1975 Honda Gold Wing

Country: Japan
Engine: Liquid-cooled, 4-cylinder 4-stroke
Ignition: Battery and coil
Power Rating: 86bhp @7,000rpm
Bore x Stroke: 72 x 61.5mm
Displacement: 999cc
Valves: Single overhead cams, belt-driven
Fuel System:  Four 32mm Keihin CV carburetors
Transmission: Five speed, shaft final drive
Suspension: Front telescopic forks, rear twin shocks
Brakes: Front and rear disc
Weight: 635 lbs
Top Speed: 125mph

With the introduction of the Gold Wing in 1975, Honda set new standards in touring bike design and performance. The flat four motor was silent, smooth and fast and would require minimum maintenance. By current standards this motorcycle looks comparatively small, but at the time it was on of the largest and heaviest bikes on the market. The Gold Wing still sets the standard in luxury touring.

1920 Militor

Country:  USA
Engine: Air-cooled 4-cylinder in-line 4-stroke
Ignition: Magneto
Power Rating: 11hp
Displacement: 1306cc (80ci)
Valves: Inlet over exhaust (F-head)
Fuel System: Single up-draught carburetor
Transmission: Three speed and reverse. Hand shift, shaft drive
Suspension: Front telescopic fork, rear quarter elliptic leaf spring
Brakes: Rear drum only
Weight: 800 lbs.
Top Speed: 35mph

The Militaire, later known as the Militor, was designed for the US Army. A small number of these machines were taken to France in 1918, but with a combined weight of 800lbs they sank badly in the battlefield mud.The wheels are wagon-style and made of wood.

The curious steel loop passing through the front axel is not hub steering, but a form of stabilizer. With many mechanical difficulties, the Militor motorcycle factory closed in 1922.

1915 Iver Johnson

Country: U.S.A.
Engine: Air-cooled V-twin 4-stroke
Ignition: Bosch magneto
Power Rating: 8hp
Bore x Stroke: 45mm x 78mm x2
Displacement: 64ci
Valves: Side
Fuel System: Single carburetor
Transmission: Single speed, epicyclical cluth on crank
Suspension: Front leading link with leaf spring, rigid rear
Brakes: Rear external band
Lighting: Acetylene gas
Top Speed:  45mph

Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Works were located in Fitchburg, Mass. and better known for their firearms than as pioneer motorcycle manufacturers. Production ran from 1907 to 1916, with this V-twin being the final design.

These machines were labeled "Mechanical perfection," where in fact they had many mechanical features, such as the cam operation and clutch, that were unnecessarily complicated.

1952 DKW RT125

Country: Germany
Engine: Air-cooled, single-cylinder, 2-stroke
Ignition: flywheel magneto
Power Rating: 5.6 bhp @4,800 rpm
Bore and Stroke: 52 x 58mm
Displacement: 123cc
Fuel System: Single Bing carbuetors
Transmission: 3-speed
Suspension: Front telescopic fork, rigid rear
Brakes: Front and rear drum
Weight: 150 lb.
Top Speed: 45mph

The classic German DKW RT (Reichstyp: "National Model") 125 has the distinction of being the most copied motorcycle in the world. The power unit, a simple single-cylinder 2-stroke, was the most advanced and efficient design at the time. At the end of WWII the blueprints were made available to the Allies, and the design soon bore such familiar names as BSA Bantam, Harley-Davidson Hummer, Maserati, Soviet Moska and Yamaha YA-1.