Triumph produced cars and motorcycles concurrently from 1923 to 1936, after which the two businesses were split into separate companies. Triumph Motorcycles’ storied history includes wins at the Isle of Man Tournament Trophy, the Daytona 200, and a land speed record set at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats. This last achievement inspired one of Triumph’s current models, the Bonneville T100 cafe racer.
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This retro-styled model is powered by a 900cc parallel-twin engine that produces 64.1 horsepower and 59 pound-feet of torque. That power is transferred to the rear wheels through a five-speed transmission with a chain drive and wet multi-disc clutch. The Brembo front brakes and Nissin rear brakes both have anti-lock capabilities, and the Bonneville’s wet weight of just over 500 pounds delivers fuel economy close to 70 mpg. The Triumph Bonneville isn’t the only bike with classic style and modern features. There are other similar bikes with base prices around $11,495.
Royal Enfield INT 650 was also born in England.
Royal Enfield shares Triumph’s British pedigree and long history of making beautiful motorcycles, and its INT (for Interceptor) 650 will be a formidable challenger to the Bonneville. At just $6,849, the INT 650 is significantly more affordable than the Bonneville. For that price, you can choose from six color schemes (the one shown above is Barcelona Blue). Like the Bonneville, the INT 650 is powered by a parallel-twin engine, but the Royal Enfield produces around 47 horsepower and just over 38.5 pound-feet of torque.
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The INT 650’s transmission offers one more gear than the Bonneville’s, and it also has anti-lock brakes on both wheels. The INT 650 is a bit lighter than the Bonneville at around 478 pounds, so it might be a better choice for new riders. It gets around 60mpg and features a pair of ’70s-style gauges with a small digital insert in the speedometer for the fuel gauge, odometer, and dual trip counters.
The Norton Commando 961 CR is another British rival to the Bonneville.
Norton Motorcycles is another British manufacturer with a proud heritage of Isle of Man success and a current range that includes motorcycles with classic style and the latest technology. The Commando 961 CR (for cafe racers) is a 70’s model set to a “gold-plated” setting in a computer design program, with gold front fork tubes and a large amount of silver cladding around, above, and around them. It looks like. I’m behind them. By default, the engine is left with a natural finish to complement the precious metal accents, but if you wish, Norton will paint the motor, frame, and finishing kit black for a more subtle look.
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The 961 CR zips down the road thanks to a 961cc parallel-twin engine that sends 76 horsepower and nearly 60 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via a five-speed transmission and chain drive. Both wheels are equipped with Brembo anti-lock brakes, and the Ohlins shock and fork are fully adjustable, so you can set the ride to your liking. Sadly for American riders, Norton’s product is currently only available to UK customers due to emissions regulations, and carries a hefty price tag of £17,499 (approximately $23,000 USD) at the time of writing. However, due to the popularity of retro bikes in the US, people in the US can hold back and hope that the 961 Cafe Racer will arrive soon.
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The BMW R nineT is a SlashGear favorite
BMW makes some great bikes through their Motorrad division, and the RnineT ranks on the list of BMW’s most popular bikes of all time. It’s a little more dressed up than the other models on this list, and will cost you closer to $17,000 to ride home. For that price, you get a 1,170cc boxer-twin engine that produces 109 horsepower and 85 pound-feet of torque, making it definitely the most powerful bike on this list.
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This is enough power to propel the 485-pound R nineT to a top speed of 134 miles per hour, which is achieved thanks to a six-speed transmission and shaft drive. BMW touts the R nineT as its most customizable model, offering a Scrambler version and the more affordable RnineT Pure, which will shave about $5,000 off the starting price at some dealers, but with a tachometer and gearbox. Basic features such as indicators are omitted.
Kawasaki W800 ABS is the latest model in a proud line
Kawasaki ranks third on the list of the world’s top bike manufacturers thanks to its pavement-scorching Ninja superbike series. However, sleeping on Kawasaki’s W series would be remiss. The Café Racer family began with the 650-W1 in 1965 and spawned many numbered successors over the next few decades. In 2011, Kawasaki introduced the powerful W800 with a 48 horsepower parallel-twin engine. Kawasaki shelved the model after five years, but quickly brought it back in a modern form. The latest model, the 2025 W800 ABS, is very similar to the Triumph Bonneville in form, function and value.
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For a base price of $10,399, you get a bike styled after the original W1, with large round dual gauges and a retro ’60s-style headlamp housing. However, the powertrain and chassis are clearly from the 21st century. The 773cc parallel-twin engine has two direct-injection throttle bodies and provides 46.4 pound-feet of torque. It also has anti-lock brakes on both wheels to help control that power smoothly. With the 5-speed transmission, you can go up to 110 miles per hour and really appreciate the ABS system.
Janus Halcyon 450 is a handcrafted beauty
Most bikes on this list have minimal cladding to hide the mechanical parts, but the Janus Halcyon 450 takes the naked bike concept to its limits. Its retro style is more 1920s than 1960s or 70s, but its simplicity is striking. Janus Motorcycles are hand-built around tubular steel frames at the company’s Goshen, Indiana, factory. The Halcyon 450 is powered by a 445cc single-cylinder engine that produces 30 horsepower, plenty of power for a bike that weighs only 345 pounds.
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Richard Worsham, the company’s co-founder, met Devin Beek while studying history and literature at Notre Dame. They named their new company after the Roman god Janus. Janus has two faces. One looking forward, the other looking back. It’s the perfect icon for modern machines with a retro feel, like the company’s Halcyon 450 and other bikes featured here.
