10 British Motorcycles That Still Define Character
Motorcycles with character are dwindling in today’s age of technological overload and electric powertrains. Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle are the obvious no-brainer choices that abide by a character-before-performance theme. But British motorcycles are the lesser-appreciated bunch that also offer a wholesome lineup of character-rich bikes, especially in the old-school and neo-retro categories. Beyond the current Triumph lineup, this list also includes a few rare and forgotten classic British bikes from Vincent Motorcycles, Brough Superior, BSA, and Norton.
This list is organized from the oldest to the newest British motorcycles by production year.
Vincent Black Shadow
Production Years: 1948–1955
The Vincent Black Shadow remains one of the most influential classic British motorcycles ever made. It was performance-grade for its time. The Black Shadow is powered by an air-cooled 998 cc fifty-degree V-twin engine that produces 55 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheel through a four-speed manual and a final chain drive.
Underpinning this classic roadster is a Brazed lug duplex tubular cradle frame. It is suspended on Vincent Girdraulic forks up front and a swingarm-mounted cantilever system at the rear. The front brakes comprise twin 178 mm drums, and the rear has a single 180 mm drum. Performance was its strong suit, and that is what makes the Vincent Black Shadow an iconic motorcycle.
Norton 961 Commando
Production Years: 2010–2025
This British roadster stands out with its timeless, exotic design. The Norton 961 Commando evokes the marque’s identity from before its recent transition. This hand-built British motorcycle is powered by a drama-inducing 961 cc air/oil-cooled parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree crank angle. This engine is properly mechanical with a pushrod and a hydraulic lifter. It produces 80 horsepower and 65 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a five-speed manual gearbox with a final chain drive.
The spirited mill sits in a tubular steel frame with an integral oil tank to shave weight and help lower the center of gravity. It is further suspended on top-spec hardware comprising 43 mm Ohlins inverted forks with full adjustability. The rear gets Ohlins reservoir-style twin shocks with adjustable ride height, preload, and rebound. Braking duties are courtesy of twin 320 mm Brembo fully-floating high-carbon stainless steel discs coupled to four-piston Brembo radially mounted calipers, topped with a Brembo 220 mm rear disc coupled to a two-piston caliper.
Brough Superior SS100
Production Years: 2015–Present
This high-performance luxury motorcycle is often called the “Rolls-Royce of motorcycles.” The Brough Superior SS100 is a 90th anniversary tribute to the most famous Brough Superior model. It is powered by a unique 88-degree V-twin with four valves per cylinder and a DOHC setup. This 997 cc liquid-cooled mill produces 102 horsepower and 64 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a six-speed manual gearbox.
A machined titanium main frame and subframe underpin this exotic British motorcycle. This chassis is suspended on Fior-type aluminum casting front forks with twin articulated triangular links and a preload- and rebound-adjustable monoshock. The rear suspension setup comprises a cast aluminum swingarm pivoting in the engine crankcases, with a monoshock adjustable for preload and rebound damping.
Triumph Bonneville T120
Production Years: 2016–Present
The Triumph Bonneville T120 blends power, style, and thrill in equal measure. This classic-vibing roadster is powered by a seasoned 1,200 cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine producing 79 horsepower and 77.4 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox and a final chain drive send power to the rear wheel.
Under the timeless and old-school design of the T120 sits a surprisingly nimble chassis and suspension combo. It gets a tubular steel frame, suspended on KYB 41 mm conventional forks up front and KYB twin shocks with preload adjustability at the rear. Braking duties are courtesy of twin 310 mm fixed discs coupled to Brembo two-piston floating calipers and a single 255 mm fixed rear disc coupled to a Nissin two-piston floating caliper.
Triumph Speedmaster
Production Years: 2018–Present
This unique British cruiser is built in the image of a roadster. It fuses mile-munching comfort and capabilities with the nimbleness and sportiness of a spirited roadster. The Speedmaster is powered by a seasoned 1,200 cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine. It produces 77 horsepower and 78.18 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheel through a six-speed manual gearbox and a final chain drive.
A tubular steel main frame supports an extended twin-sided swingarm, adding to its stretched, low-slung stance. It is suspended on Showa 47 mm traditional forks up front and a KYB monoshock with linkage at the rear. Braking duties are courtesy of twin 310 mm fixed discs coupled to two-piston floating Brembo calipers and a single 255 mm rear disc coupled to a Nissin single-piston caliper. The comfort quotient is top-spec, with the rider sitting relaxed and upright. There is ample space and comfort for the pillion too.
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS
Production Years: 2021–Present
This is Triumph’s ultimate formula for a hooliganistic streetfighter with attitude. The Speed Triple has a dedicated fan base for its iconic looks. Furthermore, its engaging dynamics and grin-worthy performance are to die for. The Speed Triple 1200 RS is the epitome of British roadster performance. It is powered by a 1,160 cc liquid-cooled inline-three mill that produces 180.5 horsepower and 94.4 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a six-speed manual and a final chain drive.
The 1200 RS sits on a lightweight aluminum twin-spar chassis, paired with a bolt-on aluminum rear subframe. It is suspended on top-spec suspension: Ohlins 43 mm inverted forks with full adjustability and an Ohlins monoshock with linkage. Both ends enjoy electronic compression and rebound damping. Braking duties are taken care of by Brembo Stylema hardware, and this streetfighter gets super sticky Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3 tires.
Norton V4 SV
Production Years: 2022–2025
Norton is currently going through a major transition, and we are truly excited about its bleeding-edge lineup. But credit where it’s due, the outgoing Norton models beautifully fused modern classic charm with grin-worthy performance and dynamics. The Norton V4 SV sportbike is a prime example. A ferocious 1,200 cc V4 engine powers it. This liquid-cooled mill produces 185 horsepower at 12,500 RPM and 92.1 pound-feet of torque at 9,000 RPM.
Power is sent to the rear wheel via a six-speed manual gearbox coupled to a chain drive. This Ducati rival gets sophisticated underpinnings to complement its screaming V4. It sits on a lightweight aluminum tubular chassis designed with aerospace-grade precision. The frame is suspended using Ohlins NIX30 front forks with full adjustability. The rear also gets top-spec Ohlins TTXGP modified to offer a bespoke, fully adjustable setup on this Norton. Brembo monobloc calipers handle braking.
BSA Gold Star 650
Production Years: 2022–Present
This retro-vibing neo-retro roadster recreates the original Gold Star’s charisma with modern components. The BSA Gold Star 650 is powered by one of the largest modern-day single-cylinder engines. Its 652 cc liquid-cooled single produces 45 horsepower and 40.5 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a five-speed manual gearbox and a final chain drive.
This roadster sits on a tubular steel dual-cradle chassis built for sturdiness. It is suspended on 41 mm telescopic forks up front and dual rear shocks with five-speed preload adjustability. Single discs at both ends, coupled to Brembo calipers, handle braking. This torquey roadster looks gorgeous with its classic 1960s styling and cool paint options. If only BSA would start selling the Gold Star 650 sooner in the US, we would be grateful.
Triumph Scrambler 900
Production Years: 2022–Present
This Triumph fuses rugged off-roading appeal with gorgeous classic design cues. The Scrambler 900 hits the right sweet spot between affordable and flagship scramblers. Its iconic visual appeal comes from a custom upswept two-into-two exhaust system straight from the factory. A peppy 900 cc parallel-twin engine powers the Scrambler 900. This liquid-cooled mill produces 64.1 horsepower and 59 pound-feet of torque.
Adding to its durability and rugged appeal is a tubular steel cradle frame coupled to a twin-sided aluminum swingarm. This combination helps balance rigidity with lower unsprung mass. The chassis is suspended on durable springs: Showa 43 mm inverted forks up front and Showa twin shocks with adjustable preload at the rear.
Triumph Rocket 3 Storm R
Production Years: 2024–Present
This is a beastly motorcycle that frankly sends chills down one’s spine. The Rocket 3 Storm R is so powerful and huge that it creates a whole new segment of muscle cruiser bikes. Despite its sophisticated car-like engine, top-spec hardware, and loaded technology, Triumph still manages to fuse a lavish amount of old-school drama into the mix. It has a unique visual identity, with distinctive features like its dual-pot headlamp design, chunky rear tire, and minimal rear section, with the tail ending near the rear wheel’s hub.
Powering this sporty roadster is a humongous 2,458 cc inline-three liquid-cooled engine. It produces 180 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. Power goes to the rear wheel through a heavy-duty six-speed manual gearbox and a final drive shaft system to handle its insane torque. The chassis is heavy-duty with a full aluminum main frame and a single-sided cast aluminum sub-frame. It is suspended on Showa’s top-spec suspension. Top-shelf Brembo hardware handles braking.
Sources: Triumph Motorcycles, BSA Motorcycles, Norton Motorcycles, and Brough Superior
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