The 1950s was an interesting decade for the motorcycle industry. As countries began to show signs of economic improvement after the devastation of World War II, motorcycle manufacturers could begin to innovate in new directions. While affordable mobility was still an important part of a motorcycle’s design, the humble motorcycle was slowly being replaced by cheaper and more attractive cars as a means of transportation. Sidecars were on the way out, and the rise of the automobile was in full swing.

That’s not to say that motorcycles were declining in popularity. In fact, they were more popular than ever. The