No matter how charming modern motorbikes are, nothing can beat the designs, engines, and functionality of vintage bikes. Have you ever dreamt of becoming a proud owner of one of the oldest vintage bikes in India? Some old vintage bikes still hold a special place in the hearts of true-blue bikers. If you are looking to buy a vintage motorbike, then check out these oldest vintage bikes that have won the heart of almost every bike lover.
Yamaha RX 100
Launched in 1985, Yamaha RX 100 is one of the most popular vintage motorbikes in India. It is light in weight but can be handled easily in any situation. Yamaha RX 100 has a two-stroke 98cc engine and four gear transmission which could reach a speed of 120kmph.
The bike was quite popular soon after its release. It was featured in many Bollywood movies and was a top pick amongst baddies. Also, most racers purchased Yamaha RX 100 and modified it for races. Although the last production of the Yamaha RX 100 was in 1996, this awesome pick of the oldest vintage bikes can still be bought second-hand.
Yamaha Rajdoot 350
Yamaha Rajdoot aka Yamaha RD 350 was launched in the Indian market to compete with Royal Enfield’s Bullet and Yezdi. This is the first-ever two-stroke twin-cylinder bike in India and was specifically built to suit Indian Roads.
The high performance vintage bike in India came in two variants: Low Torque (LT) and High Torque (HT). It also came with twin carburettors and tachometer, which made it suitable for racetracks. RD 350 was packed with a lot of new features that were not available in the motorbikes of those times, which made it one of the top motorbikes in India.
Royal Enfield Bullet
Royal Enfield Bullet is the first name that comes to mind when we think of the oldest vintage bikes in India. The company started its manufacturing in India back in 1952 and it’s been the most loved bike in India. There are plenty of models of Bullet available in the market. The bike has a 346 cc four-stroke air-cooled engine and right footgear transmission. Besides, it’s almost 200 Kg in weight, which is heavier than most motorbikes. The bike has a hydraulic damping suspension and gas shock absorbers which give you a smooth ride even on the bumpy roads. Moreover, it’s striking feature is the loud sound which seems like music to the bullet rider.
Harley Davidson XR 750
Harley Davidson XR 750 has been one of the most popular bikes amongst racers. The bike was primarily launched for dirt track racing in 1970. Though it’s XRTT variant was ideal for road racing also. XR 750 has a weight of 134 Kg and a 748 cc powerful engine which is capable of reaching a top speed of 185kmph. The bike XR 750 is also the first choice of the motorcycle stunt performer Evel Knievel. Despite being a racing bike, riding this motorbike is the dream of almost every bike rider.
Yezdi Road King
Yezdi Road King is a cool looking sporty vintage bike manufactured by Ideal Jawa. The bike has a 250 cc two-stroke engine with twin exhausts. Yezdi has a four gear transmission and semi-automatic clutch. It has hydraulic front suspensions and hydraulic shock absorbers at the rear. Yezdi was the top pick of most racers due to its sporty look, which was not available even in the Royal Enfield bikes. The bike has also won multiple Indian rallies and road races.
Kawasaki Triple
Kawasaki Triple bikes were 250 cc to 750 cc motorbikes launched by Kawasaki in 1968. The bikes featured air-cooled, three cylinders and piston controlled engines. The triples were launched in different variants of which the first one was 1968 Mach III H1 500 cc. Other models include S3/ 400, aS1 250 and S2 350, and H2 Mach IV.
Kawasaki triples are heavily built motorbikes weighing 200 Kg and can reach up to a speed of 200kmph. Ever since its first launch, Kawasaki triples have attracted most vintage bike lovers.
BMW R 60/ 2
Launched in 1956, BMW R 60/ 2 is one of the most popular and oldest vintage bikes. The bikes were manufactured in Germany and looked similar to Royal Enfield bikes. It has a four-stroke, two-cylinder, air-cooled boxer engine with a capacity of 500 cc and can speed up to 90 mph. Although most people might not have heard of this bike now, BMW R 60/ 2 has remained a good choice for people since its launch.
Ducati Monster 600
Ducati Monster 600, was a V2 four-stroke naked motorcycle, produced by Ducati in 1994. The bike was named “Monster” as it looked like a muscular beast and was perfectly built to run at lightning speed on twisty roads. The 583 cc motorbike has a five-speed transmission and delivers an output of about 53 horsepower.
The Ducati Monster could reach a top speed of 180kmph. Besides, it is amongst the best in the oldest vintage bikes category, available at an affordable range.
Norton commando
Norton Commando was a production of a British based company Norton Villers. It was first launched with an engine capacity of 744 cc and later upgraded to 850 cc in 1973. Norton had a classy look and was a little small in size but weighed about 190 Kg. The bike could reach up to a speed of 185kmph and grabbed a lot of attention from all over the world during its early production years.
Norton Commando has also won the “Machine of the Year” award continuously for five years and was a huge success for the company. That’s why it’s counted amongst the best vintage bikes. These oldest vintage bikes had a great run in their time. They are still sought after today by bike lovers, merely for the love of the old classics. If you’re one of those, pick your favourite one and ride your heart out!
