Brentwood: currently 12°C, scattered clouds
high today 12°C, low tonight 7°C
sunrise 5.39am, sunset 6.26pm
Now playing:
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love
Listen Live Webcam


Top 5 Retro Choppers That Offer High-end Biker Chic

Motorbikes are one of the most exciting and thrilling modes of transport ever created. They have mass appeal, with over 12 million in circulation in the US alone, a rise of over 2 million in just a few years. So, the motorcycle isn’t going anywhere, but do people want to ride brand new bikes or retro rides?

If you’re in the retro bike camp, there are hundreds of options to choose from. With choppers, cafe racers, scramblers, and more all pouring off production lines for decades, it’s hard to know where to start. In this article, you will see five of the top retro bikes that offer performance and reliability while oozing high-end biker chic. If you’re looking for a new retro ride, read on for some of the top bikes out there.

History of Motorbikes

If you’re going retro, how far back could you go? Well, the first motorized bicycles developed off the back of the now-common road bike, which had two wheels and a chain to drive the rear wheel. It does not seem that one individual manufacturer thought up the idea first, but instead that many inventors and engineers in the western world stumbled on the idea at the same time, in the late 1800s. 

Believe it or not, these early motorcycles were steam-powered, with many having coal burners between the rider’s legs. The first patented model launched in 1868, known as the twin-cylinder steam velocipede. In the early 1900s, the internal combustion engine made bike manufacturing far more common, rapidly seeing the emergence of brands like Triumph, Harley, and Royal Enfield. 

Some Common Styles

Since this early history, bikes rapidly became more popular, with more and more styles being invented for the mass market. You can read more here about the history of motorcycles and some of the ultimate classics. Some of the most common styles included cafe racers, cruisers, sportbikes, and more. Throughout biking history, riders have customized their motorcycles, creating styles like choppers and bobbers.

New vs Retro

So, why go retro? Aren’t new bikes better? It’s all down to personal preference, but there are some key attractions for going old-school. For example, many riders of vintage or retro bikes choose to do so as they are a passion project of sorts. You can purchase beat-up old retro bikes for a fraction of the price of a new one, then spend hours rebuilding it and getting it back on the road. This allows for customization and a real sense of ownership, riding something you have built yourself.

The mechanics with older bikes are a lot more simple. There are no computers, complicated bodywork covers, or hydraulics. Instead, you can learn to be your own mechanic, tweaking and tuning the bike yourself, without the need for a garage. There is also a nostalgia attached to older vehicles, making them feel special and more exciting than a new production bike. If you want cool chic riding, a vintage bike will certainly turn more heads than a new one! Let’s take a look at a few vintage recommendations. 

1. BMW R51/3

Produced following the second world war, when the Gestapo rode BMW bikes almost exclusively, this bike features a 489cc 4-speed engine. The engine remained unchanged for over two decades, making it one of the most widely renowned engines of all time. This lowrider oozes style and class and is often seen with a sidecar, making classic biker days out shareable with a loved one or friend! 

2. Harley Davidson XR750

If you ever saw Evel Knievel ride a motorbike, it was probably one of these. He made it his bike of choice, thrusting it into popularity immediately. However, this dirt bike was designed in 1970 for racing, and it certainly did the race. In fact, riders on Harley’s XR750 have won more races than any other bike in history, making it the most successful dirt bike of all time. 

They are certainly not easy to get your hands on, either, with only 200 road-ready examples being sold by Harley. You may be able to find a used racer, though it won’t be cheap. Worth it to ride like Evel, though!

3. Honda Super Cub

This may not immediately scream high-end chic, as it’s one of the highest-selling motorcycles of all time. But, if you go back to the 1960s there are some absolutely beautiful examples of this bike just waiting to be found. The simple commuter bike that took the market by storm looks very different nowadays, but those original early years classics possess a charm unmatched by many other brands and styles. 

4. Royal Enfield Bullet

A British motorbike to add to the list; the Royal Enfield Bullet. This ride has the longest production run in history, currently sitting at over 80 years. While other brands and models have come and gone, the Royal Enfield name has remained. It is no longer produced in Britain, now mostly made in India, but it is so classic that the design remains almost unchanged from eight decades ago.

What makes it so good? It’s unbreakable, stylish, efficient, and also powerful. A real classic road bike that can be fine-tuned into a monster. Classic bikes don’t get much better than this.

5. Harley Davidson Sportster

The Royal Enfield’s American cousin is the Harley Sportster. Again, this bike remains largely unchanged since its conception in 1957. Harley never needed to change much because this bike is near perfect. It also happens to be the best-selling bike Harley has ever made. Because Harley Davidson’s are so often customized – as they offer so many retrofits and parts – you can find some truly special, stand-out examples of the Sportster from the 1960s to the 1990s, if you class that as retro. This bike will never let you down and always be cool.

These five rides are just some of the amazing bikes available for cruising around with retro chic. The challenge of being a home mechanic and keeping the bike ticking over is all part of the fun, though, with most of these models, you’re getting a very reliable machine. Once you get your hands on a retro bike, you’ll never want a new one.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
One a month, no spam, honest

Now on air
Coming up
More from Lifestyle
More from
More from Phoenix FM