Honda and Yamaha Timelines

I've been updating all my timelines, you can find them all on http://moto-timeline.blogspot.com/

Here's most of Honda's world motorcycles (grey indicates the models were not available in the US).
Here's Honda's cruisers
Like above this is Yamaha's world motorcycle offerings.
And Yamaha/Star cruisers as well as V four models, VMax, Venture, and Royal Star.

I've got off road timelines on the way as well. You can expect updated timelines from all manufacturers.

Hypersports

Part 1
There are sport bikes, there are super sport bikes, and then there's hypersport bikes. Hypersports are the super sized class of modern performance motorcycles. They trace their origins to the beinging of the race-replica era. Hypersports began as larger versions of the 750cc racing class. Eventually they grew into big bore machines that blur the lines of sport touring with sports bikes. with the Suzuki GSX-R1000. Kawasaki countered with the Ninja 1000 and ZX-11. Yamaha had the FJR1200, Honda the CBR1000 Hurricane. Arguably the Honda VFR1000 and Yamaha FZR1000 could be include, though they are more racy.

1986 Suzuki GSX-R1100Yamaha FJ1200

Kawasaki ZX10Honda CBR1000FPart 1.5

On the more racy side of things there's the VFR1000 and FZR1000

Honda VFR1000RYamaha FZR1000RPart 2

Suzuki and Honda updated their big boy sports bikes for the 1990s. In 1990 Kawasaki introduced the ZX-11 the fastest bike in the world (at that time). Triumph also had a player with the 1200cc Daytona.

Suzuki GSX-R1100Kawasaki ZX-11Honda CBR1000FPart 3

Honda upped the ante with the classy CBR1100XX Blackhawk. Suzuki trumped the Blacbird with the Hayabusa (Japanese for paragrine falcon, natural predetor of blackbirds) in 1999.The Hayabusa took the record from the Blackbird at 190mph. Kawasaki answered witht he ZX12R. With these two motorcycle reacing speeds of 300kmph (186mph) the manufacturers agreed to limit top speed for fear of backlash from European governments. The ZX12R was intended to take the record from the Hayabusa but with the regualted 186mph, the early GSX1300R's hold the overall record. 

Suzuki GSX13000RKawasaki ZX-12R
Honda CBR1100XXPart 4

The battle for hyperspeed continues with Suzuki and Kawasaki. Kawasaki replaced the ZX12R with the ZX14. Suzuki answered with an updated Hayabusa. BMW entered the field with the K1200S, however the German bike didn't quite have the muscle of the Japanese superbikes. In 2009 BMW will release the K1300S.

BMW K1200S
2007 Suzuki GSX1300R2008 Kawasaki ZX-14

Twilight on the 2 stroke

Two stroke road bikes have been extinct for quite some time now. These noisy beasts just couldn't fit in a quiet, clean, P.C. world we live in today. It's a shame as they offered a unique experience to the two wheeled world. Here's some of the last remaining models (larger-bore road only models that is).

The 1970s saw the biggest 2 strokes. With 750cc monsters like the Kawasaki Mach IV and the Suzuki GT750. Yamaha had perhaps the most popular ring-dings with their RD series.

Yamaha RD350

Kawasaki Mach III 500
Kawasaki Mach IV 750
Suzuki GT750
By the end of the 1970s there weren't many 2 strokes left. After a lot of work Yamaha managed to pass their sweat RZ350 into the US market, but it was pretty clear that 2 stroke steet bikes were a thing of the past.

Yamaha RZ350

Of couse there's the famous RZ500, or RD500LC if you perfer. A limited not-for-US sports model made to be a road going grand prix bike.

Like Yamaha, Suzuki had a 500cc 2 stroke. The RG 500 Gamma was produced in the late 1980's. Apparently Suzuki continues to produce smaller RG's elsewhere in the world.

The last 2 cycle road bikes (that I know of anyway) has to be the Bimota V Due. In 1997 Bimota made its first and only bike with a Bimota engine. Bimota's first engine was a 2 stroke 500cc V twin. Unfortuanately the V Due had numerous problems and was the last nail in the coffin for Bimota at the time. It's a shame as the bike looks fantastic.

Harley Sport Specials

When you think of Harley Davidson performance bikes don't readily spring to mind. Even if the motor company is known for their cruisers and tourers they have managed to sneak a special model in here and there. In the past Harley's Sportster was actually thought of as a higher performance machine. But as other motorcycles progressed the Sportster didn't. So Harley fell into its ways, where it remains today. But here's some shining examples of (somewhat) faster Harleys.

At the end of the 1970s Willie G tried his hand a cafe racer. Nevermind the whole cafe scene and come and gone years ago and motorcyclists were interested in Japanese superbikes, Harley runs on Harley time. Anyway Harley put together some bits and pieces and came up with the mean looking XL1000CR, CR is for cafe racer. Unfortunately the bike didn't do too well. A few years later Harley tried again with the XR1000. The XR wasn't really an XR (Harley's racing chassis), rather it was a dressed up XL with a neat intake and exhast. Like the cafe racer the XR1000 didn't last long.

1977-79 XL1000CR

1983-84 XR1000
By the 1990s Harley Davidson had returned to profitability. Finally once again the company could afford to make special models. The following models are "sport" models. Now sport in this instance is a relative term. Most of these models are standard issue Harley gear, but with some "sporting attitude".

1999 FXDX Dyna Glide Sport1996-98 XL1200S Sportster Sport
XL1200R Sportster RoadsterXL1200N Sportster Nightster
Now the Harley-Davidson V Rod is arguably the most legitimate sporting Harley. It is easily the closest Harley has come to a regular production performance motorcycle. The basic V Rod was more about show than go, but its the Street Rod that was the real performer. A one year wonder the Street Rod. Its awkward mix of feet back-cruiser rake never really connected with the buying public, sadly the Street Rod was not here to stay. It was replaced with the Night Rod, a darker more sinister version of the original V Rod.

2006 VRSCR Street Rod
2007 VRSCDX Night Rod
Last but certainly not least is the brand new XR1200. The XR is a long over due homage to the XR750 racing bike. After many after-market XR kits, the factory has finally stepped in and made their own. The new XR is little more than a dressed up XL, but it does have a bit more power. Sad thing is the bike isn't for sale in Harley's core market, the US. But hopefully things will change and more hopefully still maybe we'll see more bikes like the XR1200.
2008 XR1200

Then there's the real racing bikes, like the XR750TT, and the VR1000. But I'll leave those for another time.

Factory Supermoto's Part 3: Unlimited

Finally we have the big boys. This particular breed of Supermoto is based on street models. KTM started it off with the 990 Supermoto. Ducati followed with a modified Multistrada called the Hypermoto. Finally BMW jumped in with their special HP2 line and the Megamoto. All of these bikes are generally too big and heave to really be considered for the class, but they are relatively light and flickable for 1000cc+ bikes. And no, I'm not considering the Buell XB12STT a supermoto.

KTM 990 Supermoto
Ducati Hypermoto 1100S
BMW HP2 Megamoto

Factory Supermoto's Part 2: 450's

In the US the 450 class is usually dominated by modified CRF's and YZF's. In Europe manufacturers thrive on these moto machines. Most come in more than one size, for example Husqvarna has a the SM 450/510/610, Aprilia the SXV 4.5/5.5, and KTM has the 450/525 SMR. In addition to these dirt-based bikes there's a new wave of street based supermoto's. KTM's LC4 based Supermoto and BMW brand new G650 has a supermoto version the Xmoto.

KTM 450 SMR

Aprilia SXV 4.5
Husqvarna SM 450
Husaberg FS 450
BMW G 650 Xmoto
KTM 690 Supermoto

Factory Super Moto's Part1: 250's

Supermoto's are beginning to catch on here in the states, especially with today's gas prices. So here's a look at factory supermotos. I know most racing supermotos are based on more competitive platforms. So I've organized a list of all the factory models that I know of. To start us off is the lightweight 250 group. All the bikes are Japanese. Honda offered a motard version of their XR250 in Japan long before the others caught on. Now Suzuki, and recently Yamaha and Kawasaki have jumped in too. Yes the Suzuki is a 400cc, but I included it here because all the other bikes are European.

2005 Honda XR250 Motard

2008 Yamaha WR250X
2009 Kawasaki KLX250SF
2005 Suzuki DR-Z400SM