If I had to describe the BMW K1 to a listener of the podcast who can't actually see it, I would say , " Imagine a really cheesy, late 70's early 80's b movie where somebody is riding a futuristic motorcycle in a storyline set in what they thought 2022 would look like.....oh and the bike talks" .
I currently drool over the MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR Dragster. Also, thanks for your comments at the end regarding societal pressures regarding riding liter bikes and moving up from the "beginner" bikes and just riding what and how you want. Track days, etc. I think a lot of the listener's comments stem from not just friends but social media. It's good to stay grounded.
I think one of the big reasons for "gradation" in motorcycling is related to the skill required to operate different motorcycles. Beginning riders usually lack the ability and experience to safely operate bigger/faster bikes. Common wisdom is to start on smaller/slower bikes and "work your way up" (if that's what you want).
Yeah, it's about what you aspire to do. If you just wanna ride a motorcycle and have a good time then you could ride pretty much anything. If you want to do track days and ride competitively, you have to work your way up. Like in martial arts you start with a white belt and gradually move up as you gain skill
Hell. I tell them to get a 125 or 250 dirt bike, and field ride it for a year.or two before getting a street bike. Teaches you how to handle slides, wheelies, and traction control. All slills that can save your ass on the street. It's how I got started at age 5, on a YZ 50. Dirt is softer than asphalt and concrete as well, and grass is even softer.
The Britten V1000 was the first bike that crossed my mind, then the Ducati 750SS. I think they share a "torpedo on top of the frame" look that is definitely my type.
Too many people don't understand torque numbers. Torque can be multiplied (or divided) with gearing. An ICE motorcycle's torque numbers are calculated for the crankshaft, the torque at the countershaft and rear wheel is much higher than that number because it is geared down from the crankshaft. An electric motorcycle usually isn't geared down that much so the output shaft will have a much higher torque number although the rear wheel torque numbers will be much closer. Comparing apples and bananas basically.
Although I am not a Harley guy, the Motor Company has a knack for making a beautiful bike. A CVO Roadglide is a thing to behold. Perhaps it is the paint or the classic lines...either way, good looking $50k bike.
I'm the opposite. I appreciate riding them, but hate the way they look. I don't think they've ever made a good looking bike and only rarely do they make a bike that isn't hideously ugly.
I never understood the love for the Ducati 916, I find the the 1098 to be one of the best looking sport bikes of all time tied with the MV Agusta F3. In terms of classic/traditional bike design, even though it's not actually a vintage bike, I think Moto Guzzi V7 iii Anniversario is beautiful. Ugliest bike: first gen Ducati Multistrada
I agree with you that the 1098 and F3 are drop dead gorgeous machines. However, both are 'recycled' designs from the older bikes. The 1098 is a more rounded, softer interpretation of the 916 (996/998) and it kinda lacks that archaic brutality of the old design. The F3 is a reworked version of the F4 design, which would have been my pick. It's a 23 year old design that still looks up to date, truly timeless. F4 and 916 btw. are both Tamburini designs. He once admitted, that for the 916 he copied elements from the Honda NR750.
My first motorcycle was a 1988 Honda Rebel 250 and I remember sitting in the backyard staring at it all night. I was in love. Still the most beautiful bike I’ve owned was my 94 Honda CBR 600 f2. It was black with purple and yellow stripes. I bought it new off the show room floor and was so excited riding it home. Still recall the smell and sound after all this time. It was stolen six days later. Ah the memories.
I'd love to see a daily rider with several of these bikes. If anyone owns any of these, especially the ugly ones, please let Zack ride one for an episode!
Gotta love Zach, he’s a Beamer boy through and through. All the way through the discussion on the K-1, looking at his face, you would’ve thought they were talking about his little sister.
Kudos to Spencer for thinking outside the box, but then picking a bike that scores on all fronts. It’s legacy over so many decades is proof positive. By contrast, Zach, you can’t pick a bike so flagrantly controversial in terms of whether or not it’s beautiful, to be a selection. It’s got to appeal to most all.
Actually built in a fully equipped workshop / factory in Christchurch with about a dozen employees. The 'built in a back shed' is a common misconception. Still gorgeous bikes though.
@@davidpettinger6350 I know it was not a "garage" but a full on shop. Kevin Cameron did a great article on him many years ago and seeing some sucess in BOTT was so impressive. That "bundle of snakes" exhaust is so beautiful. Thank you for the input.
The TR6 actually predates the Bonneville, and the original Bonneville in 59 was totally off in styling so they made it look more like the TR6 starting in 60. I believe the TR6 started in like 56
"Soon to be unborn child" Spurge you've got some English going on there. Can't say I've ever seen an ugly motorcycle. Im not a fan of the function over form look of dirtbikes and ADV's but I wouldn't call them ugly. The 2 best looking bikes I have ever seen are both Hondas. Penultimate is the DN-01 and 1st place is the Honda Rune. The Rune is rolling work of art that looks just as good on the highway as it does in a museum. I think Zacks KTM was supermoto before supermoto was kewl. Don't think we should be using scoots here fellas, scooters ain't motorcycles. Zack, Ari, you are WRONG! The Honda Rune is gorgeous! Good point forget what anyone else thinks or says and just "GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE!"
Beauty (and lack thereof), is and will always be a personal thing. I find the 2004 BMW 1150 Rt to be a very beautiful bike. The MOST beautiful, for me is an MV Agusta F4 circa 2013 - 2015. Of course if you ask me tomorrow, that will have changed... This was a fun watch. Keep it up!
I would say that the mv agusta superveloce is just a piece of art. And I’m ONLY talking about looks which was the whole point of the conversation not engine, or engineering, etc…
Strange that the nm4 is pictured and not mentioned. I guess it’s understandable. I own one and can’t figure out if it is ugly or beautiful. Me and the wife love it for touring….. yes touring.
This was totally fun. Spurge and I are on the same wavelength for aesthetics. My pick for beauty is the 1968 Triumph Bonneville, but I do but into the '66 TR6. Thanks guys and gal for sharing all your great info and opinions
I looked at motorcycles as early as 1970-71, but didn’t buy my first until 1984. If I were to choose the best looking motorcycle based on how impressed I was on first sight I would choose the 1984 Honda 750 Interceptor. When I saw one in some independent VW mechanics garage in Flagstaff, AZ in 1984 I wasn’t knowledgeable about any current bikes. Seeing the Interceptor in his garage blew me away. Then a year later a friend bought one (but the 700cc version) and he let me ride it, the first pure street bike I ever rode. (Of course now it looks just…old!)
My older brother had a bonnivile i bought a 65 Ducati 350 in 75 for a hundred dollars and pushed it home more than I rode it and sold it for the same the next year my younger brother went with the Vespa and had the most fun and still has it i moved to Minnesota and have been riding a Klr for the last ten years now . I liked your triumph pick the best . I had the most fun on my brothers triumph in Southern California summertime in the late 70s .enjoyed your bickering
To me, the best looking motorcycles are ones that look both fast and powerful. All smooth fairings just looks fast, huge bare engine just looks powerful. Motorcycles like the Ducati MH900e hit both the speed and power aesthetic really well.
I love 60s bikes. I think the Vincent Black Shadow is the most beautiful motorcycle ever made. But the one that speaks to me the most ever, is the Valkyrie Rune. Was never able to get one.
A year late but I have to say that the K1 is probably one of my favorite looking bikes. I just really like the body of it and the paint jobs people have done to them are the coolest things in the world. Even the "ketchup and mustard" colors just speak to me as being awesome.
Gear shift on the right was also an early Sportster thing as well, from 57 to 62 or 63. The original competition for the Sportster was the 650 to 850 British parallel twins. The Brits did the changeover in 72, 73, and by 74 had the standard left peg shifter after that. Learned on mom's 66 Bonneville, and have her Norton 850 Commando to this day. Lost my right leg 2 years ago. Above knee. Wife rides it now, as shifting with the prosthetic isn't going to happen, without going air or heel toe. It was restored 4 years ago, and we don't want to modify it.
My VStrom was ugly as hell but a solid machine. my R1200GS was also ugly but also a solid machine, but eventually I went with a R NineT which has a great combination of classic looks and eccentricity with the boxer engine
+1 on the Vespa! I started on scooters as well and my first dream motorcycle was a Vespa 300 GT. I don’t sweat the opinions of sheep 🐑. We are all originals and shouldn’t be expected to think, act or look like anyone else.
I reckon KTM are not known for beauty. But to me, the most beautiful bike ever is the 990. As time passes by, they only look better, they have captured the essence of the Dakar and aventure.
great question from james, i here this alot from hd guys refering to sportster riders. i started on a 74 cb750 then graduayed to a triumph t160 trident but last a year ago i got a 2000 triumph legend and yes its got a bit more poweer but i feel i only graduated from breaking down far away from home. the t160 will alsays be mine but keeping it running is murder while the legend is reliable and i think just as cool and beautiful. though ide love a bonnie bobber i wouldnt trade either of my bikes for it no matter how old i get. thougth i have to say the girls love the trident.
Best looking bike I owned was a 1989 BMW K100RS - Pearl White with Blue Race Stripe. As for best looking of all time I would lean towards the Moto Guzzi V11 LeMans or the Norton Commando.
S5 welcome back fellas! Over the holiday's I binged the Netflix series "Formula1: Drive to Survive". Prior to watching it, I had only a passing interest in F1, but the story telling really hooked me. You already know where I'm going with this: A Comoto Holdings Production, in association w/Motul presents “MotoGP: Pin it to Win it” streaming on Apple TV I will forgo my tee shirt in lieu of a production credit. Keep up the good work!
I love Spurge's most beautiful bike selection. It's gorgeous in my opinion. Similar to the one Zito built, which I always really liked when it showed up on Common Thread.
That's right. It's a completely meaningless measurement for the user standpoint. They can have a 8:1 ratio, or 10:1... or whatever. So pick yourself up Splurge, it's most likely around 100 "traditional" torque values.
It Gets really weird when they start measuring something different and then comparing to something measured in the traditional way. What torque do you get at the wheel on a 450 mx when revving it and dropping the clutch in first gear? That will also be a big number.
I hate when people reference EV claimed torque values without realizing that the values are often extremely misleading when being compared to ICE bikes especially but even when compared to other EVs. EVs almost always claim torque at the output shaft or wheel...ICE bikes never claim torque at the output shaft or wheel, just the engine crankshaft. The 690 ft-lbs that the Stark Varg claims is at the rear wheel...after going through both a primary and secondary gear reduction. For reference a CRF450R could claim 720 ft-lbs at the wheel in first gear and a YZ450FX could claim 870 ft-lbs. Peak torque values are usually never really all that meaningful and on an EV they are basically meaningless. Also best looking bike I've owned is easily the Honda RC51... in my opinion one of the coolest looking sport bikes ever. Ugliest bike is almost certainly my current KTM 790 Adventure but I actually like how wonky it looks.
BMW K75 and K100 'flying' bricks the cylinders are laid on the side parallel to the ground. The intakes are on top with the exhaust coming out the bottom.
Had to re watch the RC30 Daily Driver episode. Nice bike. May I please add the ultra cool 2-stroke 85-87 Suzuki 500 Gamma as being a seriously nice looking bike from the 80’s? That was the bike that had me go Aha for the first time regarding bikes.
An interesting and engaging conversation. In the best-looking category, I think you listed a number of what I would call 'iconic' machines, and alongside the Vespa I would add Honda's C50 for example. My 916 Duke would get my personal vote for prettiest, alongside MVs F1 (Tamborini strikes again), and on that I'm surprised the Bimota didn't get a namecheck! In terms of the ugly, there's a whole untapped area of Eastern European utilitarian beasts, just Google CZ, MZ or even the Cossack - there's yer sidecar outfit, Zack...
Best looking bike I have ever owned was my 1984 smoke silver R100RS. Classy, elegant, timeless. My current ride, a 2019 R1250RT wishes it looked so good.
Really speaks to me this episode. When you said about the ugliest bike you've owned my k75rt came straight to mind so you mentioned the k1 I'm very much on side with you.. Like you guys though I still own my ugly bike and absolutely love it. That bike also speaks to the point about not caring what others think. I got the k when I was 22 (15 years ago) and at the time my mates all had fancy new sports tourers, vfr800 and such. They all thought I was bonkers for buying the ugly old tank but I went everywhere they did all the same. Ironically though I've had it for so long that they all love it now too. Great show guys keep it up! 👍
Great Episode once again, love that Zack mentioned my hometown, Vienna Austria for the C1, there are still actually a few of them around. Did you hear that one month after purchase basically every newly sold bike had to be taken back to the shop? At red lights Riders forgot to put their feet down as they didn‘t realize they‘re on a scooter, not a car, and tripped over hahaha.
I guess I might be kind of alone in this, though I don't understand why. But a 90's Goldwing GL1500... One of the most beautiful for me! Maybe I was just the right age (around 10ish) when I first saw it - and I have always been so fascinated with it, and I honestly still think it looks very good, and not really very outdated, like many others from that time does!
Seeing the Britten for the first time and all I can think about is how it looks bio-technological and how uncanny it is. The blue top section is incredibly "biological," e.g., the faring, tank, seat, and fender gives it a weird Lizard vibe (it looks like a head) and the tubing in the center of the bike looks exactly like intestines. Merged with the clearly mechanical bottom half, it just gives horribly incongruous man/machine vibes, like the Master from Fallout one or any other classically uncanny thing.
It's a smaller and smaller world. I'm a 2 stroke freak but an automotive engine guy by trade. I had a small performance parts manufacturing company called Cadillac Performance Parts and made virtually every engine part for the old big block Cadillac 472 & 500s. I was invited to a couple of dyno shootouts by name of Engine Masters Challenge in the early 2ks . I dedicated my '05 build to Jon Britten and I called the folks who make the TurboX thermal coatings we use on headers, manifolds, and turbos, etc. I was looking for a colored coating that matched the V1000 pipe. The lady at the front desk patches me through to 'Jerry' out in the shop. This fella with what seemed to be a southern draw (even to me and I'm from Tennessee) picks up and as I was asking about some sort of purple header coating he interrupted and said we don't hardly do custom colors much any more BUT we have a couple of quarts of sort of purple from this feller from New Zealand who got the first two or three cans and never got the last one. He says it's a few years old and he didn't know if it was any good or not but he'd be glad to send it to me. Joy and sadness hit me simultaneously as I explained to him who that feller was and why he didn't get the last can. He died. So I got the last quart and it worked well. It was my second trip to the Challenge but unlike Jon's second trip to the Battle of the Twins, we didn't win but I've no doubt we would have if not for a catastrophic parts failure - namely due to not torquing the main crankshaft bolt that held the harmonic balancer on. It was the project of a lifetime and it was even better dedicating it to Britten and his uphill battle for the ultimate motorcycle. Oh, and as I watch on through this video ...on my TV, I grab my phone to do this reply (mostly because it takes WAY too long to type on the Roku remote) to add to what the boys were saying about the Britten V build. Yeah Jon was a beast when it came to engineering. He built his own patterns, cast em in a chicken coop. Used the engine as THE stressed member so center of gravity and weight were basically wherever you could afford for them to be. Before he got sick he made his second trip to the Battle of the Twins and won it. Unbelievable by ANY standard if ya as me. Thanks 'fellers' . Great videos, btw. 👍
This was a great segment! Nice shout outs to Vespa, my first love. And great to know the name to the BMW C1! I saw them everywhere in Rome (Italy) and have been wondering for years what the hell those scooters were called. Thanks boys!
My KTM 1090 Adventure R is an awesome bike but unfortunately have to agree that it may not be the most beautiful bike out there. Great show and excellent advice on not listening to opinions on buying a bigger or different bike than the one you have and love riding. That being said, it's never a bad idea to add another bike to your garage, unless that bike costs $75 and a case of beer. Still owe Spurgeon a beer as thanks for some KTM advice so hopefully will make it across the border and see you at the Get On ADV Fest.
2005 Raven R1. In my mind, this where the sort of hyper aggressive sports bike styling, that began with the 916, peaked. Nicely tucked under-seat exhausts, sharp, clear intakes that look like the intakes of a third generation fighter jet. Since then things have gotten a bit silly or squeezed (for functional reasons, but as a detriment to the pure aesthetics). With the 2005 R1 yamaha managed to put together some lines that look aggressive, fast - the fairings almost look like they're being extruded rearwards by the airflow - and innovative, without being overly gimmicky. And of course, the headlights. Yamaha has always been willing to be a bit adventurous with their front ends, and I think they just nailed it with the 4-eyed scowl of that R1 combined with the absolutely lovely multiple curves of the windscreen and front fairing. The red rim linings on the wheels against the otherwise almost entirely black bike are the attention grabber, and then the rest of the shape just sits very comfortably on the retinas.
Oh man... Glad the mh900e got a mention, definitely my pick for best looking. maybe not a popular pick, but the Moto Guzzi Centauro in red and white is definitely a contender for good looking. Oddly the yellow and black edition could compete for ugliest.
Didn't know about the standardization of shifting. Wow. I'm not yet a Harley guy but I love the look of a Harley Davidson Fat Boy. Ducati Multistrada is gorgeous, but I do love my Africa Twin.
I owned a 1970 CB500/4 in 1987. When I got it, it had a 4 into one and ape hangers.I tried to bend them into a more fitting shape, and the previous owner complained he had spent good money on them. My best looking bike was a 750 Katana with the pop up light, my worst looking an A100 (Suzuki). Best looking bike of all time Bimota DB1, I walked past one every day after work in 1986. It was in a bike shop window with spotlights on a stage, and I wanted it so bad. I think its the best looking because it was the Lamborghini Countach of motorcycles, back then it had a $35 000 price tag (I think it was a DB1SR), and it was so exotic to me. Just lodged in my head forever, that is the most desirable motorcycle. Most ugly bike in my opinion the Honda PC800. Strangely similar to the DB1, and the Paso 750/906 which was developed from the DB1. Oddly though I love the concept, and it's a very capable bike in terms of doing what it was designed to do. Apparently the panniers seal so well they could be used to store liquids.
I have FTR, it’s beautiful. I’m surprised no one mentioned the Vmax. I owned one of those. And I believe that the Vmax actually won a Guggenheim award.
I am 60 so I grew up through the 60's, 70's, and 80's. At those ages is when things make impressions on you but I think modern motorcycles are the most attractive. I look back and can't believe we thought the past bikes were attractive. The Ducati Panigale 1199 or 1299 are the prettiest bikes. The 916 brought me to Ducati but it is a shame it is poorly engineered. An L shaped twin with the back cylinder under your testicles is not a great idea. As much as I have always wanted one I would not buy one because of that one flaw.
on the subject of diversity, since Spenser mentions brunette white dudes. I'm a Canadian Chinese, can I join your team? :P Jokes aside, have been listening to your Spotify podcast/RU-vid ever since the first episode, may have looped from S1E1 to the end more then once. I would have won the "listening contest" if I have been listening on Apple podcast. More importantly, lovely lovely stuff you guys have here, please keep it going, and for the love of god Zack review the MT 09 Please!!!!!!!!!!
The one motorcycle that everyone still stops to look at is the Honda CBX. I had a 1979 and wherever I parked it I would always find people looking at it and asking about it when I came back.
Pretty sure that how to get into motorcycling video was the first I watched when I was looking to start. Had Ari on a katana and Zach on that Honda I believe. Describing all the things you typically find on $1000 motorcycles. Y'all should do a follow up video if you still have both bikes hahaha
How do you leave a comment on apple?? Tried and can’t do it. Been riding for 50 some years… but still a young 58… dad owned a Kawasaki and Hodaka shop in the late 60s and through the seventies. The best looking bike?? In 1980 I turned 16 and already had my GPz550…. The first one in Canada, incredibly fast for it’s time and in my mind one of the best looking bikes.
A Fine, Refreshing podcast. I Can Absolutely say That Without It, my Nerves are Fried. Only Revzilla could Truly Have the Enterprising, Winning talent - Indeed, the Natrual, No-nonsense and Occasionally captivating Topics Kick The Medium into high gear. Not Over-Worked, Supremely Edited, Never Dull, and Motorcycles Everywhere - well done Amigos! To Spurg - How Irrational is your Reverence to kTm? (Find the hidden message using the capital letters, guys...)