We list the motorcycles displayed in ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ — by year from 1871 until 2020 — these motorcycles were carefully selected for the technical achievements and aesthetic merits they represent.
Showcasing 100 motorcycles, ‘The Motorcycle’ spans the history of this dynamic and versatile vehicle, from its humble origins as an engine bolted to a bicycle to the cutting-edge electric prototypes of the twenty-first century.
The world’s first steam-powered ‘motorcycle’ was assembled in the late 1860s, more than a decade before the first automobile was designed, and by the early twentieth century all the elements of the modern, internal combustion engine–powered motorcycle had developed. Over the next 120 years, changes in design reflected developments in technology, engineering and manufacturing, as well as the motorcycle’s evolving functions as an inexpensive mode of transportation, racing and on- or off-road vehicle and as an expression of individual creativity. These innovations changed the face of transportation, and the motorcycle has not only become an enduring design icon, but also established its place in society through popular culture, literature and film.
‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ offered a rare opportunity to see geographically and historically diverse motorcycles together in one place. From the hubs of motorcycle manufacturing in the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan to less likely sources of unique designs in New Zealand and Australia, ‘The Motorcycle’ showcased a machine at the pinnacle of design excellence and evokes a world of innovation, excitement and desire.
‘The Motorcycle’ exhibition was in Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 until 26 April 2021.
RELATED: Read more about the bikes in ‘THE MOTORCYCLE’ exhibition
AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED: Read about our LOCAL MOTORCYCLE HISTORY
List of motorcycles by year of manufacture

1871 Perreaux Steam Velocipede (above)
France
Collection: Department of Hauts-de-Seine / Museum of the Departmental Domain of Sceaux
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #1 Perreaux Steam Velocipede
DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride

1898 Cleveland Tricycle (above)
USA
Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen, Curator
DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride

1903 Minerva with Mills and Fulford Forecar (above)
Belgium
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger

1906 Spencer (above)
Australia
The Australian Motorlife Museum – Paul Butler Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Australian-born: The Spencer motorcycle story
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #2 Spencer

1908 Indian Single CeDora (above)
USA
Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen Curator
DELVE DEEPER : Indian Single 1908 owned by pioneering stuntwoman Cedora

1912 Henderson Four (above)
USA
Clyde Crouch Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Henderson Four the largest and fastest motorcycle of its time
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger

1914 Whiting (above)
Australia
Lowe Family Collection
DELVE DEEPER: The Australian Whiting: The last word in motorcycle luxury

1914 Harley-Davidson 10F (above)
USA
Harley City Collection

1916 Indian 8-Valve (above)
USA
Arundel Collection

1919 ABC (above)
United Kingdom
Courtesy of the Clyde Crouch Collection
DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride

1920 (engine) Indian Scout Special (above)
USA; New Zealand
Collection: Clyde Crouch
DELVE DEEPER: Bert Munro’s 1920 Indian Scout Special still the worlds fastest
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #5 Indian Scout Special
1921 Ner-a-Car
USA
Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen Curator
1924 Moto Guzzi Tipo Normale
Italy
Collection: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
1924 BMW R32
Germany
Collection: Trevor Dean
1926 Indian Hillclimber
USA
Arundel Collection
1926 Peugeot P104
France
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum

1927 Harley-Davidson FHA (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger

1928 Harley-Davidson Model SA Peashooter (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger
1928 Scott Flying Squirrel
United Kingdom
Collection of Mr and Mrs Hans Sprangers
1928 Harley-Davidson JDH Special
USA
Harley City Collection
1928 Indian Model 401
USA
Arundel Collection

c.1929 Majestic (above)
France
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
DELVE DEEPER: The MotoThe Majestic, the greatest of all French motorcycle designs
1929 Opel Motoclub Neander
Germany
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum

1929 Ariel Model F (above)
United Kingdom
Collection of Bob Muss, Australia
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #4 Ariel Model F
1929 Norton CS1
United Kingdom
Collection of John Richardson

1929 Douglas DT/5 Speedway (above)
USA
Private Collection, Sydney
DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers
1931 Dresch Monobloc
France
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
1933 Harley-Davidson DAH
USA
Harley City Collection

1934 Crocker Speedway (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
DELVE DEEPER: The Crocker motorcycles: Built for speed
DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers
1935 Brough Superior 11-50
United Kingdom
The Peter and Frances Bender Collection
1936 Koehler-Escoffier Motoball Special
France
Collection: Bobby Hass and Hass Moto Museum

1938 Crocker (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
DELVE DEEPER: The Crocker motorcycles: Built for speed
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #3 Crocker
1938 Triumph Speed Twin
United Kingdom
Image courtesy: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

1940 Indian Chief with Sidecar (above)
USA
Arundel Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger

1942 Socovel Electric (above)
Belgium
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
DELVE DEEPER: The Socovel Electric — the world’s first mass-produced electric motorcycle
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #6 Socovel Electric
1943 Harley-Davidson FL
USA
Kendal Maroney Collection (KMC)

1948 Moto Guzzi Super Alce (above)
Italy
Calleja Collection, Melbourne
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger

1949 Imme R100 (above)
West Germany
Collection: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #8 Imme R100
1949 MV Agusta 125 TEL Turismo
Italy
Collection of Robert Marro

c.1949–50 Huck Fynn JAP Speedway (above)
United Kingdom
Tony Webb Speedway Collection
DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers

1951 Vincent Black Lightning (above)
United Kingdom
The Peter and Frances Bender Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Vincent Black Lightning: The fastest production motorcycle for its time
1954 Gnome et Rhône LC531
France
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
1955 Puch SGS
Austria
Collection: Bobby Hass and Haas Moto Museum

1956 Tilbrook Prototype (above)
Australia
Collection of Dennis Martin, Owner – Paul Martin
DELVE DEEPER: The last Australian Tilbrook motorcycle

1957 Aermacchi Chimera (above)
Italy
Courtesy: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #7 Aermacchi Chimera

1958 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL (above)
USA
Calleja Collection, Melbourne
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #10 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL
1958 Matchless Factory Trials
United Kingdom
Courtesy: Jonathan Munn / Classic Style Motorcycles, Australia

1960 Vespa 150GS (above)
Italy
Collection: Vespa House and Frank Tonon

1960 Honda C102 Super Cub (above)
Japan
Solomon R Guggenheim, New York

1961 Triumph Bonneville (above)
United Kingdom
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
DELVE DEEPER: Triumph Bonneville: A stylish classic

1963 BSA Gold Star Catalina (above)
United Kingdom
Michael Reilly Collection, Brisbane
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #9 BSA Gold Star Catalina

1966 Suzuki T20 250 Hustler (above)
Japan
Courtesy: Jonathan Munn / Classic Style Motorcycles, Australia
DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride
1967 Husqvarna 250
Sweden
Collection of M and J Daley
1969 Kawasaki Mach lll
Japan
Collection of Andrew Boyes

1969 BSA Rocket 3 (above)
United Kingdom
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #11 BSA Rocket 3

1969 Velocette Sportsman (above)
United Kingdom
Scaysbrook Family Collection
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #11 Velocette Sportsman
1971 Bultaco Sherpa T
Spain
Collection: Mr J and Master T Randel
1972 MV Agusta 750S
Italy
Collection of Robert Marro

1972 Honda CB750 (above)
Japan
Image courtesy: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #11 Honda CB750
1973 Triumph X-75 Hurricane
United Kingdom
The Peter and Frances Bender Collection
1973 Honda Elsinore
Japan
Collection: Mr J and Master T Randel

c.1973 (engine: 1941) Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Chopper (above)
USA
Private Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Chopper: A two-wheeled American icon
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #16 custom motorcycle design
1973 Norton Commando
United Kingdom
Calleja Collection, Melbourne

1974 Ducati 750SS (above)
Italy
Private Collection

1977 Harley-Davidson XR750 (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers
1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR
USA
Collection of Gordon Forrester
1979 Honda Mugen ME 390
Japan
Courtesy: Holden On Tight MX/Off-Road Dakar Dirt Museum
1981 Laverda Jota
Italy
1984 Kawasaki GPZ900R-A1
Japan
1988 Ducati 851 Kit
Italy
Collection of Robert Marro
1990 Suzuki GSX1100 Katana
Japan
Calleja Collection, Melbourne
1991 BMW R80GS
Germany
Calleja Collection, Melbourne
1992 Yamaha V-Max
Japan
Collection of Ruth Belin and Ivan Munro

1994 Britten V1000 (above)
New Zealand
Private Collection, New Zealand
DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #14 Britten V1000
1994 Triumph T309 Speed Triple
United Kingdom
Collection: Jonathan Munn / Classic Style Motorcycles

1994 Ducati M900 Monster (above)
Italy
The RJ Webber Desmo Collection, Gold Coast

1995 Aprilia Moto 6.5 (above)
Italy
Collection: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama USA
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #13 Aprilia Moto 6.5
1996 Ducati 916 SP
Italy
Collection: Robert Marro
2002 Bimota V-Due
Italy
Collection of Robert Marro
2003 Harley Davidson VRSCA V-Rod
USA
Private Collection
2005 KTM Super Duke
Austria
2005 MV Agusta F4 Ago
Italy
Collection of Robert Marro

2006 Segway PT (above)
USA
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #12 Segway 12 SE PT

2009 The Drover’s Dog (above)
Australia
Collection: Joseph Mildren/Deus Ex Machina, Sydney
DELVE DEEPER: Australia’s Deus Ex Machina ‘Drover’s Dog’ is the perfect surf bike

2016 Suzuki Hayabusa (above)
Japan
Collection: Kim Krebs & Greg Watters & Jim Higgins (Black Art Racing)
DELVE DEEPER: Suzuki Hayabusa: The world’s fastest production sportbike
2016 Hazan Black Knight
USA
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum

2016 Bandit9 Eve Mk ll (above)
Vietnam
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #16 custom motorcycle design
2016 KTM Rally 450 Dakar
Austria
Toby Price Collection
2017 Onewheel XR
USA

2018 Rodsmith Corps Léger (above)
USA
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #16 custom motorcycle design
2018 Indian Scout
USA
Collection: Johnny Gee’s Antique Motorcycles

2019 Vespa Elettrica (above)
Italy
DELVE DEEPER: 5 future-focused motorcycles

2019 Tarform Luna Protoype 01 (above)
USA
DELVE DEEPER: 5 future-focused motorcycles

2019 Zooz Concept 01 (above)
USA
DELVE DEEPER: 5 future-focused motorcycles

2019 Fuller Moto 2029 (above)
USA
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
DELVE DEEPER: The Fuller Moto 2029 looks backwards in order to look to the future of customs

2019 CAKE Kalk OR (above)
Sweden
DELVE DEEPER: 5 future-focused motorcycles
2020 Ninebot KickScooter E25
China
2020 Ninebot One S2
China

2020 Savic C-Series (above)
Australia
DELVE DEEPER: The future generation is electric
DELVE DEEPER: 5 future-focused motorcycles
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #15 Savic C-Series
2020 Sur-Ron Light Bee X
China
Collection: A e-Bikes / Sur-Ron Australia
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I really love classic motorcycle I have a Honda cbr 400 converted to cafe racer and it’s been running for 10 years now. I really love the classic look.
Great blog! I love these motorcycles