The late 1970s was a vibrant era for motorcycle enthusiasts, a period of distinct designs and evolving engineering that captured the spirit of freedom on two wheels. Whether you were cruising city streets or tackling winding country roads, there was a bike for every rider’s aspiration, reflecting a unique moment in automotive history.
Dive into that exciting era with our comprehensive guide. Here, you’ll discover 50 1978 Motorcycle Models, showcasing everything from the reliable BMW to the dynamic Yamaha. Each entry is meticulously organized, providing key details such as Model Name, Engine Type (cc), and Top Speed (km/h), all compiled for you to explore below.
What defined motorcycle design and performance in 1978?
The 1978 model year was a fascinating blend of established classics and emerging trends. While many manufacturers continued to refine air-cooled, four-stroke engines for reliability and power, there was also a growing emphasis on styling and rider comfort. Disc brakes were becoming more common, and designers were starting to explore more aerodynamic fairings, hinting at the performance-focused machines that would dominate the next decade.
Were there any standout advancements in 1978 motorcycle technology?
While 1978 didn’t see a single groundbreaking revolution, it was a year of steady refinement. Manufacturers like Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki were pushing the boundaries of four-cylinder engine performance and reliability, while European brands continued their focus on precision engineering and handling. The introduction of more sophisticated suspension systems and electronic ignition components also contributed to a smoother, more enjoyable riding experience for many models that year.
1978 Motorcycle Models
| Manufacturer | Model Name | Engine Type (cc) | Top Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | CBX1000 | 1,047cc DOHC Inline-Six | 225 |
| Yamaha | XS1100 | 1,101cc DOHC Inline-Four | 215 |
| Suzuki | GS1000E | 997cc DOHC Inline-Four | 218 |
| Kawasaki | Z1-R | 1,015cc DOHC Inline-Four | 215 |
| Honda | GL1000 Gold Wing | 999cc SOHC Flat-Four | 190 |
| Harley-Davidson | FXS Low Rider | 1,207cc OHV V-Twin | 160 |
| BMW | R100RS | 980cc OHV Boxer Twin | 200 |
| Ducati | 900SS Super Sport | 864cc SOHC V-Twin | 215 |
| Moto Guzzi | 850 Le Mans I | 844cc OHV V-Twin | 205 |
| Yamaha | RD400E | 399cc Two-Stroke Parallel-Twin | 175 |
| Honda | CX500 | 497cc OHV V-Twin | 170 |
| Kawasaki | KZ650B | 652cc DOHC Inline-Four | 190 |
| Suzuki | GS750E | 748cc DOHC Inline-Four | 200 |
| Yamaha | SR500 | 499cc SOHC Single-Cylinder | 150 |
| Harley-Davidson | XLCR 1000 Cafe Racer | 997cc OHV V-Twin | 180 |
| Triumph | T140E Bonneville | 744cc OHV Parallel-Twin | 175 |
| Laverda | Jota 1000 | 981cc DOHC Inline-Triple | 230 |
| Honda | CB750K | 749cc SOHC Inline-Four | 195 |
| Yamaha | XT500 | 499cc SOHC Single-Cylinder | 145 |
| Suzuki | GT250 X7 | 247cc Two-Stroke Parallel-Twin | 160 |
| Kawasaki | KH400 | 400cc Two-Stroke Inline-Triple | 170 |
| Harley-Davidson | FLH-1200 Electra Glide 75th Anniversary | 1,207cc OHV V-Twin | 150 |
| Honda | CB400T Hawk I | 395cc SOHC Parallel-Twin | 165 |
| Suzuki | GS550E | 549cc DOHC Inline-Four | 180 |
| Yamaha | XS650 Special | 653cc SOHC Parallel-Twin | 170 |
| BMW | R80/7 | 797cc OHV Boxer Twin | 175 |
| Honda | CR250R Elsinore | 248cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 110 |
| Yamaha | YZ250E | 246cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 115 |
| Suzuki | RM250C | 246cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 110 |
| Bultaco | Sherpa T 350 | 326cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 80 |
| Honda | XL250S | 249cc SOHC Single-Cylinder | 120 |
| Kawasaki | KZ1000 A2 | 1,015cc DOHC Inline-Four | 210 |
| Moto Guzzi | V50 | 490cc OHV V-Twin | 160 |
| Ducati | 900SD Darmah | 864cc SOHC V-Twin | 200 |
| Honda | CB750A Hondamatic | 749cc SOHC Inline-Four | 160 |
| Suzuki | PE250 | 246cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 105 |
| Husqvarna | CR250 | 245cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 115 |
| Montesa | Cota 348 | 306cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 85 |
| Laverda | 500 Alpino | 497cc DOHC Parallel-Twin | 180 |
| BMW | R60/7 | 599cc OHV Boxer Twin | 160 |
| Suzuki | DR370 | 369cc SOHC Single-Cylinder | 130 |
| Yamaha | DT175E | 171cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 115 |
| Kawasaki | KE175 | 174cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 110 |
| Honda | Z50A Mini Trail | 49cc SOHC Single-Cylinder | 45 |
| Ossa | 250 Super Pioneer | 244cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 110 |
| Maico | 400 Magnum | 386cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 120 |
| Can-Am | Qualifier 250 | 247cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 120 |
| Bultaco | Pursang 250 | 244cc Two-Stroke Single-Cylinder | 115 |
| Triumph | TR7V Tiger | 744cc OHV Parallel-Twin | 170 |
| Suzuki | GS400X | 398cc DOHC Parallel-Twin | 160 |
Images and Descriptions
Honda
An engineering masterpiece, the CBX shocked the world with its massive, buttery-smooth six-cylinder engine and incredible performance.
Yamaha
Yamaha’s king of horsepower, a shaft-driven muscle bike known for its monstrous torque and drag-strip dominating acceleration.
Suzuki
Often hailed as the best all-around superbike of the era, it blended a powerful engine with a remarkably stable and confidence-inspiring chassis.
Kawasaki
A factory café racer with stunning, angular styling, a bikini fairing, and the legendary performance of the Z1 engine. A true style icon.
Honda
The original, unfaired Gold Wing that established the model’s reputation for smoothness, reliability, and long-distance comfort, creating the modern touring category.
Harley-Davidson
The definitive factory custom, its low-slung, drag-bike inspired looks made it an instant hit and one of Harley’s most iconic models.
BMW
A revolutionary sport-tourer that was the first production motorcycle to feature a full, wind-tunnel-designed, frame-mounted fairing.
Ducati
A pure, uncompromising Italian sports machine with desmodromic valves, incredible handling, and minimalist café racer beauty.
Moto Guzzi
The quintessential Italian café racer, famed for its longitudinal V-twin engine, shaft drive, and aggressive, iconic styling.
Yamaha
The ‘giant killer’ of the streets, this lightweight and nimble two-stroke was famous for its explosive powerband and thrilling ride.
Honda
A quirky and innovative bike with a liquid-cooled, longitudinally-mounted V-twin and shaft drive, earning it the nickname ‘Plastic Maggot’.
Kawasaki
Widely considered one of the best-handling and most balanced Japanese bikes of its time, a perfect middleweight package.
Suzuki
The bike that proved Suzuki could build world-class four-strokes, it was praised for its reliability, smooth power, and excellent handling.
Yamaha
A simple, big-bore ‘thumper’ that became a cult classic, beloved for its raw character and as a popular base for café racer customs.
Harley-Davidson
Willie G. Davidson’s daring, all-black factory café racer. A commercial flop in its day but now a highly sought-after and valuable collector’s item.
Triumph
The legendary British twin in its 750cc form, fighting to maintain its charm and identity against a wave of Japanese competitors.
Laverda
An exotic Italian superbike with a thunderous 180-degree crank triple, it was one of the fastest and most raw production motorcycles in the world.
Honda
The evolution of the revolutionary bike that started it all, the CB750K was the quintessential Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM) of the 70s.
Yamaha
A legendary dual-sport motorcycle, its rugged simplicity and torque-rich single-cylinder engine made it a dominant force in early rally raids like the Paris-Dakar.
Suzuki
A pocket rocket for the street, this lightweight two-stroke was famously quick for its size, offering near-superbike acceleration to young riders.
Kawasaki
The middleweight entry in Kawasaki’s iconic line of smoky, high-revving two-stroke triples, known for its unique sound and thrilling power delivery.
Harley-Davidson
The classic ‘dresser’ celebrating H-D’s 75th year. Decked out in a special black and gold paint scheme, it was the king of the open road for American touring.
Honda
A modern and efficient commuter that replaced Honda’s older 360 twin, featuring Comstar wheels and a solid, reliable engine.
Suzuki
A scaled-down version of the superb GS750, it offered a fantastic balance of performance, handling, and value in the middleweight class.
Yamaha
Yamaha’s brilliant take on the classic British twin, the ‘Special’ version pioneered the factory ‘custom’ cruiser look with pullback bars and a teardrop tank.
BMW
A popular and very capable mid-sized tourer from BMW, prized for its legendary smoothness, reliability, and comfortable riding position.
Honda
A dominant force in motocross, the red ‘R’ model Elsinore was a race-ready machine known for its powerful engine and long-travel suspension.
Yamaha
Yamaha’s top-tier motocross weapon, featuring the innovative monoshock rear suspension that gave it a significant advantage on rough tracks.
Suzuki
A highly competitive motocross bike, the RM was known for its sharp handling and potent two-stroke engine, a favorite of racers everywhere.
Bultaco
The Spanish legend that dominated the world of motorcycle trials, prized for its light weight, agility, and tractable low-end power.
Honda
An innovative dual-sport bike notable for its unique 23-inch front wheel, designed to roll over obstacles on the trail more easily.
Kawasaki
The evolution of the original Z1, this was the standard-bearer for Japanese superbikes, famous as the police bike in the TV show ‘CHiPs’.
Moto Guzzi
A smaller, lighter, and more agile version of the classic Guzzi V-twin, designed to compete in the popular European middleweight market.
Ducati
A more practical and comfortable sport-touring version of the 900SS, featuring an electric start and softer ergonomics without losing its Italian soul.
Honda
A unique motorcycle featuring a two-speed semi-automatic transmission with a torque converter, aimed at new riders or those who disliked shifting.
Suzuki
A purpose-built enduro machine, the PE was a reliable and competitive choice for trail riding and grueling long-distance off-road races.
Husqvarna
The Swedish brand was a dominant force in off-road racing, and the CR250 was a top-level motocross bike known for its quality and handling.
Montesa
A premier trials motorcycle from Spain and a major competitor to Bultaco, the Cota was renowned for its balance and robust engine.
Laverda
A nimble and high-revving middleweight twin from the exotic Italian brand, offering a taste of Laverda performance in a smaller package.
BMW
The entry-level model in BMW’s boxer lineup, offering legendary smoothness and quality build for riders who prioritized reliability over outright speed.
Suzuki
Suzuki’s first four-stroke single-cylinder dual-sport bike, a simple and torquey machine designed for both street and trail use.
Yamaha
A hugely popular and versatile small-bore dual-sport, perfect for beginners, trail riding, or as a lightweight commuter bike.
Kawasaki
A solid and reliable two-stroke dual-sport from Kawasaki, equipped with a rotary valve engine that provided good low-end torque for trail use.
Honda
The iconic ‘Monkey’ bike, a tiny and beloved machine that introduced countless kids and adults to the joy of motorcycling.
Ossa
A well-regarded Spanish enduro motorcycle known for its strong-pulling engine and capable off-road performance.
Maico
A fearsome German motocross machine, famous for its incredible suspension travel and powerful engine, a bike for serious racers.
Can-Am
A Canadian-built enduro bike with a potent Rotax rotary-valve engine, it was a competitive machine in off-road events like the ISDT.
Bultaco
The legendary Spanish motocross bike, the Pursang was a beautiful and potent machine that was a common sight on MX tracks worldwide.
Triumph
The single-carburetor version of the Bonneville, offering a slightly different character with simpler tuning and strong low-end torque.
Suzuki
Suzuki’s reliable and capable four-stroke twin, a direct competitor to the Honda Hawk and a popular choice for sensible commuting.
