance, more or less ideal for a long-distance tourer. But a combination of its lack of reliability, high price, and the oil crisis turned it into one of the most famous flops of all time. It was only produced for a single year, yet new bikes were left unsold several years later.

They never caught on, but that didn’t stop manufacturers from trying

The fact that you can still find several of these dual-sports roaming around 50 years after they first came out serves to underscore the durability of the machine. You can find a slightly beat-up bike for a lot less than the price indicated above (just like the one pictured), but if you want a fully restored bike in near original condition, $5k is money well spent. The model flew under the radar for the first few years it was in production, but would later make a name for itself by winning the first two Paris-Dakar Rallies.

Out of all the crazy-fast two-stroke racing machines made through the 70s, this was the wildest, by some margin. Yamaha engineers had pretty much put all their eggs in one basket, and that basket was an enormous 750cc four-cylinder two-stroke engine. Chassis, brakes, and suspension were not so much an afterthought, but just not quite up to the task of handling the power. With a narrow power band, all of its 120 horsepower would hit you at once. Even top-level racers were scared of this bike, but, for those brave enough, it proved mighty effective on track.

In 1978, Mike “the Bike” Hailwood returned to the Isle of Man TT to compete for the first time in 11 years. After such a long absence from top-level motorcycle racing, not much was expected, and the Ducati was a rank underdog. His victory was one of the all-time great comeback stories, and the “Mike Hailwood Replica” was quickly commissioned the following year. It is, without doubt, one of the most iconic race replicas ever produced.

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Sources: Suzuki Global, Yamaha Global, and Ducati

Source: https://www.topspeed.com/most-iconic-bikes-70s/