Italian | Japanese | USA | Chinese | Helmets

Top Italian Motorcycle Brands

#1. Ducati

The Brand: Ducati was founded in 1926, in Bologna, by Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons. The family initially produced radio components out of their factory.

By 1950, Ducati started creating their now-signature motorcycles with collaboration from SIATA. Today, they are one of the most popular motorcycle brands globally, known for their high-performance products.

Need to Know: Ducati’s signature vehicles are known for being a pricey buy. That is due to the craftsmanship that goes into each piece. Each of their motorcycles is entirely handmade.

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#2. Benelli

The Brand: Benelli was born in 1911 in the garage of the 6 Benelli brothers. After investment from their mother, Teresa Benelli, the brothers worked repairing and building motorcycle pieces. Over the years, they scaled their operation up, creating engines and their first motorcycle in 1921. Benelli gained greater recognition in their home country after showcasing their vehicles in motorsport circuits.

Need to Know: Today, Benelli is the second oldest Italian motorcycle brand at 110 years old. Chinese Group Qianjiang later purchased the company and revitalized it by combining Italian stylistic choices with consumer marketability.

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#3. Aprilia

The Brand: Aprilia is a brand founded directly following WWII in Noale. Alberto Beggio started his company as a manufacturer of bicycles, quickly scaling up to motorcycles. The company gained more significant popularity after Aprilia motorcycles won motocross championships. The company would later place greater focus on streamlining and improving their vehicles’ racing potential.

Need To Know: Aprilia is home to several superbikes which offer excellent user comfort. Being a comfort-oriented brand, Aprilia receives high ratings in durability and safety reports.

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#4. MV Agusta

The Brand: MV Agusta was founded in 1945 by the family of Count Giovanni Agusta. Who originally founded the company back in 1923 as an aviation company. During the 1950s and 60s, they found greater focus in creating large displacement bikes. The company has seen constant revivals and enjoyed numerous racing wins since its inception.

Need To Know: MV Agusta has experienced a high increase in global sales as of late. This increase is mainly in part to the influence of their new Russian owner, Sardarov.

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#5. Moto Guzzi

The Brand: Moto Guzzi was founded in 1921, initially conceived by a group of aircraft pilots and a mechanic: Carlos Guzzi, Giovanni Ravelli, and Giorgio Parodi. The company first found success with their “HP Normale.” Moto Guzzi established themselves in the market and paved the way for future successful models.

Need To Know: Moto Guzzi is the longest continually running European bike manufacturing company. Their brand’s popularity is due, in part, to their eight world championship winners and 11 wins at the Isle of Man.

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Top Japanese Motorcycle Brands

#1. Yamaha

The Brand: Yamaha’s founding date is July 1, 1955, led by Genichi Kawakami. The first vehicle was the Yamaha YA-1 made in 1955, which was tested extensively and entered into the two most significant race events of the year. Yamaha established credibility by the late 60s with consistent racing wins and would later globalize its production.

Need To Know: As Yamaha grew, they focused efforts on diversifying their products. The cast of vehicles now includes snowmobiles, scooters, and ATVs.

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#2. Kawasaki

The Brand: Kawasaki was founded back in 1878 by Shozo Kawasaki. Initially, as a shipping company. In 1969 three subsidiaries of the company combined to form Kawasaki heavy industries. As Kawasaki Heavy Industries, they produced the Kawasaki K1 the same year. This motorcycle pushed Japanese manufacturing to new heights and solidified Kawasaki as capable of creating quality motorcycles.

Need To Know: Kawasaki is most well known for its Ninja series. Which consistently innovated and pushed the bounds of power within motorcycle technology.

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#3. Honda

The Brand: Created in Hamamatsu in 1948. Honda is known as a powerhouse in the automotive industry and started motorcycle production in 1955. Honda originally began as a small manufacturer in a sea of competitors. They were able to break out of the Japanese market by partnering with an American advertising group.

Need To Know: Honda is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Japan. A title that it has held since its inception in 1955.

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#4. Suzuki

The Brand: Michio Suzuki founded Suzuki as Suzuki Loom Works in 1909. The company saw drastic changes through diversification in 1920: Post-WWII, they created their first motorized bike. The name officially changed to Suzuki Motor Corp in 1954. It began launching cars and motorcycles and in 1963 won the Isle of Man and established a subsidiary in California.

Need To Know: Suzuki vehicles dominated the international racing community in the 1970s, leading to 5 championship wins in one decade. This considerable success led to higher sales and greater possibilities for innovation.

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#5. Bridgestone

The Brand: Bridgestone is a multinational corporation founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi. The motorcycle division was founded in 1952 and ran until 1970. In this period, they created several 50, 90, and 100cc models. Bridgestone, as a company, later acquired American tire company firestone. Together they hold a significant market share in global tire production.

Need To Know: Bridgestone remodeled its motorcycle company into a division that produces tires and motorcycle parts. The source and supply tires to many other manufacturers, including Japan’s big four: Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha

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Top USA Motorcycle Brands

#1. Harley Davidson

The Brand: Harley Davidson was first created in Milwaukee back in 1903 and created by William Harley and Arthur, William, and Walter Davidson. They are one of two American motorcycle makers to survive the Great Depression. The company became more deeply ingrained in American culture through its partnership with the US government during WWII when it manufactured 90,000 motorcycles for the US and its allies.

Need To Know: Harley Davidson, as a brand, popularized the chopper and cruiser model of motorcycles. A style that is highly popular in the US and has reached many countries internationally.

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#2. Indian

The Brand: Indian Motorcycles was founded in 1897 by George Hendee, later joined by Oscar Hedstrom; They created their first motorcycle in 1902, after a successful prototype from the year prior. They built their first racing bike in 1905 with a powerful V twin engine and paved their way into mainstream attention through a series of racing wins. They later supplied the US government with motorcycles during wartime and became one of two motorcycle manufacturing companies to survive the Great Depression.

Need To Know: Indian underwent a series of restructuring and changes but came back in full force after being purchased by Polaris in 2011. Who helped Indian Motorcycles offer new modern vehicles, heavily inspired by their classic designs.

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#3. Zero Motorcycles

The Brand: Zero motorcycles is an American maker of electric motorcycles. They were founded in Santa Cruz by former Nasa Engineer Neal Saiki. The company themselves produces the battery packs used in their vehicles instead of outsourcing. Zero produces electric motorcycles and motorbikes for commercial, military, and police use. They’ve been constant innovators in the electric vehicle circuit and prioritize making smooth and quiet powertrains.

Need To Know: Zero offers consumers a high amount of customization. They offer three different ride modes, which users can change within an app, and sell an array of color kits.

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#4. MSI Defense Solutions

The Brand: MSI defense solutions is a manufacturer for the US military and defense sectors. The operations headquarters is in Mooresville, NC. They produce motorcycles and motocross equipment. MSI Defense also focuses heavily on off-road racing, Nascar, and formula one racing development. Their technology aims to have enhanced ground mobility and unique vehicle design.

Need To Know: MSI defense heavily tests their products to ensure top-rated safety marks. Their vehicles are airdropped and durability-tested in Nevada.

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#5. American Suzuki Motor Corp

The Brand: American Suzuki Motor Corporation was born as a subsidiary of Japanese company Suzuki and created in 1963 in Los Angeles, California. The company would spend years creating automobiles, racing bikes, SUVs, and motorcycles. In 2012, the company would later refocus its brand, stop selling cars, and instead focus its attention on motorcycles, motorbikes, and other unique products.

Need To Know: The American Suzuki Corp has continued to grow their offerings internationally. They provide small, cheap, and efficient vehicles which are speedy and sleek.

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Top Chinese Motorcycle Brands

#1. Zongshen

The Brand: Zuo Zongshen founded Zongshen in 1992. Chongqing is home to the company’s operations. The brand has grown immensely in its 29 years of creation; It now consists of over 50 subsidiaries and has more than 18,000 workers. Currently, they are one of the largest manufacturers in China. Zongshen motorcycle bases itself on excellent manufacturing and leading technology principles, which they apply to all their motorcycles, scooters, and motorbikes.

Need To Know: Zongshen has established factories and marketing offices in countries like Thailand, Brazil, The US, the Philippines, and Nigeria. The brand also outsources its products to other countries and allows them to rebrand them.

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#2. Lifan

The Brand: Lifan was founded in 1992 by Yin Mingshan in Chongqing as a motorcycle repair shop. Lifan would later expand to creating buses in 2003, and in 2009 became China’s fifth-largest motorcycle maker. Lifan continues to impress with their motorcycles in domestic markets. Lifan’s motorbikes have been the winners of the China Road Racing Championship over 15 times. Lifan is constantly searching for ways to innovate and improve its products and offerings. They currently hold over 3,800 patents.

Need To Know: Lifan pushes the bounds of technological advancements. Lifan has its national testing center and an industrial design center.

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#3. Jialing

The Brand: Jialing motors corporation is a Chinese automobile maker founded in Nanchang, whose origins can be traced back to 1947. The company holds a substantial partnership with Japanese automaker Honda. They have created various technologies together, including power products, automobile/motorcycle engines, and motorcycles themselves. This partnership started back in 1981, and it provided mutual benefit for both countries. Honda was able to market themselves in China, and Jialing could use the resources of an established company.

Need To Know: Jialing is a global distributor of general-purpose engines spanning Europe, Japan, Australia, and America.

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#4. Loncin

The Brand: Loncin is a motor company that produces a variety of vehicles and components. The company is based out of Chongqing, China, and is a giant Loncin Holdings Company subsidiary. The company has production in two other Chinese cities beyond Chongqing: Guangdong and Zhejiang. Their product lineup includes motorcycles, ATVs, engines, and vehicle components.

Need To Know: Loncin outsources a number of its motorcycles in Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Russia, and Belarus under various brand names.

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#5. Haojue

The Brand: Haojue is a motorcycle manufacturer based out of China, founded in 1992, owned by Haojue Holdings, which launched a partnership with Japanese auto manufacturer Suzuki in 2002. Haojue has a combined workforce of over 10,000 employees throughout all its subsidiaries. Their motorcycles have spread to over 80 countries throughout the world.

Need To Know: Haojue aims to create comfortable and functional vehicles and has led Chinese national motorcycle sales for 18 consecutive years.

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Top Motorcycle Helmet Brands

#1. AGV

The Brand: AGV is an Italian motorcycle helmet brand founded in 1947 by Gino Amisano in Valenza, Italy. The company initially started by making leather products for motorcycles before beginning production on leather motorcycle helmets. In 1954, they continued their work on helmets, adding more durable materials beyond leather. AGV later began sponsoring notable motorcycle racers, which propelled the brand into popular culture.

Need To Know: AGV makes helmets for a variety of uses. Some include racing, cruising, and off-road helmets. These helmets have several options for materials like carbon fiber and fiberglass.

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#2. Shoei

The Brand: Shoei is a Japanese company that has been producing motorcycle helmets since 1958. The founder, Eitaro Kamata, started making helmets for Japan’s racing sectors in the 60s. Honda noted his constant drive for innovation. Who later adopted Shoei’s helmets as their trademark helmets. Shoei does all of their manufacturing and production in their home country of Japan and ensures consistently high quality through this production decision.

Need To Know: Shoei is known for pushing the bounds of helmet technology. They were the first to create lightweight carbon fiber helmets and create a helmet made with a blend of carbon fiber and kevlar.

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#3. HJC

The Brand: HJC helmets were created back in 1971 in Korea. They exclusively make motorcycle helmets and are known for their affordable prices and innovation. They currently have factories based in both South Korea and Vietnam. HJC’s factories are used as venues to test the capabilities of their helmet technology. HJC has consistently been named the number 1 brand in North America because of its high-quality materials and comfortable to wear.

Need To Know: HJC has its wind tunnel, which allows them to test the aerodynamics of their helmets in-house.

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#4. Shark

The Brand: Shark is a French helmet company. Shark started in Marseille, France, where a group of former professional racers founded the company. Shark designs helmets that provide high levels of safety and impress during safety inspections. Shark, as a company, manufactures 300,000 helmets every year and distributes their helmets in over 60 countries worldwide.

Need To Know: Shark, as a company, are constant innovators within the industry. Over the years, they’ve introduced the first helmet to be made with visible carbon, the first helmet to be both complete and open face, and the first helmet in the world to have both goggles and a mask integrated.

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#5. Arai

The Brand: Arai is a Japanese brand that designs helmets for motorcycles and motorsports. Hirotake Arai founded it, dating back to the early 20th century. In 1950, Arai began manufacturing their motorcycle helmets and scaling their operation to America for the next few years. They successfully recruited an American racer to wear an Arai helmet and continued to spread their operation further.

Need To Know: Arai is one of few companies to feature all handmade products. Skilled technicians from the inner lining handcraft their helmets to the exterior painting.

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