Why do some bikes just look so right?? - Page 6

lrutt · 10-28-2010, 03:29 PM

I like the SR, really do, but the cast wheels keep it off the list in my mind. Just seems that a bike should have spokes in my mind.

As for dirt bikes. That would be a tough one. I'd have to go back to the 70's Bultacos etc. They didn't have clown like tall seats that are razor thin, very competent, always loved the leather tool bags attached. Rickmans or Pentons were great.

The jap enduros were ok but not along the same lines of the euro bikes for some reason.

MrBob · 10-28-2010, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by durtwurm

The Honda 450, a.k.a. the "Black Bomber". One of my all time favs! Gorgeous machine.

I got my Volvo. Now, if I can get one of these I can die a happy man.

Hannibal-8 · 10-29-2010, 12:39 AM

Every bike shown had round headlights (even the BMW had a round light behind the rectangular cover) It's like a DNA genetic marker for good looks. Can anyone truthfully offer a right looking bike with a rectangular headlight? Go on. I dare you. Thanks, Rich

bikecat · 10-29-2010, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannibal-8

Every bike shown had round headlights (even the BMW had a round light behind the rectangular cover) It's like a DNA genetic marker for good looks. Can anyone truthfully offer a right looking bike with a rectangular headlight? Go on. I dare you. Thanks, Rich

rightsideup · 10-29-2010, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikecat

Same designer - Hans Muth

England-Kev · 10-29-2010, 04:18 AM

For me Velo's always look just right....

I am also a big fan of the early Triumph with the nacele headlight

davorallyfan · 10-29-2010, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by England-Kev

For me Velo's always look just right....

I am also a big fan of the early Triumph with the nacele headlight

Yes they are perfect.

lrutt · 10-29-2010, 05:02 AM

There is something appealing about a bike that wears it's mechanicals on the outside like the Velo's etc. Being able to pick out the cam drives, oil pumps, etc. is strangely satisfying.

Bensonhurst · 10-29-2010, 05:10 AM

I bought it new and I still have it
still on the road, registered and street legal.
.
.
.
.
.

Mandello · 10-29-2010, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikecat

Great bike, not only does the rect. h/l look good a round one would have sucked.

AlexM

blaine.hale · 10-29-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannibal-8

Every bike shown had round headlights (even the BMW had a round light behind the rectangular cover) It's like a DNA genetic marker for good looks. Can anyone truthfully offer a right looking bike with a rectangular headlight? Go on. I dare you. Thanks, Rich

I'll just add the Vespa I own to the mix because it's kind of a bike...and it was one of the very few vespas to sport a rectangle headlight....and it's beautiful.

mitchxout · 10-29-2010, 11:26 AM

Some bikes are so classic the copies even look good.

chazbird · 10-29-2010, 02:08 PM

That second Velocette is gorgeous. Not that I am the Sheriff-Brother Number 1 of this thread, but I'm still going on simplicity, function, balance and proportion. Again, the second Velo is gorgeous, yes, but a just a wee-bit ornamental, albeit the bits are truly pure function. The 77 T140? (is that a Silver Jubilee?) Here it looks as if Triumph thought they had to, as their swan song & last ditch effort, compete with Honda, especially with the tank (ala CB750). Not a failure, but it was getting beyond what it needed to be, in my opinion.

Oh, I am sure to be flogged for the next idea: That Katana, is a classic styling exercise, and very original at that. Does it look oh so right? No, not really. Uniquely original (near redundant phrase there)? Yes. If the "looks so right" were all about aero function, then the BMW R100RS by Mueth would probably pin that down.

As a classic ruse to avoid being impaled because of my aesthetic autocracy I'll shift things a bit. I was wondering that some of how I or we or some of us are more deeply influenced by the experiential aspects of what we see to be "looks so right". That is, what was going on in one's life when they came across the "looks so right" bike. My first ride was on a Triumph. I can't say I wasn't (highly) influenced by the bike, it really set of the moto-mania for me. But I was quickly subsumed by all manner of Japanese bikes, and certainly owned Japanese bikes at a 10:1 ratio over British bikes. Am I forever biased that way. I want to say I'm objective and my answer is no, it just looks right, even if came from Mars and I never rode one, or on, one before. But I can't be sure, for sure. This makes me wonder how shows like "The Art of The Motorcycle" came about? For many bikes that old, how did objective/non-objective, experiential/non-experiential circumstances play into those sorts of decisions?

If I were to be totally honest, experientialism aside, I guess I'd have to say the second Velocette does tie with a mid to late sixities Bonneville for the "looks so right".

small_e_900 · 10-29-2010, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrutt

This is the motorcycle that I can look at a picture of and hear it run. The sound of this machine says MOTORCYCLE, loud and clear to me. It's the only bike I can hear a picture of.

The early Harley Sportsters look as right as a Triumph sounds.

advNZer? · 10-29-2010, 02:31 PM

best looking naked UJM imho

10-28-2010, 03:29 PM	#76
lrutt ^OP SILENCE.....i kill you Joined: Jul 2005 Oddometer: 796	I like the SR, really do, but the cast wheels keep it off the list in my mind. Just seems that a bike should have spokes in my mind. As for dirt bikes. That would be a tough one. I'd have to go back to the 70's Bultacos etc. They didn't have clown like tall seats that are razor thin, very competent, always loved the leather tool bags attached. Rickmans or Pentons were great. The jap enduros were ok but not along the same lines of the euro bikes for some reason. __________________ 2004 Harley Sporster 1200C, 2001 Ducati M900, 2001 Honda XR650L, 1994 Harley Heritage, 1978 Honda CB750K with sidecar, 1977 Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans, 1976 Honda CB750K, 1965 Honda 305 Dream, 1973 Norton 850 Commando, 1971 Triumph Trophy 650, 1970 Honda Trail 90, 1970 Triumph Tiger 650, 1973 Honda Z50, 1984 Yamaha Virago 1000, 1981 Honda Passport 70, 1970 Suzuki T250, 1971 Yamaha RT1 360

10-29-2010, 04:18 AM	#81
England-Kev Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Berkshire, England. Just off the Beaten Track! Oddometer: 2,572	For me Velo's always look just right.... I am also a big fan of the early Triumph with the nacele headlight __________________ http://kevindean.zenfolio.com/ http://motodelcurva.wordpress.com/ http://backstreetthunder.wordpress.com

10-29-2010, 05:02 AM	#83
lrutt ^OP SILENCE.....i kill you Joined: Jul 2005 Oddometer: 796	There is something appealing about a bike that wears it's mechanicals on the outside like the Velo's etc. Being able to pick out the cam drives, oil pumps, etc. is strangely satisfying. __________________ 2004 Harley Sporster 1200C, 2001 Ducati M900, 2001 Honda XR650L, 1994 Harley Heritage, 1978 Honda CB750K with sidecar, 1977 Moto Guzzi 850 LeMans, 1976 Honda CB750K, 1965 Honda 305 Dream, 1973 Norton 850 Commando, 1971 Triumph Trophy 650, 1970 Honda Trail 90, 1970 Triumph Tiger 650, 1973 Honda Z50, 1984 Yamaha Virago 1000, 1981 Honda Passport 70, 1970 Suzuki T250, 1971 Yamaha RT1 360

10-29-2010, 05:10 AM	#84
Bensonhurst n00b Joined: Mar 2006 Location: the big apple Oddometer: 4	my vote, my baby I bought it new and I still have it still on the road, registered and street legal. . . . . . __________________ loud pipes are rude and inconsiderate

10-29-2010, 02:31 PM	#90
advNZer? Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Wellington,New Zealand Oddometer: 2,209	best looking naked UJM imho __________________ aka BMWST?

10-29-2010, 12:39 AM	#78
Hannibal-8 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Saratoga Gap Oddometer: 107	Every bike shown had round headlights (even the BMW had a round light behind the rectangular cover) It's like a DNA genetic marker for good looks. Can anyone truthfully offer a right looking bike with a rectangular headlight? Go on. I dare you. Thanks, Rich

10-29-2010, 11:26 AM	#87
mitchxout Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Asheville, NC Oddometer: 523	Some bikes are so classic the copies even look good.

10-29-2010, 02:08 PM	#88
chazbird Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Oddometer: 2,055	That second Velocette is gorgeous. Not that I am the Sheriff-Brother Number 1 of this thread, but I'm still going on simplicity, function, balance and proportion. Again, the second Velo is gorgeous, yes, but a just a wee-bit ornamental, albeit the bits are truly pure function. The 77 T140? (is that a Silver Jubilee?) Here it looks as if Triumph thought they had to, as their swan song & last ditch effort, compete with Honda, especially with the tank (ala CB750). Not a failure, but it was getting beyond what it needed to be, in my opinion. Oh, I am sure to be flogged for the next idea: That Katana, is a classic styling exercise, and very original at that. Does it look oh so right? No, not really. Uniquely original (near redundant phrase there)? Yes. If the "looks so right" were all about aero function, then the BMW R100RS by Mueth would probably pin that down. As a classic ruse to avoid being impaled because of my aesthetic autocracy I'll shift things a bit. I was wondering that some of how I or we or some of us are more deeply influenced by the experiential aspects of what we see to be "looks so right". That is, what was going on in one's life when they came across the "looks so right" bike. My first ride was on a Triumph. I can't say I wasn't (highly) influenced by the bike, it really set of the moto-mania for me. But I was quickly subsumed by all manner of Japanese bikes, and certainly owned Japanese bikes at a 10:1 ratio over British bikes. Am I forever biased that way. I want to say I'm objective and my answer is no, it just looks right, even if came from Mars and I never rode one, or on, one before. But I can't be sure, for sure. This makes me wonder how shows like "The Art of The Motorcycle" came about? For many bikes that old, how did objective/non-objective, experiential/non-experiential circumstances play into those sorts of decisions? If I were to be totally honest, experientialism aside, I guess I'd have to say the second Velocette does tie with a mid to late sixities Bonneville for the "looks so right".

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