30 iconic motorbikes to mark 30 years of Bikesure

iconic motorcycles

The team at Bikesure are celebrating 30 years of great insurance deals and to mark the occasion we have picked out 30 iconic motorbikes from the era — one for each year of business.

10 iconic motorbikes from the 90s

1 Ducati 900SS (1990-2002)

The Bikesure story began in 1990 and the first machine to make the list of iconic motorbikes is the fabulous Ducati 900SS. This bike is listed in celebration of its old school heritage, the gutsy growl of the engine and the wonderful nostalgic memories it evokes.

2 Suzuki GSF 1200S Bandit (1996-2006)

Nicknamed the hooligan for its rugged looks and performance, this machine’s reputation was enhanced because it was a bike favoured by stunt riders. Relatively cheap to buy and easy to tune, this super Suzuki was a must for our breakdown of great motorbikes from the 90s.

3 Honda CBR900RR Fireblade (1992-2003)

Credited with being the machine that changed the way sports bikes were built, the Fireblade wasn’t the most powerful machine on the starting grid, but because it was so much lighter than the rest of the competition, it knocked spots off them in terms of handling and maneuverability. 

4 Honda GL 1500 Goldwing Aspencade (1991-2000)

Another Honda, the Goldwing, had a super smooth flat six cylinder engine and, novel for touring bikes of the day, a reverse gear. It was the first mass produced six cylinder motorcycle and is a worthy nominee in our list of iconic motorbikes. 

iconic motorbikes
Honda Goldwing: Honda Motorcycles

5 Suzuki DR650 (1990-Present)

A second Suzuki, cheaper than most of its rivals, it was incredibly well put together, tough and reliable, and pretty fast when it needed to be. It’s still in the Suzuki line-up and is a tried and tested staple with more tech and revisions being added through the years.

6 Kawasaki ZX-9R (1994-2002)

The ZX-9R is a very sporty sports-tourer. It’s a great looking machine and it performs as good as it looks. An early member of the Ninja family of bikes, and didn’t we all love a Ninja?

7 Triumph Thunderbird 900 (1993 – 2003)

The Thunderbird is as popular today as it was back when Bikesure first started doing great insurance deals. A big three cylinder unit, a lot of sparkling alloy and retro styling, Thunderbirds really are go! And fit for our list of iconic motorbikes.

8 Ducati 916 (1994-1998)

Temperamental? Unreliable? It won a shedload of World Superbike titles with Carl Foggarty on board and was the crowning glory of designer Massimo Tamburini’s incredible career. It looked beautiful in 1994 and looks even more so today. 

9 Kawasaki KX250 (1974-Present) 

A middleweight off-roader for intermediate and experienced riders, the KX250 has been in production for an impressive 46 years. With that sort of pedigree, you know it’s going to be good, whether on the dirt or adapted and street legalled. 

kawasaki 250
Kawasaki 250: Kawasaki Motorcycles

10 BMW R1100GS (1994-1999)

Comfortable and eminently capable, the R1100GS was a shoe in for Bikesure’s list of iconic motorbikes of the 90s. Boasting a 1,085cc flat-twin boxer engine and air and oil-cooling, this beast will run and run. 

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11 Triumph Daytona 675 (2006-2012)

We love a Triumph at Bikesure and the Daytona 675 was a stand-out in the naughties. The smallest of the Triumph triples, the 675 proved to be remarkably light, nimble, powerful and rather easy on the eye. It still looks good today. 

12 Ducati Monster 696 (2008-2012)

An incredibly popular bike, in 2005 Monster sales accounted for over half of Ducati’s worldwide sales. Motorcycle News said the Monster had gone down in folklore as ‘the bike that saved Ducati’ due to its popularity and cheap development costs. 

iconic motorbikes
Ducati Monster: Ducati Motorcycles

13 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 (2007-2012)

Another Ducati but different. The Hypermotard serves up all the fun and excitement you are looking for at the same time as being light and easy to handle. 

14 Suzuki DRZ400S (2001-2008)

Much loved, the dual purpose Suzuki makes our list of iconic motorbikes because it’s another tough and durable machine and when you need them, spares are cheap as chips. 

15 Kawasaki ZX-10R (2004-Present)

Always one of the faster 1000cc superbikes on the market, the ZX-10R complements power with pristine handling capabilities making it a dream to ride. Kawasaki is famed for making motorbikes that are pretty much bomb-proof, this is no exception. 

16 KTM Superduke 990 (2005-2013)

With its torque and power to mass ratio the Superduke is streets ahead of most naked bikes on the market. Despite its size and awesome power it’s a comfort ride and offers a perfect blend of off and on-road performance. 

17 Triumph Tiger 800XC (2010-2014)

A dual-sport bike launched in 2010, the Tiger 800 XR is a road bike, while the 800 XC, which Bikesure has plumped for in our list of iconic motorbikes, has a more aggressive look and is designed for off-road excursions. Let the fun begin.

18 KTM EXCF350 (2011-Present)

The KTM EXCF350 has become the best-selling 4-stroke competition model ever. Since its launch it has improved significantly in performance and torque, as well as handling and agility. 

19 Kawasaki VN900 Custom (2007-Present)

The VN900 Custom has remained virtually unchanged in its 13 years of production. It was a joy to ride back in 2007 and it’s a joy to ride today. Yes, it’s basic, but that’s part of its beauty and part of the reason the team at Bikesure likes it so much and included it in their celebration list of iconic motorbikes. 

20 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa (2007-Present)

In production since 1999, it was credited as being the world’s fastest production motorcycle, with a top speed of 303 to 312 km/h (188 to 194 mph). That led to a deal between Japanese and European manufacturers to restrict the top speed of their motorcycles. The bike is, quite simply, a legend.  

hayabusa
Suzuki Hayabusa: Suzuki Motorcycles

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21 Kawasaki H2 (2015-2020)

Another Ninja derivative, the H2 is a “supercharged supersport” bike. The track-only variant, the H2R, is the fastest and most powerful production motorcycle on the market and is worthy on our list of iconic motorbikes.

22 Ducati Panigale V4 (2018 -Present)

Motorcycle News described their 2018 Sportsbike of the Year, as a “stunner”. Producing more than 200bhp MCN said it was a “hugely fast bike that can intimidate anyone short of a MotoGP test rider when you push it hard”. Well, the team at Bikesure are in complete agreement with that view.

23 Ducati Multistrada 1200S (2010-2014)

This is really the bike for all seasons. It is incredibly versatile and Ducati boasts it is actually four bikes in one: sport bike, tourer, daily rider and enduro, depending on which drive mode you fancy. What mood are you in today?

24 Yamaha YZF-R6 (1999 – Present)

The Bikesure team have included the YZF-R6 in our list of iconic motorbikes because it is a sports bike that really flies. Launched in 1999, it has enjoyed at least half a dozen updates to squeeze out yet more mph. The latest version has improved aerodynamics and styling.

25 Triumph Thruxton 1200R (2016-present)

It has a racy image but the Thruxton R is one of those bikes that’s just a good ride, even when you are poodling around. But don’t be fooled, it has enough top-end power to thrill at every turn. It’s a cafe racer with charisma in spades!

Thruxton
Triumph Thruxton: Triumph Motorcycles

26 Triumph Bonneville T120 (2016-Present) 

The Bikesure team had to have a Bonny somewhere in their list of 30 iconic motorbikes and here it is. It offers a refined ride, comfort, classic style, a great engine and overall it is a very practical retro bike for bikers who appreciate a bit of old world charm.

27 KTM 690 Enduro R (2019-Present)

Almost in a class of its own, the 690 Enduro R is capable of 100mph on and off-road — that makes it equally whether you are using it off the beaten track or on the weekly supermarket run. It’s a grand bike and worthy of Bikesure’s list of 30 iconic motorbikes.

28 Indian Scout (2014-Present)

The Scout is a cruising bike that takes you back in time with its classic styling of headlight, seat, tank, wheels and fenders, giving a nod to the cruisers of days long since passed. But it’s a blast to ride and a definite head-turner. 

29 Kawasaki Z1000 (2014-Present)

The Z1000 is a four-cylinder motorcycle introduced in 2003, it’s a real muscle machine and the Bikesure pick is the most recent generation of machines from 2014. The latest Z1000s have an uprated engine, more power, more torque and a lot more muscle than their predecessors.  

30 Harley-Davidson Roadster (2016-Present)

You didn’t think the Bikesure list of 30 iconic motorbikes would finish without at least one Harley-Davidson did you? Our pick is the powerful and rakishly good looking Roadster. It’s a really great bike and a really great ride. What more is there to say?

 If you’re lucky enough to own one of Bikesure’s iconic motorbikes from the past 30 years, give yourself another treat and find a great insurance deal. Call 0333 259 6855 to get a quote from someone who loves bikes almost as much as you do. 

  • Did your favourite motorbike make the cut? Tell us which machine you would include in our list of iconic motorbikes from the past 30 years by leaving a comment below.

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August 8, 2023

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