Retro classics are a part of the motorcycle industry we’ve kept a close eye on since the founding of this magazine in the summer of 2005.
Over the years we’ve featured new model profiles of many of the big hitters like the myriad iterations of the Triumph Bonnevilles, Scramblers, Thruxtons and more, along with Royal Enfield Bullets, Moto Guzzi V7s and a host of retro models from other manufacturers.
Triumph started with just one model, the Bonneville, when their modern version debuted at the Munich Motorcyle Show in September of 2000. Today Triumph builds a whole line of retros, so many, in fact, that they form their own category: Modern Classics. Ten models fill out the list, some with even further trim levels and special versions. The Classics have been such a hit that it is rumored that they make up half of motorcycle sales for Triumph.
We’ve also featured the recent debut of the Royal Enfield 650 twins, the INT650 and the Continental GT. We’re delighted to see the interest that is still growing in them today.
Our contributors and readers love them. MC contributor Joe Berk and friend Joe Gresh took a trip from California south to Baja, Mexico, aboard a Bullet and an INT650 last summer. Berk came home ready to buy a twin, and recently purchased a bright orange INT650 of his own. Heck, I’d thought about buying one myself, but I ran into a stellar deal on a 2008 Triumph Bonneville Black (another story for another day).
Reader and restorer Don Smith, whose lovely 1965 Ducati Mach 1 graced the July/August 2020 cover of Motorcycle Classics, recently bought an INT650 also, and he is thoroughly enjoying it. At 81 years of age, Don still has some 20 motorcycles. While his trips are a bit shorter than they used to be, he still gets out for a motorcycle ride two or three times a week. Keep on riding, Don!
Cheers,
Landon
