Best looking modern naked bike engine.

[James Deuce]

The new Hornet 600's engine looks like it's hewn from a single lump of anthracite and has no extraneous wires or pipes running across the exposed barrels and cases.

Couple that with some subtle geometric sculpting and a hardcore mass-centralisation philosophy from Honda and it just looks "right".

[AllanB]

Pretty happy with the look of my Hornet 900's engine - cases have been cleaned up well by Honda and the paint quality is excellent. I've a nice contrast with the titanium and granite black colours too.

Triumph has cleaned up the latest naked triples too - much improved over earlier versions.

Ducati - well, you'd think a relatively simple engine like a L twin in a naked bike would be the prime example of clean - unfortunately not - there's wires, tubes etc everywhere!

Grisso - nice, I particularly like the side mounted oil cooler. Unfortunately if Guzzi is true to form the engines will look like crap after 5 years with paint peeling off and fittings rusting :weep:

New 600 Hornet - very sweet I agree - this should be a big seller in NZ, light, great handling, powerful enough for all but the crazy amongst us. It will unfortunately probably suffer the same fate as all sub 900's in NZ.

[hmmmnz]

i personally think the z750 or z1000 are better looking,
each to their own.

[James Deuce]

I own a Z750 and I can tell you that the Hornet 600's engine bay is stunning in comparison. A common refrain is that all the hoses and cabling on naked modern water cooled engines look horrible. It's pretty difficult to spot water hoses and cabling at first glance on the Hornet.

Even the radiator is a cool shape instead of the giant rectangular HQ Holden radiator my Zed has.

[pritch]

When the manufacturers first went to liquid cooling they retained fins as if they thought the engine wouldn't look right otherwise. Then as plastic enclosed the engines they didn't bother with fins presumably because we couldn't see them anyway.

Latterly though sprotbike engines have been dropped into naked bikes and all that metal is on view. Although it wasn't designed to look good, it manages to look just fine thanks. :yes:

[HenryDorsetCase]

Triumph Scrambler engine for the win.

[James Deuce]

Come back when it has water cooling. I said modern not retro ;).

[Dave-]

Cagiva Raptor.

nom nom italian all over.

[skidMark]

Gs650G katana with soon to be hidden wiring.

It aint modern but blah ish pretty! :love:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=116792&d=1232458368

[HenryDorsetCase]

Come back when it has water cooling. I said modern not retro ;).
Pah!

One engine I do really like the look of is those new Victory V-twins. They're thoroughly modern. (as is the Hinckley Twin, inside:it just looks old....)

[HenryDorsetCase]

The new Hornet 600's engine looks like it's hewn from a single lump of anthracite and has no extraneous wires or pipes running across the exposed barrels and cases.

Couple that with some subtle geometric sculpting and a hardcore mass-centralisation philosophy from Honda and it just looks "right".

It is, and I really like the swoopy pipes (a la CB400F). but for $16000 it kind of should.

[James Deuce]

Cagiva Raptor.

nom nom italian all over.
The Hornet 600 is Italian.

[Owl]

Cagiva Raptor.

nom nom italian all over.

Jap engine isn't it?:confused:

[Crasherfromwayback]

But the engine in my RMZ450 is a piece of art.

[James Deuce]

Jap engine isn't it?:confused:

Your issue is?

It's made in Italy, and it was designed in Italy. The name is Japanese.

Bit like Benelli being Chinese now.

[Owl]

Your issue is?

It's made in Italy, and it was designed in Italy. The name is Japanese.

Bit like Benelli being Chinese now.

No issue James!:laugh: I just thought the Raptor used a TL engine and this is an engine thread is it not?

[James Deuce]

Good point!

[Zrex]

A true work of art.

[popelli]

Come back when it has water cooling. I said modern not retro ;).

is this a closed mind or just narrow mindedness?

[Usarka]

is this a closed mind or just narrow mindedness?

are you german? :lol:

(hint: it may be humour)

[HenryDorsetCase]

are you german? :lol:



Dont mention the War!!

[Boob Johnson]

Cagiva Raptor.

nom nom italian all over.
Italian? The go go part is from a TL thou cobba <_<

Just about one of the sexiest naked bikes known to man kind. A good mate has one, went for a blat on it recently, farkin stroppy sum bitch it is too :clap:

[oldguy]

I like this one:niceone:

[riffer]

I'm going to ignore your comment on the water cooling bit James, and put forward my pick for the most beautiful modern engine.

The Moto-Guzzi MGS01 Corsa. Sorry Nasty if this pic is too big. I'll just have to wear the infraction. A thumbnail doesn't do it justice.

<img src=http://mybikeshop.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/motoguzzi_mgs01_corsa.jpg>

[James Deuce]

is this a closed mind or just narrow mindedness?
Not at all. I was specifically responding to several comments posted in the last few months about modern, water cooled naked bikes and the lack of effort that goes into making what is usually a donor engine from a sportsbike look good.

You're probably aware that Triumph's modern air-cooled twins look very nice indeed. But they're not water cooled, and neither are they loaned from a modern sportsbike.

Yes, guys, I get it - Air cooled engines usually look good without much effort.

[mikeey01]

JD is this best of all time or best over the years?

[James Deuce]

JD is this best of all time or best over the years?
No. Best Modern Water Cooled Naked Bike Engine. In a current model.

It was merely me stating my opinion. It isn't a fact, and there are no prizes for picking the "right" good looking engine. ;)

I think Honda have done a great job of styling the Hornet 600 and the CB1000R. Conversely I think Kawasaki have made a Manga-mess of the latest Z750/Z1000 pairing.

Honda have done their usual "pictures don't do it justice" stylishly conservative job, while Kawasaki have managed to make a pair of bikes that look uglier in the flesh. My opinion though.

[Boob Johnson]

The Moto-Guzzi MGS01 Corsa. Sorry Nasty if this pic is too big. I'll just have to wear the infraction. A thumbnail doesn't do it justice.

Well worth the infraction, wicked lookin bike Riffer :niceone:

[pzkpfw]

Does it look (Hornet) good from both sides?

Like, as in how Buell pictures always seem to be from the right (as seen by rider) not the left...

[Slyer]

Cagiva Raptor.

nom nom italian all over.
Same engine as the SV650, not so Italian. ;)
http://www.suzukicycles.com/images/ProductImages/logo/500/SV650K7.jpg
vs
http://www.bikez.com/pictures/cagiva/2006/22911_0_1_2_raptor%20650%20i.e._Image%20credits%20-%20Cagiva.jpg

[HenryDorsetCase]

I'm going to ignore your comment on the water cooling bit James, and put forward my pick for the most beautiful modern engine.

The Moto-Guzzi MGS01 Corsa. Sorry Nasty if this pic is too big. I'll just have to wear the infraction. A thumbnail doesn't do it justice.


they look nicer in the flesh (mmmmm flesh). Smaller than you'd think, too. Proper bit of kit.

[PaddyFZ1]

The FZ1 doesnt look too bad, like how the frame wraps around the clutch cover.
Prefer the engine in silver, not the black of the nakeds or later models

[Forest]

I've always had a soft-spot for the Honda Valkyrie engine. There's something :love: about six cylinders and all that chrome.

Shame it is no longer in production.

[James Deuce]

Maybe the Evo-6 will happen.

[MIXONE]

Maybe the Evo-6 will happen.

If it does you can bet it'll have tiptronic auto.:yawn:

The rune is a neat looking motor to me.

[MIXONE]

Gotta wear sunglasses!

[ducatilover]

i think this is great.....

[ducatilover]

that pic riffer posted must be one of the sexiest things ever... mmmm mgs01 :headbang::wari: