The following feature on the 10 most significant motorcycles of the last 50 years first appeared in the March issue of Rider as part of our new “Rider Rewind” feature, a monthly tribute to various aspects of either motorcycling history or the 50-year history of the magazine, which was founded in 1974.

During Rider?s 50?year history, we?ve announced, featured, tested, and toured on thousands of motorcycles. We?ve covered a wide spectrum that includes pretty much anything with a license plate: cruisers, tourers (sport/luxury/traditional), sportbikes, standards, adventure bikes, dual?sports, cafe racers, classics, scooters, trikes, electric bikes, and some that defy easy categorization. Here are 10 significant motorcycles that changed the course of two-wheeled history.
1. 1975 Honda GL1000 Gold Wing

We?ve got a soft spot for the Gold Wing because it was introduced soon after Rider got started. With its driveshaft and liquid?cooled engine, the Wing has evolved over the past 49 years from a naked high?performance machine to a luxury tourer, from four cylinders to six, and from a displacement of 1,000cc to 1,833cc. Its first dresser version all but killed the aftermarket for fairings and saddlebags, and later versions introduced the first motorcycle airbag and were available with Honda?s automatic Dual Clutch Transmission.

Honda Gold Wing Timeline: 1972-2018

2. 1981 BMW R 80 G/S

The R 80 G/S was the first motorcycle that delivered on?road c...