Author Description

Speed and handling, combined with sleek design, have been the dream of avid motorcyclists since the first bike took to the road some 125 years ago. Photographer Steve Cote takes enthusiasts on a road trip through a year of classic bikes. Classic and Vintage Motorcycles brings you the groundbreaking models that would be the highlight of any collection. Motorcycles featured include: Laverda Jota, first production bike to exceed 140 mph Yamaha RD350, winner of the 1968 Daytona 200 Norton Commando, great-handling American hill climber Triumph Bonneville, iconic sport bike of the 1960s Honda 750 Hondamatic, unique two-speed automatic Triumph Trophy TR5T Trail 500, country road explorer Suzuki GS1000s, styled after Wes Cooly s winning Yoshimura Suzuki race bike Ducati single,ranging from 98cc to 450cc made in versions for road, scrambler and off-road riding Ducati 750 Super Sport, first twin design to use the Desmodromic valve train, only 88 came to America Ducati Paso 750, delivered excellent handling with low-profile 16-inch wheels and Olin rear suspension Yamaha R1 350, two-stroke, twin-cylinder, piston-port design made 36hp, so the R1 was actually faster than many 650s of the day NSU Max, engineering ahead of its time, an OHC, air-cooled single pumped out 18hp to reach a top speed of 78 mph