5 Motorcycles with the Longest Production Runs – Jalopnik

Some motorcycles come and go, but of the many available worldwide today, only a handful have remained in production since their inception. Motorcycles from brands such as Royal Enfield, Harley-Davidson and Honda, to name a few, have gained recognition as some of the oldest and longest produced motorcycles in the world. Their popularity stems from many factors, including heritage, reliability, comfort and styling.

But in a world with so many engine options to choose from, what makes these five bikes stand out as the longest running bikes in the club? Honestly, all the motorcycles on our list are simply trendsetters. These are the original bikes that started the hype.

From commuter bikes and Big Twins to the origins of the helicopter, and even the enormous need for rapid transportation in developing countries, let’s take a look at five unique motorcycles with the longest production runs to date.

In the early 1970s, global demand for motorcycles continued to grow rapidly, especially in Southeast Asian countries. As these countries began to develop, the need for fast transportation began to grow. Early on, however, the market certainly faced several challenges. Particularly routine maintenance. When companies like Honda and others began importing motorcycles for commuting, new owners (and even dealers) were unaware of the necessary maintenance these motorcycles required to be properly maintained.

When the oil started turning to thick goo and the air filters became fossilized by extreme dust, Honda promptly went back to the drawing board to come up with a solution. The result? The CG125, a small commuter style motorcycle built to withstand the toughest conditions and with the aim of being easy to maintain. Production began in 1975 and the CG125 first went on sale in March of that year, making its debut in Thailand. As the years progressed, Honda continued to improve the CG125 into a virtually maintenance-free design, and it succeeded. Today, the CG125 is still in production, albeit mainly abroad, in countries such as China and Pakistan.

It’s hard to stand out among Harley-Davidson’s impressive lineup of iconic motorcycles, but the brand’s OG Big Twin motorcycle, the FL Electra Glide, has rightfully earned a place at the table of legends. Production began in 1965 and Harley-Davidson’s Electra Glide joined the brand’s FL series with the introduction of the electric start function.

At the time, electric start was a major innovation. This meant riders no longer had to start their motorcycles to hit the road. As a result, this new electric-start Big-Twin motorcycle opened the door to many new riders, creating a wave of popularity in America and even American culture.

The FL Electra Glide was so popular that it began to gain fame in the 1970s in films such as “Electra Glide in Blue.” Even the king, Elvis Presley, had his own. Although the Electra Glide itself is no longer available from Harley-Davison, descendants of this classic design such as the Street Glide and the Road Glide are still available for purchase.

Admittedly not very popular in the US, the Honda Super Cub (or Honda Cub) has been produced since 1958 and outside America it remains extremely popular among motorcyclists alike. In 2017, Honda celebrated the milestone of 100 million units produced worldwide.

Beginning in August 1958, the first-generation Super Cub C100 went into mass production at Honda’s Yamato factory. Exports to the US began in 1959, but today the Super Cub Series motorcycle is produced in more than 16 factories and in 15 countries around the world. What made Honda’s Super Cub so unique was its extremely capable engine. At the time, many similar motorcycles were equipped with a two-stroke engine, but Honda opted for a new, more powerful engine. The new power plant consisted of a 50cc four-stroke engine that was much more durable and efficient compared to the competitor’s two-stroke variants.

Fortunately, Honda has revived the Super Cub in the US Super cub C125a modern version of the small, simple and reliable Super Cub that started it all.

Another Harley-Davidson icon, the Sportster has been produced since 1957, making it one of the longest-running motorcycle nameplates ever. In the late 1950s, Sportster competed directly with British fighters such as Triumph, Norton and BSA. In the 1960s, Harley-Davidson’s Sportster motorcycle became extremely popular due to its numerous customization options. Thanks to the relatively light frame and minimal parts, motorcyclists could easily convert a Sportster into a custom chopper or bobber.

The Sportster remained true to its original Ironhead engine, one of Harley-Davidson’s classic V-Twins, throughout the ’70s and ’80s. However, in 1986, Harley-Davidson replaced the Ironhead engine with an all-new Evolution “Evo” engine, which has since been credited as the engine that saved Harley-Davidson from bankruptcy. Today, that legacy is continued by Harley-Davidson’s Sportster S, which remains popular in the US for its reliability, styling and of course its long history.

Royal Enfield’s Bullet motorcycle is widely considered to be the oldest continuously produced motorcycle and has been in production since 1932. Born in Britain, the Bullet was first exhibited in November 1932 at the Olympia Motorcycle Show in London. Fast forward to 1948 and Bullet gets a major change. In February that year, Royal Enfield developed a post-war 350cc Bullet prototype to compete in the Colmore Cup Trial.

The new prototype featured the introduction of Royal Enfield’s oil-damped rear suspension. The new suspension design provided a more comfortable and improved ride compared to any mass-produced alternative at the time. This is because the new one-piece swingarm suspension featured twin coil spring dampers, which offered much greater suspension travel.

In 2021, Royal Enfield celebrated more than 120 years of motorcycling. One of the most popular motorcycles in the world, Royal Enfield sold almost a million motorcycles by 2024. The current version of Royal Enfield’s Bullet is even available in the US.