In recent times, it feels as though everyone has become obsessed with the 80s. It was a simpler time, long before technology had invaded our lives. The motorcycles from the 80s were anything but safe. While power had gone up considerably, chassis technology lagged behind. The Japanese manufacturers, in particular, were also guilty of pouring all their resources into developing more powerful engines, and the chassis development was pretty much an afterthought. So, if you are longing for one of these icons, you had better be prepared for an altogether different riding experience.Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research and proceed with caution. The motorcycles on this list go from oldest to newest. 1980 BMW R 80 G/S Price Range: $8,000 - $10,000 BMWWhen BMW first came out with the R 80 G/S, it was laughed at for being such an oddball. Most reviewers didn’t really know what to make of it because it was fairly expensive for the time, wasn’t a particularly good street bike, and was too heavy to be a proper dual-sport. This perspective shifted once people saw the G/S compete and eventually win the Paris-Dakar Rally. It may have been heavy, but it could still handle everything North Africa could throw at it. The world’s first real adventure bike had arrived. 1981 Suzuki GSX1100S Katana Price Range: $8,000 - $10,000 Suzuki While the Katana didn’t feature any significant technological advancements, its futuristic design represented a dramatic departure from convention. Its sharp edges that emulate the Katana sword from which it gets its name became something of a staple through the 80s. The semi-faired nature of the bike also served as a precursor to the fully faired machines that would soon follow. 1983 Harley-Davidson XR1000 Price Range: $18,000 - $20,000 Once the curtain finally came down on the dark AMF years, Harley-Davidson was desperate to win back customer confidence. For years, customers had been begging the brand to produce a road-going version of the XR750 race bike, and what better way to win back customers than by building the bike they were asking for. Sadly, the XR1000 was only made in limited numbers and is now – rather ironically – worth even more than an XR750. 1984 Kawasaki Ninja GPz900R Price Range: $8,000 - $10,000 Kawasaki With all of 115 horsepower and a top speed of 150 MPH, the original Ninja was an impressive motorcycle for the time. But that was not what made it iconic. Its brief cameo racing alongside an actual fighter jet in the movie Top Gun is what cemented its place in 80s folklore. It became a symbol of what a fast motorcycle was for over a decade, and brought the Ninja nameplate to the forefront of public consciousness. 1985 Yamaha V-Max Price Range: $4,000 - $6,000 Yamaha In an effort to offer buyers an off-the-shelf drag bike, Yamaha developed the V-Max. It wasn’t just the most powerful cruiser, but with over 140 horsepower, it was the most powerful motorcycle on the road back in 1985. Although it was not the first power cruiser to hit the market, it simply turned everything up to 11. It was an unashamed straight-line monster with about as much corner carving ability as the average freight train, but with this much power, nobody cared. 1985 Suzuki GSX-R750 Price Range: $8,000 - $10,000 Suzuki Instead of simply ramping up the power, Suzuki endeavored to develop a bike that could also handle. Even by modern standards, the original GSX-R750 is pretty light, with a dry weight of just under 400 pounds. This is complemented by an inline-four engine able to produce 100 horsepower. Today, this bike is widely recognized as the first true sport bike that was ready to win races straight from the factory. 1985 Honda Gold Wing GL1200 Price Range: $1,000 - $3,000 Honda While speed certainly began to capture the imagination, Honda innovated in an altogether different direction: comfort. The GL1200 was the very first touring bike that came with a full touring fairing straight from the factory. This proved to be a stroke of genius, as most buyers were simply turning to the aftermarket for such things anyway. This old Gold Wing may not have the same allure as the other bikes on this list, but it was no less significant, topping sales charts through the rest of the decade. 1986 Ducati Paso Price Range: $4,000 - $6,000 Ducati Ducati was a complete mess back in the 80s. The brand seemed to be on the verge of collapse almost all the time, yet was still able to get it right every now and then. Underneath, the Paso was not particularly advanced, or good, for that matter. Its 750cc engine overheated, and it had a Weber carb off of a car for some obscure reason. But this was the first Ducati designed by Massimo Tamburini. It proved to be a turning point for the brand, and while it was not a sales success, it laid the foundation for other models. Eventually culminating in Tamburin’s masterpiece – the 916 – which came out a decade later. 1988 Honda VFR750R (RC30) Price Range: $40,000 - $50,000 Honda A few years prior to the development of the RC30, Honda was forced back to the drawing board when the road-going VF750 suffered cam failures. This was a major setback for a brand with a reputation for unrivaled reliability. The engineers responsible responded in the most “Honda” way possible by completely overengineering the new V4 lump. The whole “chocolate cams” debacle was quickly forgotten, and by the time this homologation special was put into production, it had what was essentially a bulletproof engine to work with. 1989 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 Price Range: $3,000 - $5,000 The fact that this monster and the aforementioned GPz900 were only five years apart serves to underscore just how quickly things were evolving within the motorcycle industry back in the 80s. The Ninja ZX-11 was in another league compared to that bike, and was crowned the fastest motorcycle in the world in 1989 (1990 model above). A crown it would not relinquish for another six years.