1960 Triumph T120 Bonneville - Motorcyclist magazine

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1960 Triumph T120 Bonneville

It’s ironic that the most iconic British motorcycle of all time isn’t named after Donington Park, Silverstone or Brands Hatch, but a sunbaked salt pan located in the southwestern United States. It was at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1956, however, that Jack Wilson’s methanol-burning Triumph Tunderbird 650, ridden by Johnny Allen and nicknamed “The Texas Cee-Gar,” set an absolute motorcycle speed record of 214.17 mph. When Triumph needed a name for its frst dual-carburetor 650cc twin, then its fastest production motorcycle, only “Bonneville” would do.

The T120 Bonneville frst appeared in ’59, but it’s the redesigned ’60 version, with the stifer twin-cradle frame and separate headlamp replacing the old nacelle, that’s considered the defnitive version. With its stately, Edward Turner-designed parallel-twin, long chrome peashooter mufflers, pancake saddle and signature two-tone paint, the Bonneville characterized classic Brit-bike cool. Bob Dylan rode one. So did Paul Newman, Paul McCartney and, of course, Steve McQueen.

The Bonneville’s engine was based on that of the T110 Tiger, but came equipped with dual Amal carburetors instead of a single unit, as well as a performance intake cam. With light weight, abundant torque, decent handling and a 110-mph top speed, the Bonneville was the epitome of ’60s high performance—until the frst Japanese superbikes arrived at the end of that decade. The Bonneville ruled everywhere from dragstrips to dirt-tracks, and a Bonneville even made the frst 100-mph production-bike lap at the Isle of Man TT, in ’68. The performance may have faded but the Bonneville’s silhouette has stood the test of time. Triumph’s current “modern classic” Bonnevilles, shamelessly styled to ape the originals, are among the best-selling bikes on the market today.

1923 BMW R32
BMW has been synonymous with Boxer-twins since the beginning— literally. The very frst BMW motorcycle, the 1923 R32, was powered by a 494cc fat-twin that transferred power to its rear wheel via shaft drive. Designed by famed aircraft engineer Max Friz, the R32 is an engineering masterpiece that established the struggling firm as a successful motorcycle manufacturer. The Boxer configuration aided with cooling, and featured a recirculating wet-sump oil system. Friz’s design proved so sound that, 90 years later, it still forms the foundation for BMW’s most popular models.
1923 BMW R32 BMW has been synonymous with Boxer-twins since the beginning— literally. Th
1948 Vincent Black Shadow
It’s been immortalized on dragstrips and dry lakes and even celebrated in song, but the Black Shadow’s most lasting impact was its infuence on future motorcycle design. Monoshock rear suspensions, “frameless” chassis designs, dual front brakes, adjustable controls and many other innovations originated with Phil Irving’s legendary Black Shadow. Powered by a black-enameled, 1000cc V-twin that propelled this black beauty to 125 mph, the Black Shadow was the wickedest motorcycle made in 1948—and remains one of the most desirable today.
1948 Vincent Black Shadow It’s been immortalized on dragstrips and dry lakes and even ce
1973 Honda CR250 Elsinore
Honda’s CR250 Elsinore wasn’t the first motorcycle designed specifcally for of-road racing, not even the frst Japanese one, but it was the trickest, most reliable and least expensive. Named after Southern California’s epic Elsinore Grand Prix, it looked like something straight from the race shop with its lightweight chromemoly frame, polished-aluminum gas tank, plastic fenders and 29-horsepower, two-stroke engine. Elsinore-mounted Gary Jones easily won the 1973 AMA 250cc Motocross Championship on what was the ultimate working man’s motocrosser.
1973 Honda CR250 Elsinore Honda’s CR250 Elsinore wasn’t the first motorcycle designed sp

1979 Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special
Yamaha’s small-bore two-strokes were one of the great two-wheeled success stories of the ’70s, regularly humiliating bikes with more than double the displacement on racetracks and backroads across America. These quick-and-dirty giant-killers sold for next-tonothing and provided racetrack handling to the masses. Te Daytona Special—named to honor the TZ350 forebears that won more consecutive Daytona races than any other motorcycle— was the last, and arguably, the best, of Yamaha's air-cooled, two-strokes.
1979 Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special Yamaha’s small-bore two-strokes were one of the great