Simply by observing what sort of two-wheelers I see during a typical ride here in Western Pennsylvania, it appears that heavyweight V-twin cruisers are still the mount of choice. The frequently loud, rumbling heavyweights are followed by supersport 600s and liter-class superbikes, all seemingly ridden by youngsters determined to qualify for the next Moto GP round. What I don’t see riding close to home is the rapid and radical changes in what sort of motorcycles the rest of the world prefers to ride. According to recently published figures, the new breed of sub-500cc singles are now the top-selling streetbikes in most of the world, outpacing larger, faster and more expensive rides by a very wide margin.
After being introduced just under two years back, Royal Enfield’s single-cylinder Hunter 350 has racked u an unimaginable 500,000 units sold, a staggering number of machines sold for a single model. To better illustrate what a miraculous retail feat this is, consider many global motorcycle manufacturers struggle to sell a mere fraction of this number of all their motorcycles combined. Ducati popped open the champagne and confetti earlier this year after announcing that the Italian brand had managed to move nearly 58,000 motorcycles during 2024, with Aprilia, the country’s second-best-known marque, topping them by a couple thousand units.
The runaway success of small-displacement singles has helped Triumph reach an entirely new customer base with their Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 models, while Honda recently entered the fray with their own retro-flavored GB350S. These motorcycles have become wildly popular due their simple, straightforward designs that center on unfussy running gear, non-intimidating powerplants and manners that both beginners and everyday commuters can enjoy. For an admitted luddite who cares not for complex, track-derived electronics, Bluetooth-enabled TFT full-color dash displays and other high-tech gee-gaws festooning too many contemporary rides, these hot-selling singles prove that not everyone is hoping to blend their laptop and their motorbike into one well-connected device.
Come Cafe Racer magazine’s June/July issue, we’ll be testing another new machine entering into this well-regarded category in the form of Benelli’s Imperiale 400. The sweet-looking, lightweight retro single has the timeless looks of a 1960s British roadster and offers the back-to-basics transport often lost in modern showrooms. Keep an eye out for it come June 7.
