Bikes just going downhill now?

[racefactory]

In terms of aesthetics... maybe I am a bit of an old timer but I personally think at 2004- 2005 bikes have reached their peak and since then have suddenly started to look pretty terrible on the whole. I mean fuck me, some of those exhausts on the new yammys and kawas... shit to kill yourself over!

What's strange is that it was a gradual build up... there was a major styling change in 1999 with the new R1 and from then they all looked gradually cooler and cooler until bam! 2007 came and all the litre bikes just fell down the shitter! The 600's of recent years are tolerable I must admit though.

What i really mean is, is it possible to beat the likes of these?

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Cheers guys, ride safe!

PS. Even the 90's Honda V4's are truly sexy shit compared to the jagged knife- try hard styling of today!
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[trustme]

There's bugger all hope for me then:sunny::sunny::sunny:

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee62/trustme_photos/039.jpg

[Hiflyer]

05-06 Ninja's are sex

Best looking bikes IMO

[Gremlin]

The 04-05 ZX10R was the sexiest of the bunch...

Ok... so I owned one... :innocent:

[imdying]

What i really mean is, is it possible to beat the likes of these?Easy, the one on the left, 1996 ZX7R. The one on the right, 1993 RGV250. Done :D

Been all down hill a lot longer than the last 5 years.

[AllanB]

I fail to understand Kawasakis origami mufflers or the horrid banana mufflers Suzuki put on the GSXR thou. Ugly.


Even after more than 40 years a 69 Bonnie still looks 'right' even when weathered and rusty.

I have a preference for naked bikes, but now days there is a radiator & pile of plumbing to contend with when designing a bike as well as sound and exhaust regulations when designing mufflers (thus they get larger).

Best looking modern bike ................ hmmmm good question.

[pete376403]

Blame the politicians - noise control and to a lesser degree emissions control. The ever increasing power put out by todays engines comes from an ever increasing throughput of air and fuel. To get that flow while keeping the noise down to stupidly low limits requires a certain muffler volume. It is quite likely that the exhaust is inaudible over tire, chain and intake noise.

[george formby]

IMHO modern sprot bikes have gone the same way as modern cars. At a slight distance they all look the same, it's only close up you notice details. Just wait until silver becomes the most popular colour...

Their are some stunning bikes being manufactured, just not sports bikes. You cannot make them stand out without compromising performance. Such is the way of incremental development.

[NONONO]

I gave up here.225694

[awa355]

I saw a catalogue for Kawasaki sports bikes the other day. If all bikes were styled like them, I think I'd give up riding. So many look like the body work is assembled from a Lego packet. Especially the tail pieces. A lot look like plastic insects with their headlight fairings.

Guess I'm showing my age. Mind you, back in the early 70's the older riders sneered at the new Jap bikes with crome everything, metallic paintjobs. pinstriping etc. My XS2 650 with its burnt orange/ black tank looked like an over painted tart compared with my mates Norton Commando.

The looks of the cruisers went down hill I think when they started putting bloody great radiators on them. Yet I would probably buy one for a 2nd bike.

The good old days always looked better but, would I want to go back to them and the bikes of then?? I dont think so.

[Max Preload]

The decline started earlier than that. I'd say '02. Newer bikes all look the same and they bore me hence I haven't replaced mine.

[scracha]

In terms of aesthetics... maybe I am a bit of an old timer but I personally think at 2004- 2005 bikes have reached their peak and since then have suddenly started to look pretty terrible on the whole. I mean fuck me, some of those exhausts on the new yammys and kawas... shit to kill yourself over!


Euro3, 4 & 5 exhaust emissions got stricter and stricter meaning more CAT's and other shit in your zorst. To keep the bikes handling properly, the extra weight was put at the lowest point of the bike possible and to keep the mass centralised, the zorsts had to be shorter. Short and low exhausts meant the diameter had to be increased. Low exhaust and increased diameter meant the ground clearnace was fucked and thus, the ugly as fuck triangulated exhaust was born.

[Edbear]

I fail to understand Kawasakis origami mufflers or the horrid banana mufflers Suzuki put on the GSXR thou. Ugly.


Even after more than 40 years a 69 Bonnie still looks 'right' even when weathered and rusty.

I have a preference for naked bikes, but now days there is a radiator & pile of plumbing to contend with when designing a bike as well as sound and exhaust regulations when designing mufflers (thus they get larger).

Best looking modern bike ................ hmmmm good question.

The Bonnie will always be an icon of style! :yes: A true classic design is one that never dates!

[Big Dave]

Yeah - I can't afford a new bike at the moment either.

[AllanB]

Yeah - I can't afford a new bike at the moment either.

Ditto - but what would you buy that you found physically appealing if you could?

[Motu]

So ''bikes'' are only sportsbikes? There are a lot of other good looking bikes out there....but if you are only looking at sportsbikes,yeah,they are ugly.

[martybabe]

It's not just sports bikes....I really like my beemer so I started looking for a possible future upgrade and opened the door on a whole world of fugly :facepalm: Not dissing anyones rides here, I'm sure they are fine riding bikes but come on 'Dem Germans' enough ugly already.


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[Big Dave]

Ditto - but what would you buy that you found physically appealing if you could?

There are so many provisos. Reality would demand I consider passenger comfort, my physique, the ability to do both town and country work, availability of parts etc etc servicing, which means that those I covet are probably not the most sensible choices.

Aesthetics are well down my personal list of importance too.

Sensibly a Triumph Tiger 1050i is about the best fit.

From the heart. A BMW HP2 Megamoto and a Moto Morini Gran Passo.

I'd also like a Road King, A Vmax and a Scrambler and about 20 others.

[Bonez]

So ''bikes'' are only sportsbikes? There are a lot of other good looking bikes out there....but if you are only looking at sportsbikes,yeah,they are ugly.Agreed. It's nice to have a variaty of styles thank goodness. Now if they'd only reincarnate the Mammoth and the Amazon...............

[Voltaire]

I lost interest in modern bikes about 1986, about the time I bought my R75/5 and Darmah. Did 1100 kms on the Darmah a couple of weekends back and I found it uncomfortable and clunky....same as it was when I bought it:innocent:

I have a 2001 900ss and I'm coming to terms with the styling...don't miss the lack of comfort or clunkyness.

If I was in the market for a new bike.......um....um..no thanks..maybe put the R75/5 back together....:yes:

[Katman]

All the manufacturers design teams just gave up after the Katana was unveiled.

[Max Preload]

Yeah, I heard they got quite suicidial.

[Katman]

Or were they just put to the sword?

[baptist]

The Bonnie will always be an icon of style! :yes: A true classic design is one that never dates!

+1 My bike keeps saying when it grows up it wants to be a Bonnie.... I have to listen:facepalm::lol:


All the manufacturers design teams just gave up after the Katana was unveiled.

:zzzz::zzzz::zzzz:

[Rych]

Nah nah nah I'm liking the way some new sports bike are going with a more open less fairing look such as 2006 onwards R6, Daytona 675, Ducati 1198 etc..

Some new sports bikes are tops, less bulkiness smaller exhausts etc. :yes:

Early R1's did look cool though but I still like the new ones.

Oh and the hp ratings have gone through the roof, can't complain with that, new 600's same as the old thou's.

[Oscar]

The Bonnie will always be an icon of style! :yes: A true classic design is one that never dates!

...and nuthin' handles like a triumph:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

[KiWiP]

All the manufacturers design teams just gave up after the Katana was unveiled.

And perfection was realised in 2006
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac30/pulpo_azul/Motorbike/IMG_3463-1.jpg

Something weird going on with photos in different threads. In some you get the piccy in others the link? I've tested this photo in http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/69344-Associations-a-picture-game?p=1129927853#post1129927853 and photo appears there but same link and it doesn't appear here? but some people are posting photos here. any ideas?

[Katman]

And perfection was realised in 2006
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac30/pulpo_azul/Motorbike/IMG_3463-1.jpg



Sorry, Teapots don't count.

[Voltaire]

All the manufacturers design teams just gave up after the Katana was unveiled.

Actually you have just reminded me when the decline set in......

I did like the pop up headlight as it was style over function.

The designer was German....if I recall as the Japanese could never come up with anything original ( apart from the Walkman).:innocent:

[Mental Trousers]

And perfection was realised in 2006
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac30/pulpo_azul/Motorbike/IMG_3463-1.jpg


Sorry, Teapots don't count.

Marketing departments really should be shot sometimes. Using something of a legend to sell blandness really sucks.

[onearmedbandit]

Oh and the hp ratings have gone through the roof, can't complain with that, new 600's same as the old thou's.

Really? How many 600's out there are even putting out a genuine 120hp at the back hoop? Considering the first of the true modern 1000cc sportsbikes (1998 R1) was putting out about 135-140 at the wheel.

[Pascal]

Ditto - but what would you buy that you found physically appealing if you could?

2009 Speed Triple for my daily rider. I don't like the look of 2010.

2010 Kawazaki Z1000. I love the look of it, including the exhausts. I'd buy it purely on looks.

Moto Gussi Griso. You don't need a reason to love that.

And a M109R, because eveybody needs a bike that looks like it belongs in an anime.

And yeah, I quite like the look of some of the modern bikes. That blend of angular and curvaceous works well for me.

[AllanB]

Yes to the Griso :yes:

[racefactory]

Nah nah nah I'm liking the way some new sports bike are going with a more open less fairing look such as 2006 onwards R6, Daytona 675, Ducati 1198 etc..

Some new sports bikes are tops, less bulkiness smaller exhausts etc. :yes:

Early R1's did look cool though but I still like the new ones.

Oh and the hp ratings have gone through the roof, can't complain with that, new 600's same as the old thou's.

You have mentioned the only possible exceptions there. The daytona 675 is a stonka and by far the best of all modern looks.

As for hp, you're way off mate- a lot of the bikes are now slightly heavier too.

[Bonez]

...and nuthin' handles like a triumph:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:Triumphs have handles?

[aprilia_RS250]

I like the 1098 and the agusta's, even the new 600cc one with the exhausts that look like they came from lord of the rings...

But the Japs... fuckeeen ugly as dog shit. :facepalm:

CBR looks like that guy from the Goonies that was dropped on his head when he was a baby.

R1 seems like it's gone cross eyed with those little bug bulb lights

GSXR seems to have decided limp dicks are a good design for an exhaust

Zx10 - new one looks more like a citroen, not like a bike!

As for BMW it's a bit of a transformer to me. Hasn't grown in yet, I guess it will just due to pure awesomeness of the power...

[racefactory]

Now that is funny mate! Precisely!!!

[avgas]

The started going down a long time ago....
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though I don't much like the colours of this one....

[schrodingers cat]

And perfection was realised in 2006
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac30/pulpo_azul/Motorbike/IMG_3463-1.jpg



Isn't that the model with the baboon arse tail-light? Funny what appeals to folks...

[bsasuper]

Dont let the bastards get ya down:angry:

[Dare]

<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ii6kdI6KbZY/SgScclzd2eI/AAAAAAAATr4/cefDIo6_XsE/s400/2010_Triumph-Daytona-675SE_01.jpg" />

<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_36SFFFDlygA/SyC3WuA7KLI/AAAAAAAAEXg/mVgvcChimZY/s400/2010+Ducati+1198S+Motorcycle-1.jpg" />

<img src="http://www.newlaunches.com/entry_images/1109/11/2010_MV_Agusta_F4-thumb-450x345.jpg" />

As you were

[CHR1S]

Yeah have to agree.. sports bikes had it down in the mid 00's I reckon. At least Ducati can still make a pretty motorcycle (and some not so too - Multistrada)

My bike's pretty fn fugly, but I did'nt buy it to just sit and look at it. So when I'm old enough to buy a latte racer I might care! :yes:

[avgas]

As you were
Thats just newer camera's
here is new camera's taking photos of old bikes....... they suddenly look better
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[Dare]

Thats just newer camera's
here is new camera's taking photos of old bikes....... they suddenly look better

Those bikes were fine to start with, in their own way