Roaring Through the Decades: 15 Photos That Capture the Glory of Vintage Motorcycles

Motorcycles have come a long way since their inception in the late 19th century. From Triumphs to Harleys and biker gangs to solo cross-country trips, these modes of transportation have taken riders through it all. Check out these vintage photos of bikes — and their owners — throughout the decades.

1. ‘My Dad in 1972 on His 1970 Triumph Motorcycle’ (1972)

2. Three Female Officers on Their Motorcycles in Los Angeles (1927)

3. Two Men Taking a Ride on a Harley-Davidson in Liège, Belgium (1925)

4. A Man From Ohio Taking His Harley for a Spin (1910s)

5. A Woman on a Panther Motorcycle (1920s)

6. ‘Couple on a Motorcycle Outside of Anderson Photo Service Studio’ (1960)

7. Now That’s a Custom-Built Bike (1981)

8. A Couple on Their Chopper at a Drive-Thru (1970s)

9. Vivian Bales, Who Rode Her Harley-Davidson Across the Country for 78 Days and 5,000 Miles (1929)

10. William Harley and Arthur Davidson, the Founders of Harley-Davidson (1914)

11. A Motorcycle Sidecar Taxi in Baltimore, Maryland (1926)

12. Members of the Harlem Motorcycle Club in New York City (1959)

13. ‘Barefoot Woman on a Harley’ (1940s)

14. Reno, Nevada, Police Motorcycle Officers Richard Thomas Heap, Bill Dean, and Harry Fletcher (1925)

15. ‘My Father on the Motorcycle He Rode Through Europe’ (1961)

More interested in vintage cars?

Take a look at these 11 Photos of Rare Muscle Cars That Sold for Big Money at Auction, or these 15 Classic 1960s Cars That Are Still Incredibly Cool. And if you grew up middle class, you might recognize some of the cars in 10 Middle-Class Cars That Defined the American Family.