Motorcycles

eg1 · Nov 20, 2010

Originally Posted by gnatty8

Not wanting to start drama in this thread, but how in the world can you guys think those motorcycles are even remotely attractive?

C'mon, gnatty -- you've been around long enough to know that there are serious subcultures in the motorcycle world. Young "crotch-rocket" aficionados don't have a lot of use for the Harley crowd and vice-versa. I could go on.

gnatty8 · Nov 20, 2010

Originally Posted by eg1

C'mon, gnatty -- you've been around long enough to know that there are serious subcultures in the motorcycle world. Young "crotch-rocket" aficionados don't have a lot of use for the Harley crowd and vice-versa. I could go on.

Some of the subcultures I get, like the bobber culture, cafe racers and so on and so forth, but those rice rocket bikes are hideous..

CDFS · Nov 20, 2010

Perhaps you could post some contenders for best looking bikes. I don't like the CBR much. It's a pretty boring looking bike, but the the model, to me, looks more exciting than most cruisers. In the CBR category, I like off the top of my hat, the KTM RC8

and TS's favourite:

Suzuki%20GSX%201100S%20Katana%2081%20%202.jpg

Edit: no drama here.

gnatty8 · Nov 20, 2010

The Suzuki is not too bad. The other one is pretty fugly.

bigbjorn · Nov 20, 2010

Originally Posted by gnatty8

but those rice rocket bikes are hideous..
I'm not much of a fan of 600 supersports or literbikes on the street, but for going around a race track as quickly as possible, a 600 supersport is unparalelled among street bikes. And at the end of the day, for that purpose, a full fairing is pretty much required. The sad thing is more that they all look alike, not that they're ugly. For their intended purpose, they're well-suited.

But, then I've owned not one, but two, KTM 640 Adventures, so clearly looks aren't my highest priority in bikes.

BTW, Gnatty, have you ever ridden a 2007 R1 (for instance) at full boil? Not my cup of tea (I like my license too much), but it isn't hard to see what's appealing about it. There is simply no other vehicle you can buy that has as visceral an impact when accelerating out of a corner.

gnatty8 · Nov 20, 2010

In no particular order, but here are a few I find particularly aesthetically pleasing:

0709_hbkp_04_z+harley_davidson+xl_1200n_nightster.jpg

And I really like the look of these Royal Enfield bikes:

2010_Royal_Enfield_Bullet_C5_Military_Wallpaper%201.jpg

CDFS · Nov 20, 2010

My first experience riding motorcycles was a twelve day trip on a rented RE Bullet 350. So I've soft spot for them and that one looks pretty sweet. I'd also love to try the diesel version even if it has only about ten HP.

I've not ridden your other choices so take this with the grain of salt it deserves, but those bikes lack a certain utilitian look I find apealing. It just doesn't look like they ride that great.

bigbjorn · Nov 20, 2010

Sorry, but the kink in the exhaust on the Bonnie is awful. And the aircleaner cover on the Fat Boy is beyond beastly. I think we can all agree the Nightster is a decent looking rig, and I think the Sportster SuperLow in white/orange looks good too.

The Royal Enfield, I'm not even sure what to say about. It looks like a 1955 Royal Enfield, but the RE casting of the unit motor is unattractive. But it'd be unfair to compare styling on that bike to anything new. From a contemporary bikes standpoint, I think a Matchless C80CS or Ariel NH looks better, but then no one is still churning those out...

CDFS · Nov 20, 2010

Looks great, but was that exhaust supposed to be burning your crotch?

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rEhkmFqBmF4/Su...jpg?imgmax=800

bigbjorn · Nov 20, 2010

This is probably a better pic of a stock(ish) G80CS:

Pilot · Nov 20, 2010

Originally Posted by gnatty8

Not wanting to start drama in this thread, but how in the world can you guys think those motorcycles are even remotely attractive?

See this is how I feel about most generic cruisers.

I like crotch rockets, and with a few aesthetic mods they can look pretty nice. I'm def more a fan of cafe racers and naked bikes though.

Tokyo Slim · Nov 20, 2010

Originally Posted by Pilot

See this is how I feel about most generic cruisers. I like crotch rockets, and with a few aesthetic mods they can look pretty nice. I'm def more a fan of cafe racers and naked bikes though.
+1 Though to be fair, 1980's *** Turbo bikes are the pinnacle of cool to me.

gnatty8 · Nov 21, 2010

Originally Posted by bigbjorn

BTW, Gnatty, have you ever ridden a 2007 R1 (for instance) at full boil? Not my cup of tea (I like my license too much), but it isn't hard to see what's appealing about it. There is simply no other vehicle you can buy that has as visceral an impact when accelerating out of a corner.

No, can't say that I have. What draws me to motorcycles is not the rush of speed and extreme riding, so that probably explains the lack of appeal (to me) of the sport bike genre. Now I have seen some Ducati and Triumph motorcycles in the category that I'll admit look interesting, and I would probably even admit there's something about them that I like, but the genericism of the Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki sportbikes is spirit-crushing. To each their own though.

Saw a 2011 Fat Bob at Harley Davidson dealer today when I went to buy a cover and some StaBil. Please, oh please, somebody tell me that four motorcycles is beyond gluttony..

gnatty8 · Nov 21, 2010

This one. Same color:

Tokyo Slim · Nov 21, 2010

Originally Posted by gnatty8

the genericism of the Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki sportbikes is spirit-crushing.
See, I just don't get that. Without making this into a sportbike vs cruiser thing (I don't really tend to like either) Cruisers are by far more generic looking than any sportbike. When the entire industry consists of one "original" manufacturer and a host of copycats, that tends to happen.

Motorcycles

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