Heritage On Two Wheels
What makes a motorcycle brand iconic? It goes beyond the logo or the engine specs to what riders remember. Across states and decades, American companies have pushed the throttle on innovation and design. Names have become symbols, and machines have become myths. Here are 20 American motorcycle brands that earned lasting respect and serious street cred.
1. Harley-Davidson
Roaring onto the scene in 1903, Harley-Davidson built legends. Think V-twins, leather jackets, and long highway stretches. You've seen the bar-and-shield logo tattooed more than some family crests. Its bikes were used in both World Wars—earning loyalty beyond the open road.
2. Indian Motorcycle
Before Harley, there was Indian. Founded in 1901, it conquered early races and warzones alike. Picture daredevils racing board tracks in Springfield—this brand combined speed and style. In 1914, Indian introduced electric lighting and starter systems and proved performance could evolve without ditching the classic American soul.
3. Buell Motorcycle Company
Built from Erik Buell's racing obsession, this 1983-born company delivered sportbikes with wild layouts like fuel in the frame and brakes on the rim. They were designed for tight corners and American roads, where traditional sportbikes often felt too stiff and foreign.
4. Zero Motorcycles
Batteries replaced pistons, but the thrill stayed constant. Zero launched in 2006 and rewrote performance rules for the electric era. Their bikes feel like stealth jets—torque-heavy, whisper-quiet. Want near-instant 0–60 acceleration with no clutch and no fuel stops? That's Zero's calling card.
5. Victory Motorcycles
Launched in 1997 by Polaris to rival Harley, Victory dared to modernize the American cruiser. With powerful Freedom V-twins and progressive tech, it screamed forward-thinking. The Vision Tour model once challenged Gold Wings in comfort, which marked the brand's short-lived but confident leap into luxury touring.
6. Erik Buell Racing (EBR)
From the ashes of Buell rose EBR in 2009. Focused on racetrack dominance, these beasts pushed boundaries with 185-hp engines and aerospace engineering. Despite racing success, it couldn't sustain sales. By 2015, EBR filed for bankruptcy and became another innovative American story that burned too fast.
EBR 1190RX - Erik Buell Racing | On Two Wheels by Motorcyclist Magazine
7. Curtiss Motorcycles
This Alabama brand, born as Confederate in 1991, made art from aluminum and rage. Their motorcycles? Brutal, futuristic sculptures with names like Hellcat and Wraith. Rebranding as Curtiss in 2018, it pivoted to a fully electric model, a move that split fans.
Curtiss One Platform Architecture by Curtiss Motorcycle Co.
8. Crocker Motorcycles
Crocker bikes were rare beasts—handbuilt in 1930s Los Angeles with brawny V-twins that outran Harleys and Indians. Only about 100 were made. Their sand-cast cases and oversized engines gave them an edge on dirt and drag strips long before horsepower bragging became an industry standard.
9. Henderson Motorcycle
Dominating roads between 1912 and 1931, Henderson built inline-four beasts that thrilled police and long-distance record-setters. These bikes topped 100 mph before WWII. In 1929, they introduced a 28-hp model with a five-bearing crankshaft—rare then, even in cars. That's engineering you don't hear about often.
10. Excelsior-Henderson
Revived in 1993, Excelsior-Henderson channeled a 1920s icon into its Super X cruiser. This 1386cc machine came with a custom-designed V-twin engine and belt drive. Just 1,952 units were built before the factory shut in 2001, making the Super X cruiser a limited-production oddity.
Thomas Vogt from Paderborn, Deutschland on Wikimedia
11. Rokon
Rokon's two-wheel-drive motorcycles have been climbing hills since 1963 and offer functionality over flash. Their gear-reduction design delivers unstoppable torque. One model, the Trail-Breaker, can tow up to 2,000 pounds. That's some power you wouldn't expect from a bike that looks like it belongs in a survivalist's garage.
12. Janus Motorcycles
Built in Indiana starting in 2011, Janus specializes in handmade, small-displacement machines. The Halcyon 450 uses a long-stroke engine paired with disc brakes and exposed springs. Many components are U.S.-sourced, but the engine is imported from China.
Janus Halcyon 450 First Year In-Depth Review by AZ Geek
13. Arch Motorcycle
The Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger-founded Arch produces precision machines like the KRGT-1. Each bike is hand-assembled with over 200 custom parts. The S&S V-twin engine is mated to a steel chassis with an aluminum subframe. Production is capped annually, and that enhances both rarity and resale value.
ARCH KRGT 1 on-board review by The Bike Insurer
14. Lightning Motorcycles
Lightning launched in California and took the electric crown early. The LS-218 could hit 218 mph and a quarter-mile in approximately 10 seconds. Unlike competitors, it offered race-level performance straight off the dealership floor. The LS-218 still holds the title today.
Daniel Hartwig from San Mateo, CA, USA on Wikimedia
15. Boss Hoss Cycles
Founded in 1990, Boss Hoss builds motorcycles powered by Chevrolet V8 engines—yes, actual car engines. These monsters exceed 400 horsepower and tip the scale over 1,100 pounds. One even hauled a camper trailer. Call it absurd or brilliant—either way, it’s unmistakably American excess.
16. Big Dog Motorcycles
Big Dog was founded in Wichita, Kansas, and cranked out over 30,000 choppers between 1994 and 2011. The K-9 featured a 117-inch S&S engine and a 300mm rear tire. Most were hand-assembled to order, which gave buyers some freedom in customizing paint and components.
17. American IronHorse
Rising in 1995 from Fort Worth, this brand blended custom style with mass production. At its peak, it was the second-largest custom builder in the U.S., right behind Big Dog. The Texas Chopper came with a 280mm rear tire and a stretched rake built to intimidate.
Frank Schwichtenberg on Wikimedia
18. Titan Motorcycle Company
Arizona's Titan kicked off in 1995 with factory-built choppers that skirted long waitlists. Their Roadrunner model combined custom aesthetics with dealership convenience. But expansion came too fast. By 2001, it filed for bankruptcy. That made original Titans oddly collectible—and often spotted in vintage bike auctions.
Titan motorcycle by John Brown
19. LiveWire (by Harley-Davidson)
LiveWire launched as Harley's electric experiment in 2019 and became its own brand by 2021. It’s LiveWire ONE flaunts 0–60 in three seconds and fast-charging in under an hour. Riders praised its regenerative braking and balanced frame geometry—a quiet revolution in Harley’s story arc.
20. Cleveland CycleWerks
Born in 2009, Cleveland CycleWerks aimed to make riding affordable. Their minimalist bobber, Heist, has a rigid frame and turned heads. They've since embraced EVs with the Falcon series, which includes a regenerative braking system and modular battery packs. These are rare features at the entry-level price point.
