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About This Quiz
Can you tell a '70s Low-Rider from a modern Harley, or a classic Kawasaki from one made in the past 10 years? Know the difference between the Honda super bikes of the past versus the company's latest innovations? If you think you can tell a vintage ride from one built in more recent times, take our quiz to prove your motorcycle IQ!
While bike lovers might notice cool choppers everywhere they go, the motorcycle industry as a whole is relatively young. Yet in just a century or so, manufacturers have managed to produce a wide array of two-wheeled vehicles, from high-end luxury models to commuter rides with price tags designed for the working man or woman.Â
Have you ever looked at an old picture and been able to estimate when it was taken? There's just something about the way style changes throughout the decades that allows you to date an image. The same way you can examine an old family photo and match it to a certain year by looking at clothing or hairstyles, you can also determine when a motorcycle was made simply by checking out the style, technology or design.Â
Think you can match a motorcycle to the decade it was made using just a single image? Take this quiz to find out!
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
The Kawasaki Nina H2 was designed as a street-legal version of the company's H2R racing bike. Introduced in 2015, the extremely powerful ride can reach speeds of 183 miles per hour.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
1990s
2000s
The 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa is the second-gen version of this sleek and futuristic bike. First introduced in 1999, it has a top speed in excess of 300 miles per hour.
2010s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1950s
1960s
The Honda Super Cub came out in the '50s, and was known as the C50 starting in 1966. Produced for more than several decades, this ride was long known for its tagline, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda."
1970s
1980s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1940s
1950s
1960s
Norton introduced this Commando with a 750 cc engine in 1967. The British bike remained in production through 1997, and became a popular ride with certain police departments in Europe.
1970s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1970s
The Honda CB750 came out in 1970, and riders immediately prized the motorcycle for its smooth and comfortable ride. The sport bike had an electric starter and a top speed of 120 miles per hour. Production of the 750 continued until 2003.
1980s
1990s
2000s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1950s
1960s
Triumph named its 1960 T120 Bonneville over the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, a popular race locale. Produced until 1975, the T120 was marketed as "The Best Motorcycle in the World."
1970s
1980s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1930s
1940s
The 1948 Vincent Black Shadow took a different approach from other bikes of the time. While other manufacturers were trying to polish the bike to make the chrome shine, Vincent purposely coated the body and engine in black enamel.
1950s
1960s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1950s
1960s
1970s
The 1973 Honda CR250 Elsinore took its name from a classic Grand Prix race held in California. This early Honda two-stroke was known for its light weight and sparse design.
1980s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
Honda introduced the GL1100 Gold Wing Interstate in 1980, and produced the model until 1983. This touring bike was designed to compete with the Suzuki GS1000.
1990s
2000s
2010s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
Ducati introduced the 916 in 1994, and produced the stylish racer until 1998. The bike had a unique trellis frame with a 90-degree twin engine and the exhaust tucked up under the seat.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1970s
1980s
1990s
Britten's V1000 came out in 1991, and only around 10 were made throughout the decade. The ultra-rare bike was built from carbon-fiber and had a double wishbone front. Today, it can only be found in museums.
2000s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1970s
1980s
1990s
Suzuki first produced this TL1000R in 1998. Designed primarily for racing, it had a 90-degree V-twin and a super-stiff frame to put up with plenty of rough riding.
2000s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
Introduced in 1991, the Buell RS1200 was Buell's first street bike. Designed by a former Harley engineer and equipped with a Harley engine, the bike had a sleek street style. Overall, only about 200 of the RS1200 were made.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
1990s
2000s
While Yamaha started making its R1 motorcycle in 1998, this 2009 model got a significant redesign, complete with a cross-plane crankshaft and modern styling.
2010s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
1990s
The 1993 Ducati M900 Monster was a true muscle bike. Complete with a trellis design, it's often referred to as "naked" thanks to its exposed parts and sparse styling.
2000s
2010s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
The 1985 Suzuki GSX-R 750 is all mid-'80s in terms of design. This early street-legal racer had flat sides, known as slab siding, which were typical on Suzuki rides between 1985 and 1987.
1990s
2000s
2010s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1920s
1930s
The 1936 Harley EL picked up the nickname Knucklehead thanks to its overhead valves -- which required some clever engineering to prevent oil leaks. The bike retailed for $380 and had a top speed of 95 miles per hour.
1940s
1950s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
Yamaha's 2000 R7 had a 749 cc engineer and a top speed of 163 miles per hour. With only around 50 made for the U.S. market, the bike was in high demand when released, and buyers often had to contend with long waiting lists.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
The 1972 Kawasaki H2 was known for its two exhaust pipes. It also had a more aggressive engine than earlier H2s, which Kawasaki produced from 1958 to 1980.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1950s
1960s
1970s
The 1979 Honda CBX was a true superbike, with a six-cylinder 1047 cc engine that reached speeds up to 140 miles per hour. Honda continued to produce the CBX through 1982.
1980s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
1990s
2000s
Ducati only made around 1,500 of its 2006 Desmosedici RR. This limited edition version of the Italian racing bike came out in 2006.
2010s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1960s
1970s
The 1979 Honda NR -- for New Racing -- featured a simple 500cc engine. By the '80s, the company had moved on to the NR750, which had a more powerful 750cc.The 1981
1980s
1990s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1960s
1970s
1980s
The 1981 BMW R80 G/S was one of the first bikes made for use both on and off the road. Produced from 1980 to 1987, the motorcycle featured a dual-sport design, with only around 21,000 made in total.
1990s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1910s
1920s
The 1923 BMW R32 was the company's first motorcycle to sport the BMW logo. It was one of the company's more successful efforts after they were forced by WWI to diversify, and had a top speed of 59 miles per hour.
1930s
1940s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1970s
Harley's Low-Rider was a huge hit with buyers when it was released in 1977. The bike had a 26-inch seat height, extended forks and specialized alloy wheels.
1980s
1990s
2000s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1960s
1970s
1980s
Suzuki produced the RG500 Gamma from 1985 to 1987. The company made just under 10,000 of the two-stroke sport bike, which was inspired by Suzuki's Grand Prix racing bikes.
1990s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
The Honda RC30 came out in the U.S. in 1990. The bike was fairly expensive for the period, and only around 3,000 units of this 780cc model were produced before it was discontinued.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
The 1970 Honda CT70 Trail was a simple minibike, equipped with a T-bone frame and folding handlebars. The company produced this sturdy motorcycle through 1982, then rebooted it in the early '90s.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1950s
1960s
The 1960 Rokon Trailbreaker was more of a utility bike than a true motorcycle. It was primarily built for trekking over rough terrain, and had enormous tires that could be used to float the bike over water.
1970s
1980s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1930s
This Triumph Speed Twin came out in 1937. Originally, the bike was available only in red with gold pinstripes. After WWII, Triumph resumed production of the twin-engine bike through the mid-'60s.
1940s
1950s
1960s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
The 2010 BMW S1000 RR was introduced in 2010. The company used "the oldest trick in the world" -- removing a tablecloth without disturbing the dishes -- to demonstrate the bike's smooth acceleration.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
1990s
The 1991 Gilera Nordwest is easy to spot thanks to its sporty suspension and styling. The four-stroke engine can reach speeds of 170 miles per hour.
2000s
2010s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1960s
1970s
1980s
The Honda CR500 was first released in 1985, and was known for having an excess of power that made it a challenge for some riders to control. Honda continued production of this two-stroke model through 2001.
1990s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1940s
The Indian Chief was produced from 1922 to 1953, but the 1947 model might be the most famous. The legendary Steve McQueen owned a '47, which is now owned by the National Motorcycle Museum.
1950s
1960s
1970s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1950s
1960s
The 1967 Honda CT90 was a four-stroke bike with a step-through design. Produced through 1979, the motorcycle was marketed to trail riders and commuters.
1970s
1980s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
The 1975 Laverda 750 GT had a four-stroke twin cylinder engine. This Italian bike was heavy, but largely indestructible, which made it popular with police forces.
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London Motorcycle Museum, Greenford London via Wikimedia Commons
When was this motorcycle made?
1910s
1920s
1930s
The first Tiger 100SS came out in 1939, though production was halted as the factory was bombed in WWII. Bob Dylan was famously riding a Tiger 100SS when he crashed in 1966, suffering injuries that kept him from touring for 8 years.
1940s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
The 1955 Harley Hummer was known for being very basic -- it didn't even come with turn signals. The bike was named for Dean Hummer, a Nebraska Harley dealer with extremely high sales success.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
Harley's 1954 Hydra Glide accounted for half of all motorcycles sold that year in the U.S. The bike was designed to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1910s
1920s
The 1929 BMW WR750 came equipped with a two-cylinder, four-stroke engine. After this model was discontinued in 1935, the next generation of BMW motorcycles had huge success on the race track.
1930s
1940s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1950s
1960s
1970s
The 1977 Kawasaki KZ1000 was one of the fastest production motorcycles in the world when it was released. It had a top speed of 132 miles per hour and later became popular among police forces.
1980s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1930s
Harley produced its RL 45 from 1932 to 1936. It was known for its total-loss oiling system -- its successor had a recirculating system -- and featured an Art Deco design on the tank.
1940s
1950s
1960s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1940s
The 1940 Crocker was made in Los Angeles, and was one of only about 100 units produced. The company made motorcycles and scooters through 1942.
1950s
1960s
1970s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
The 1939 BMW Type 255 Kompressor was a supercharged race bike. Produced only from 1935 to 1939, the bike is super valuable and rare today, with one unit selling in 2013 for half a million dollars at auction.
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By k4cay via Wikimedia Commons
When was this motorcycle made?
1970s
The 1971 Yankee Z was produced in New York. Yankee made only around 800 units of the Z through 1973. The bike featured a pair of two-strokes joined to form a single engine.
1980s
1990s
2000s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1900s
1910s
The 1910s Winchester 6 HP is ultra-rare in the 21st century. Only around 200 were made, with only two known units known to exist today.
1920s
1930s
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When was this motorcycle made?
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
The 1958 Ariel Cyclone is most remembered today for being the bike ridden by Buddy Holly in the year before his death. Only around 300 of the 650 cc motorcycle were produced.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
The 2016 Yamaha MT-10 combines speed with a small wheelbase for quick maneuverability. The sport bike has naked styling and futuristic hard lines.
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When was this motorcycle made?
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
The 1976 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans takes its name from the famous 24-hour Le Mans race in France. Early versions of the bike had a distinctive round taillight, while later ones were rectangular.
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