10 Japanese Motorcycles That Still Carry Their Legendary Status

Japanese motorcycles are often bashed around for being “outdated”. Upon closer examination, it becomes evident that all of these old offerings are well-rounded and capable motorcycles that still hold their own against new and modern rivals in terms of performance and ride appeal. Suzuki has the highest number of so-called old motorcycles, including a slew of Gixxer sports bikes.

Kawasaki has a mighty Suzuki Hayabusa rival in its arsenal, which, despite being outdated, still packs a punch. There is no dearth of adventure bikes and dual-sports as well. This list is not devoid of new and modern offerings, as the likes of the Yamaha R1 and the Suzuki Hayabusa are living legends. This list reminds us that not all “outdated” motorcycles are lame.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources, including Suzuki Cycles USA, Kawasaki Motorcycles USA, Honda Powersports USA, and Yamaha Motorsports USA. This list is organized in decreasing order of existence, from the newest to the oldest existing Japanese motorcycle currently in production. Also, all prices mentioned here are of the 2025 MY unless specified otherwise.

10

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R

Nameplate In Existence Since 2006

The ZX-14R was actually Kawasaki’s answer to what Suzuki packed into the Busa. It started life as the replacement for the Kawasaki ZX-12R, and has since remained one of the most powerful Kawasaki sports bikes. Despite being over 10 years old, the ZX-14R still delivers a powerful kick with the largest inline-4 engine available today. Its 1,441 cc inline-4 is both a screamer and a torque monster, a feat that very few sports bikes have. This is a motorcycle that can tour comfortably and light up the drag strip without any modifications whatsoever. Kawasaki claims that the Ninja ZX-14R has a quarter-mile time of 9.77 seconds and a top speed of 186 mph.

Specs And Pricing

9

Suzuki Boulevard M109R

Nameplate In Existence Since 2006

When a nearly 20-year-old cruiser bike still makes the competition vigilant, it is a testament to the overengineering of motorcycles, and the Suzuki Boulevard M109R is a prime example. This was Suzuki’s take on an Americanized power cruiser, featuring a big-twin, muscular design and a lot of chrome. But the M109R stood out from the bunch by being a thoroughly modern offering. In fact, it was way ahead of its time, featuring a liquid-cooled, short-stroke design and internals taken directly from the Gixxer sports bikes. The 2025 M109R Boulevard, despite being outdated, remains a force to be reckoned with, as it is the most powerful cruiser bike available for under $20,000.

Specs And Pricing

8

Suzuki V-Strom 650

Nameplate In Existence Since 2004

This Suzuki has been in production since 2004, and the current-generation model has been available since 2017. The engine and chassis have remained unchanged since the beginning, hence its fame for refinement and impressive reliability quotient. While its outdated packaging has pushed the V-Strom 650 into the shadows, it remains a competent adventure tourer.

The baby V-Strom is powered by a distinctive 645 cc V-twin engine that produces 69 horsepower and 51 pound-feet of torque, both of which are spread evenly across the rev band. This helps the middleweight V-Strom have a versatile riding experience. The 2025 model is also offered in a touring-ready 650XT Adventure trim and an off-road-ready 650XT trim.

Specs And Pricing

7

Honda CBR1000RR

Nameplate In Existence Since 2004

The CBR1000RR was launched in 2004 as the seventh-generation Fireblade. This liter-class sports bike was developed by the same team behind the Honda RC211V, a MotoGP race bike. The swingarm, the rear suspension, and even the fuel injection system were inspired from the racebike.

Today, the CBR1000RR is powered by a 999cc liquid-cooled four-cylinder, producing 189 horsepower and 74.6 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheel. Today, this CBR remains mainly in the shadows because of the more aggressive CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP taking the spotlight. However, it is still a great cause for an adrenaline rush, available for under $17,000 with rooted performance and reduced electronic intrusion when compared to its modern rivals.

Specs And Pricing

6

Honda CBR600RR

Nameplate In Existence Since 2003

This Honda pushed the limits of middleweight sports bike performance, and the first-gen model utilized technologies used in the mighty Honda RC211V MotoGP racebike. The 2000s CBR was also designed to look like the racebike. In its prime, this 600cc Japanese sports bike grabbed the attention of the Suzuki GSX-R600, the Yamaha R6, the unhinged Triumph Daytona 675, and even the Ducati 749. Today, the international-spec model is sharper and is loaded with cool technology features to stay relevant. However, America still has an outdated motorcycle that is fighting for dear life and staying relevant only with its refined and heightened performance appeal.

Specs And Pricing

5

Suzuki Hayabusa

Nameplate In Existence Since 1999

No one needs an introduction to this sports bike because that’s how insanely wild and influential the Hayabusa has been. This sports bike was a deciding factor in the infamous gentleman’s agreement to restrict the top speed of supersports to 186 mph. The 1999 Hayabusa sent shivers down the spines of officials when it claimed the title of the world’s fastest production motorcycle, achieving a top speed of 194 mph. Interestingly, the 1999 MY was also the only Busa to have breached the 190 mph mark. Today, in its third-generation guise, the 2025 Hayabusa has become significantly more user-friendly, yet continues to awe new and old riders alike by carrying forward the legacy of the Peregrine Falcon on wheels.

Specs And Pricing

4

Suzuki SV650

Nameplate In Existence Since 1999

This is a very underappreciated streetfighter that has sadly reached the end of its lifecycle, with the plug being pulled in Europe. However, Suzuki USA still lists it on the official website, so there is time to get your hands on one of these beautiful naked bikes. Since its introduction in 1999, the SV650 has undergone four generational upgrades.

But the constant across these model years has been its neo-retro styling, an exposed trellis frame, and a meaty V-twin engine. Sounds similar to another exotic motorcycle, right? Yup, the Suzuki SV650 is the affordable equivalent to the famed Ducati Monster. The current-gen SV650 was updated in 2016 and is powered by a versatile 645 cc V-twin producing 75 horsepower and 47 pound-feet of torque.

Specs And Pricing

*2023 MY Price Mentioned Here

3

Yamaha YZF-R1

Nameplate In Existence Since 1998

The legacy of the Yamaha R1 can be traced back to 1998 with the introduction of the first-generation RN01 model. It was a bold step for Yamaha as the R1 was its first-ever liter-class motorcycle. Today, it is safe to say that that bold decision paid off very well with the 2025 Yamaha R1 being the fastest road-going sports bike Yamaha has ever made. It is powered by a distinctively sounding crossplane 998cc inline-4 CP4 engine that produces 197 horsepower and 83 pound-feet of torque.

Specs And Pricing

2

Kawasaki KLR650

Nameplate In Existence Since 1987

The Kawasaki KLR650 is a motorcycle renowned for its enduring nature. Despite being termed a “dual-sport”, it goes above and beyond to be a do-it-all adventure-ready motorcycle. It is renowned for its exceptional reliability and durability, with numerous instances of KLR650s clocking over 100,000 miles. One wild encounter we came across was of a 172,000-mile touring-spec version that is still going strong.

It’s no wonder that this longest-surviving motorcycle model has been in existence since 1987. Today, the KLR650 continues to offer the same spirited package that refuses to die, in three different trim levels: the OG base trim, a touring-focused Adventure trim, and a more road-friendly KLR650S trim. Power comes from a frugal and bulletproof 652 cc single producing 40 horsepower and 39.1 pound-feet of torque.

Specs And Pricing

1

Suzuki GSX-R750

Nameplate In Existence Since 1984

This sports bike is also one of the oldest existing nameplates today. The Suzuki GSX-R750 is known as the “original supersport bike” and has been an extreme, track-ready performer since its introduction in 1984. In fact, the aforementioned Yamaha R1 and the coveted Honda Fireblade CBR900RR owe their philosophy to the GSX-R750.

It was equivalent to today’s liter-class sports bike when the first-generation GSX-R750 was introduced in 1984. The 2025 GSX-R750 has been around since 2011 and is powered by an inline-4 screamer that produces 148 horsepower and 63.7 pound-feet of torque at 13,200 RPM and 11,200 RPM, respectively. Despite being “old”, this Gixxer is still the most powerful 750cc sports bike today.

Specs And Pricing