10 Discontinued Motorcycles That Need To Make A Comeback

Everything in life is temporary, whether it’s your favorite phone, person, or motorcycle. Old things go out, new things come in, and then, all you’re left with are memories. Today, that’s exactly what we’re focusing on–motorcycles which left such a lasting impression on our minds, we can’t help but wish they could come back to life. The below list comprises 10 such motorcycles from all around the world (Japan, America, Europe, Britain), that too, from your favorite bikemakers (Harley-Davidson, MV Agusta, KTM, Yamaha). All these were discontinued between 2010 and 2023, and each has been sold in America at some point. You can no longer buy them here, so be ready to get some serious throwback once you go through the article. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Motorcyclenews.com and Bennetts Bike. The ranking is arbitrary.

1 Harley-Davidson XR1200: 2008 to 2013

Think iconic Harley-Davidsons from the last 15 years, and the XR1200 will surely spring to mind. It’s one of the company’s most gutsy motorcycles in its over 100-year life, commonly dubbed as the sportiest Harley-Davidson ever. Credit for that title goes to the XR’s unique flat-track-inspired nature, evident from high-quality suspension, wheels, and, of course, a grin-worthy V-twin powerhouse.

In 2010, Harley introduced a spruced-up version of the XR, called the XR1200X. It came with a Batman-inspired all-black aesthetic, topped by upgraded Showa USD forks and piggyback shocks. We’d love to see the XR1200X make a comeback in these times when the market is way more open-minded and welcoming than in the last decade. Just picture a sporty naked Harley-Davidson armed with the new Revolution Max 1250cc engine. Bonus points if it’s in the same tune as the 150-HP Pan America. We’re drooling already!

Harley-Davidson XR1200 Specs

2 Harley-Davidson VRSC Lineup: 2002 to 2017

Just like the XR1200, Harley’s VRSC lineup is more than suitable for a comeback. It continues to be a hit in the used motorcycle market, thanks to its unmatched muscle bike aesthetic and then-unique liquid-cooled V-twin powerhouse. The latter made it the most powerful H-D cruiser during the early 2010s, with an output of around 123 ponies–a figure higher than Harley’s current most powerful cruiser, the 121-horsepower Sportster S. This performance, along with its top-quality cycle parts, helped Harley make a name for itself in the drag racing world, too. A modern-day V-Rod could do the same!

Harley-Davidson V-Rod Specs

3 Yamaha YZF-R6: 1999 to 2020

This is a no-brainer. Ever since Yamaha pulled the plug on the R6, there’s been a gaping hole in its YZF lineup. Yes, the YZF-R7 somewhat helped calm down fanatics, but there’s no denying the OG supersport is still dearly missed. After all, nothing really comes close to the supersport’s 599cc, inline-four engine that could scream to almost 17,000 RPM!

Aside from the gaping hole, its comeback makes more sense looking at the market. Kawasaki resurrected its Ninja ZX-6R for 2023 and Honda quickly followed in with its 2024 CBR600RR. So looks like the 600cc supersport segment is back in fashion, and we’d love to see Yamaha hop on the trend. A distant dream, considering Team Blue has a YZF-R9 in the works instead.

Yamaha YZF-R6 Specs

4 Triumph Daytona 675: 2006 to 2017

Like the Yamaha R6, the Triumph Daytona 675 needs no introduction. It has a cult following worldwide, primarily thanks to its crisp 675cc, inline-triple engine. The powerhouse had much more mid-range than conventional peaky inline-fours, while still matching the peak output of its Japanese counterparts. What made matters sweeter was the excellent handling and an unmatched howling exhaust note.

Although the company gave us a Daytona 765, only a handful of examples made it to production. This left many fans bummed out, with most still begging the British bikemaker for a new sport bike. It looks like Triumph is answering, though, as the giant recently teased a new full-faired middleweight based on the Trident 660. Only time will tell whether it’s actually impressive.

Triumph Daytona 675 Specs

5 MV Agusta F4: 1999 to 2018

If you’re into liter-class sport bikes, we can bet you know about the MV Agusta F4. Ever since its debut, the motorcycle served as one of the most beautiful superbikes money could buy. And it wasn’t just a looker either, as the F4 enjoyed the status of the ‘world’s fastest production motorcycle’ in the late 2000s. In fact, MV Agusta also launched a ‘312’ model of its sport bike, where the number denoted its unrestricted top speed.

The Italian bikemaker pulled its plug in 2018, leaving a hole in the heart of fans as well as its own lineup. To date, there’s no liter-class sport bike in the company’s lineup, and we’d love nothing more than to see the F4 make a comeback. We have full faith it’d shake up the populated 1,000cc segment, enough to make Ducati and BMW bite their nails.

MV Agusta F4 Specs

6 KTM RC8: 2008 to 2015

Many people think the RC 390 is KTM’s finest sport bike ever. But it’s the duty of true motorcyclists–like you and us–to remind them of the 1190 RC8. The flagship RC is KTM’s only full-fledged out-and-out sport bike to date. It employed a 1,195cc, V-twin powerhouse, good for just over 170 horsepower and a near-class-leading 90 pound-feet. The mill sat inside a tubular steel frame, joined by 43 mm USD forks and a monoshock–both adjustable.

With rumors of the RC 990 ever so prominent, we can’t help but dream of the RC8’s comeback. After all, the Austrian brand has an ever powerful and capable engine in its arsenal, the new 1,350cc V-twin. With just under 190 horsepower, it’d surely leave a lasting mark in the segment.

KTM RC8 Specs

7 Aprilia Caponord 1200: 2013 to 2015

Aprilia and adventure bikes might not be synonymous terms. But in 2013, the Italian bikemaker whipped up the Caponord 1200 (or ETV 1200). The motorcycle served as the company’s full-fledged adventure bike, armed with a 1,197cc V-twin engine. It produced a humble 125 horsepower, all sent to the wheel via a six-speed transmission. Since then, the company has had no over-1000cc ADV, and it’s high time the company steps back into the ring. Bonus points if the new Caponord boasts Aprilia’s world-renowned 1,077cc, V4 engine. Sounds like a Ducati Multistrada V4 killer, doesn’t it?

Aprilia Caponord 1200 Specs

8 Yamaha V-Max: 1985 to 2020

What’s Japanese, has a V4 engine, and can smoke superbikes off the line? Yes, we’re talking about the iconic Yamaha V-Max. It’s probably one of the fastest cruiser motorcycles ever built by a Japanese bikemaker, credit to its 1,679cc, V4 engine with 197 horsepower and 123 pound-feet. Not only is this a lot higher than the best of Harley-Davidsons, but it’s even more than the Ducati Diavel V4 and the Triumph Rocket 3. Given how insane these numbers are and how epic the Team Blue cruiser looked, can you blame us for wanting it to come back on sale?

Yamaha V-Max Specs

9 Aprilia Dorsoduro: 2008 to 2021′

Another Aprilia motorcycle we can’t get out of our minds is the Dorsoduro–the company’s take on the supermoto segment. The stripped-back offering started life as a 750cc in 2008, then switched to a 1,200cc setup (same as the Caponord), and finally, featured a 900cc powerhouse before its demise. In its last iteration, the Dorsoduro was one of the few true-blue rivals of the Ducati Hypermotard. It had an 896cc powerhouse, with a more than entertaining 95 horsepower and 66 pound-feet. An edgy design, underseat exhausts, and quality underpinnings further gave it an advantage over its rivals. With Ducati’s new Hypermotard 698 in the picture, Aprilia could benefit strongly from a Dorsoduro 660. Don’t you think?

Aprilia Dorsoduro Specs

10 Honda CB1100RS: 2010 to 2022

No matter how modern motorcycles get, old-school bikes just hit differently. This is why the Honda CB1100 is on the list. It first debuted in 2010, but our focus here is on its RS version, which broke cover in 2017 as a sportier alternative to the 1100. Arch-rival to the renowned Triumph Thruxton 1200, Honda slapped on plenty of fancy bits on the RS. 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, dual-bending Showa forks, sporty rubber, and Ohlins shock absorbers. Considering Honda’s international lineup has no retro options, the RS is well worthy of a second chance. We think it can do good numbers, especially with the Thruxton being discontinued next year.

Honda CB1100RS Specs

All tables sourced from manufacturers