Harley Davidson WLA
The Harley “Liberator” that helped win WWII. Introduced in 1941, these low-slung flathead bikes weren’t fast, strong, light or particularly efficient, but they were basically indestructible and you could wrench on them with basic tools, almost guaranteeing global dominance.
Indian Scout
One of the earliest of all classic cycles, the Scout was strong, sleek, reliable and comfortable for a ride in the 1920s, especially considering the lack of paved roads at the time. When Burt Munro set landspeed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the 60’s, he did it on the back of a modified Scout.