Everyone is aware that Harley makes some of the largest, most unique, and chrome-plated motorcycles available today. Since 1903, Harley Davidson has set the bar for cruisers and tough traveling vehicles, but models like the Livewire show that the company is still ahead of the curve.

It is undeniable that it is America's oldest and most profitable motorcycle manufacturer. If the products have been caught in an engineering rut and have frequently fallen behind in terms of technology, this is slowly changing. The Livewire electric motorcycle surprised the motorcycle world, and Pan America has recently signaled a new direction and intent by H-D management to address the problem of an aging customer base for its traditional products, as well as the realization that it needs to diversify to survive. The fact that the Pan America adventure bike was so excellent right out of the box demonstrates that the grand old man of American motorcycling is more than heavy, chrome-laden cruisers.

Founded: 1903 by William S. Harley, Arthur Davidson, Walter Davidson, William A. Davidson

Website: https://www.harley-davidson.com/

It would be simple to dismiss Arch as yet another celebrity vanity project, but co-founder Keanu Reeves has shown since the company was founded in 2011 that his passion is genuine, and the motorcycles he and Gard Hollinger have created are impressive works of American engineering. When Reeves asked Hollinger, an established custom builder, to modify the actor's Harley-Davidson, the company's roots were established. Reeves was so enthused by the construction that he demanded it be put into production for sale to individual customers who shared their aesthetic values. 'A production custom motorcycle you can ride,' Reeves told Hollinger when they were developing the first ARCH model. Design, fit, and finish had to be first-rate, and it had to ride as well as it appeared while retaining as much Americana as possible.

The KRGT-1, the first model, was characterized as an American performance cruiser. It possessed all of the typical characteristics of an American motorcycle, such as a large displacement V-twin engine and cruiser ergonomics, but with the performance and handling of a sports bike. It appears to be an impossible job, but careful design, manufacturing as many parts as possible to their own specifications, and using top-shelf proprietary parts from Öhlins, S&S, BST carbon wheels, and Yoshimura exhausts resulted in a truly unique American motorcycle.

Arch has transcended the fame of its co-owner to become a respected brand in its own right, thanks to elegant and innovative design, precision engineering, and a hand-built process, all while working closely with the client.

Founded: 2011 by Keanu Reeves

Website: https://archmotorcycle.com/

Proper American extravagance at its best. Whoever had the brilliant idea to cram a massive 5.7-liter Chevy V8 into a cruiser-style motorcycle chassis must be either totally insane or a genius: We're leaning toward the latter. There is nothing quite like riding a bike with a minimum of 350 horsepower and well over 400 pound-feet of torque, according to Monte Warne, who founded the group in 1990. It is unknown where he first had the notion, but you must thank him for it. A Boss Hoss has no subtleties, whether it be in the engine, or the engineering needed to handle all that power. It is also not a shrinking violet in terms of appearance.

The Boss Hoss is no back-yard special: it now has complete vehicle type approval for Europe, which is mirrored in the fact that a Boss Hoss is no one-trick pony: all the power in the world is useless if the motorcycle is unwieldy, unmanageable, and unsafe. As unlikely as it may appear, a Boss Hoss can turn curves with the same poise and safety that it can tear up the tarmac in a straight line. American excess in motorcycle shape, and it's brilliant for it.

Founded: 1990 by Monte Warne

Website: https://bosshoss.com/

Just over a century ago, Indian Motorcycle briefly held the title of biggest motorcycle manufacturer in the globe. Indian is best known today for producing some of the most beautiful and comfortable boats available. There's just something unique about them, whether it be the venerable Chieftain or the fierce Scout Sixty.

The Indian we know today has nothing to do with the original Indian Motorcycle Company that existed between 1901 and 1953, but the Polaris Industries revival still adheres to the template laid out back then: large capacity, V-twin-engined, typically American motorcycles. Past model names, such as Chief, Scout, and Roadmaster, have been revived to provide a connection to the past, and engines are still large-displacement V-twins. Some styling cues, such as the deeply valanced fenders and illuminated Indian sculpture on the front fender top, also escaped modernization. Polaris also owned the Victory brand for a time, which had fully modern styling.

Indian design, on the other hand, has chosen to follow a traditional, almost antiquated, path, despite using utterly contemporary mechanicals and electronics. Indian has made a lot of effort to establish ties to the original business because heritage is significant in the American market. The swirly Indian logo has stayed the same over the course of its two lives, unlike the Harley Davidson logo, which has never been a fixed design.

Founded: 1901 by George M. Hendee; ‎Oscar Hedstrom

Website: https://indianmotorcycle.com/

Janus Motorcycles is a small-displacement motorbike manufacturer based in Goshen, Indiana. Richard Worsham and Devin Biek founded the business in 2011 and have been delivering motorcycles since 2013. Worsham and Biek began repairing, restoring, and tuning vintage pedal-type mopeds through Biek's business, Motion Left Mopeds, which produces aftermarket performance parts for vintage two-strokes. The moped business sparked their interest in small, light bikes and aided in the development of business ties with local component suppliers.

With its selection of 250cc and 450cc motorcycles, Janus Motorcycles has completely embraced the current retro trend, setting it apart from other American motorcycle manufacturers who typically focus on large-engined models. In 2013, the first models were shipped. These two-stroke, 50cc bikes had a definite retro feel to them. Other than the engine, forks, and tire hubs, Janus helped local businesses in Indiana produce the bike's parts. After experiencing problems adhering to pollution standards with the two-stroke 50cc engine, the first 250cc model was released in 2015. The models came in road and ostensibly off-road variants, and the 250cc engine was a four-stroke design. Although the 450cc Halcyon model costs $13,500, the first 450cc model debuted in 2021 to expand the spectrum, and the business is continuing to grow.

Founded: 2011 by Devin Biek and Richard Worsham

Website: janusmotorcycles.com

Lightning Motorcycle Corp. is an American electric motorcycle maker. CEO and Founder Richard Hatfield founded the business in 2006 in San Carlos, California, after participating in an electric Porsche race team. Lightning Motorcycle excels in electric motorcycle R&D and production, and their new 'LS-218' EV bike has been dubbed the world's fastest production motorcycle.

All kinds of start-ups are being encouraged by the switch to electric motorcycles to start producing ever-more radical designs for urban transit. Lightning Motorcycles stands out from the competition because outright speed has always been prioritized. This goal has been strengthened by competition success, and in 2013, the late Carlin Dunne rode the Lightning LS-218 Superbike up the Pikes Peak Hillclimb in the quickest motorbike time, making history as the first electric motorcycle to defeat its gasoline-powered rivals. The LS-218 is one of the fastest motorcycles currently in production, independent of the power source, with a top speed of 218 mph. The Strike, still a fully-faired sports model, debuted next, with a maximum speed of 150mph, a combined range of 150 miles, and a recharge time of as little as 35 minutes. Lightning demonstrates that the electrified future of motorcycles will not be dull!

Founded: 2006 by Richard Hatfield

Website: https://lightningmotorcycle.com/

The market leader for electric motorcycles manufactured in America at the moment is Zero Motorcycles Inc. (formerly Electricoross). Who is better than a former NASA engineer to create a novel technology for riders? Neal Saiki started the journey in 2006, and today, Zero Motorcycles produces a wide range of electric motorcycles from which consumers can choose most notably the new Zero SR/S, an EV motorcycle in the street bike style that is built for handling and speed.

Zero has been around the longest and appears to have the strongest market position of any electric motorcycle maker. The battery range and engine power have grown over time, as has the model range, which now includes supermotard, faired sports, and nominally off-road versions, as well as roadster models in different states of tune. The most important barriers to electric bike adoption are range, recharge time, and, not insignificantly, price. The first two components are constantly being improved, and it won't be long before Zero can boast of a 200-mile range and recharge times measured in minutes rather than hours.

The cost will also decrease, but it might take longer than many clients are willing to wait for. However, whether we like it or not, electricity will eventually be used as a form of propulsion, and Zero needs to be in the best possible situation to benefit from this handling.

Founded: 2006 by Neal Saiki

Website: zeromotorcycles.com

Although still owned by Harley-Davidson, the Livewire company has been spun off into its own stand-alone brand, replete with a stock exchange listing. The first Livewire debuted in 2014, and the public could ride them at dealers starting in 2015, though they are not yet for sale. Sales began in 2019, and while sales have been slow, the entire venture was a massive undertaking: America's most traditional motorcycle maker being the first major manufacturer to market with an electric motorcycle was quite remarkable.

In order to test the worldwide market, H-D used early product placement in the Marvel film The Avengers: Age of Ultron. It appears that the response was positive, as H-D continued with production. Livewire has hinted at the future with the new Del Mar model, which is built on a new modular platform called the Arrow and can be configured into a variety of motorcycle styles. The initial Livewire One model is still in production.

Importantly, the price is much lower than the One, which was criticized for being far too costly when it was first released. It will be interesting to see if Livewire as a brand can withstand the onslaught from every other big manufacturer as electric bikes become more common.

Founded: 2022

Website: https://www.livewire.com/

The eponymous motorcycle business founded by Erik Buell has experienced more ups and downs than a ski lift, but it is still operating today, albeit without any involvement from Erik Buell. Erik Buell worked as a mechanic for Harley-Davidson before starting Buell Motorcycles. Despite having Harley-Davidson Sportster engines, the bikes had many eccentric and creative design features. For example, the swing arm served as both an oil reservoir and a fuel tank, and the main frame served as both. In the end, Harley-Davidson acquired 49 percent initially and the remaining 51 percent subsequently, closing the business in 2009. Later, Erik Buell established Erik Buell Racing to carry on with the construction of the 1125R and its Rotax V-twin engine.

By 2016, the business had been sold to receivers, signaling the end of the road for Buell. However, in 2021, it was revealed that Buell Motorcycles would be returning to the market, under new ownership and with the promise of ten new models by 2024, including the first models to be announced, the 1190RX and SX, which are basically developments of the 1125R. Buell Motorcycles deserves to live because it combines distinctive design with American ingenuity and innovation. Only time will reveal if survival is possible, as well as the appearance of a Buell electric motorcycle: expect it to be unique!

Founded: 1983 by Erik Buell

Website: buellmotorcycle.com