Whats the worst thing about your bike aesthetically?
Discussion
I was just looking at some pictures of my bike and thinking, even the best looking bikes have some terrible bits of design, or a terrible colour scheme or something. Obviously everyone loves their own bike but there has to be something you don't like on it? Even the original shape MV F4 (which in my opinion is one of the best designs ever) has something wrong on it. Thought it may make an interesting thread (although I am slightly pissed so it may not!)
For me its the f
king gold bars they decided to put on gen 2 Tuonos. What the fk was that all about. Admittedly its not the prettiest bike ever, the nose cone divides opinion but I'm not sure many people can argue the frame, swingarm, wheels and back end are pretty sexy. Even worse is the baby st brown frame on the factory models, which luckily mine isn't blighted with but I guess the Ohlins makes up for it.
My other bike which is a burgundy Thundercat I actually struggle to think of something that looks even semi decent!
For me its the f
king gold bars they decided to put on gen 2 Tuonos. What the fk was that all about. Admittedly its not the prettiest bike ever, the nose cone divides opinion but I'm not sure many people can argue the frame, swingarm, wheels and back end are pretty sexy. Even worse is the baby st brown frame on the factory models, which luckily mine isn't blighted with but I guess the Ohlins makes up for it. My other bike which is a burgundy Thundercat I actually struggle to think of something that looks even semi decent!
On my Tiger 800 the gold forks are annoying and why they chose to fit a contrasting grey pillion seat is beyond me. The third issue is the light grey grab handles. I'm tempted to get them powder coated to either match the dark grey wheels or frame, or possibly paint them black. Aside from that, if I could justify the cost I'd probably get the aluminium sections of my top box and panniers anodised black.
Bellypan gap on the 2008-2016 Fireblade.
I get why it's there, but god it looks crap once you remove the OE exhaust. If Honda had sold an infil panel they'd have made millions! (Yes I know you can get infil panels now)
It's similar across a lot of the newer generation of bikes.
Oh, and the rear hugger is stupidly short. If you're going to fit hugger. Fit a proper one. not a 2 inch piece of plastics that does nothing.
I get why it's there, but god it looks crap once you remove the OE exhaust. If Honda had sold an infil panel they'd have made millions! (Yes I know you can get infil panels now)
It's similar across a lot of the newer generation of bikes.
Oh, and the rear hugger is stupidly short. If you're going to fit hugger. Fit a proper one. not a 2 inch piece of plastics that does nothing.
I never liked this bit on the tank on my blade. I know it's supposed to make the bike look light as if things have been stretched over the frame / engine etc but it just looks unfinished with the air box poking out ? I think Tadao must have thought so as well as they changed it on the 954.
patchb said:
I was just looking at some pictures of my bike and thinking, even the best looking bikes have some terrible bits of design, or a terrible colour scheme or something. Obviously everyone loves their own bike but there has to be something you don't like on it? Even the original shape MV F4 (which in my opinion is one of the best designs ever) has something wrong on it. Thought it may make an interesting thread (although I am slightly pissed so it may not!)
For me its the fking gold bars they decided to put on gen 2 Tuonos. What the fk was that all about. Admittedly its not the prettiest bike ever, the nose cone divides opinion but I'm not sure many people can argue the frame, swingarm, wheels and back end are pretty sexy. Even worse is the baby st brown frame on the factory models, which luckily mine isn't blighted with but I guess the Ohlins makes up for it.
If you had bought the Factory version, you'd have complained if the bars were silver!For me its the f
king gold bars they decided to put on gen 2 Tuonos. What the fk was that all about. Admittedly its not the prettiest bike ever, the nose cone divides opinion but I'm not sure many people can argue the frame, swingarm, wheels and back end are pretty sexy. Even worse is the baby st brown frame on the factory models, which luckily mine isn't blighted with but I guess the Ohlins makes up for it. 
spareparts said:
patchb said:
I was just looking at some pictures of my bike and thinking, even the best looking bikes have some terrible bits of design, or a terrible colour scheme or something. Obviously everyone loves their own bike but there has to be something you don't like on it? Even the original shape MV F4 (which in my opinion is one of the best designs ever) has something wrong on it. Thought it may make an interesting thread (although I am slightly pissed so it may not!)
For me its the fking gold bars they decided to put on gen 2 Tuonos. What the fk was that all about. Admittedly its not the prettiest bike ever, the nose cone divides opinion but I'm not sure many people can argue the frame, swingarm, wheels and back end are pretty sexy. Even worse is the baby st brown frame on the factory models, which luckily mine isn't blighted with but I guess the Ohlins makes up for it.
If you had bought the Factory version, you'd have complained if the bars were silver!For me its the f
king gold bars they decided to put on gen 2 Tuonos. What the fk was that all about. Admittedly its not the prettiest bike ever, the nose cone divides opinion but I'm not sure many people can argue the frame, swingarm, wheels and back end are pretty sexy. Even worse is the baby st brown frame on the factory models, which luckily mine isn't blighted with but I guess the Ohlins makes up for it. 
I'm not a fan of the 'hearing aid' brown on the early factory models, but they changed it after a couple of years to better match the ohlins and the gold wheels on the 08/09 models.
I will say it does have a large arse, even with a huge pillion seat on it there's loads of plastic left, it could be a bit more petit in that area. Oh and the front indicators are bloody huge! I'll swap them out to LEDs at some point.
If gold isn't your thing a tuono factory probably isn't the bike for you though
they're not what everyone would call 'pretty' but they're certainly eye-catching!My current Aprilia standard mirrors looked pants so I put the bar ones on (even though most the guys I ride with prefer the originals. Its not as 'pretty' as my last bike but definitely more all round and practical
My last bike (MV Agusta) I thought was a piece of art...except for the tail unit. The original was bloody awful so I put and R&G one on then a few months later an aftermarket company made one that went under the seat with built in led indicators. In my opinion it looks loads better and getting rid of it in September was a tough pill to swallow
I think like the OP said every bike has its flaws - when I think back theres been something on all mine thats given me the hump and wanted to change
My last bike (MV Agusta) I thought was a piece of art...except for the tail unit. The original was bloody awful so I put and R&G one on then a few months later an aftermarket company made one that went under the seat with built in led indicators. In my opinion it looks loads better and getting rid of it in September was a tough pill to swallow
I think like the OP said every bike has its flaws - when I think back theres been something on all mine thats given me the hump and wanted to change
CBR954RR - after I have removed the ugly shovel of a number plate holder only the original turn signals are a bit too big, the rest looks perfect, I even like the dustbin of the exhaust. I keep that bike standard though so I do not change the turn signals.
Suzuki GSXR1000 K6 - the exhaust can looks ugly from the side (OK from the rear). But I can't be bothered to change it.
Daytona 675 - the long leg of the numberplate holder (but not allowed to change it where I am at) and the fact that I cannot buy a rear sit cover that would fully replace the rear seat (what is sold is partial cover for the rear seat and I do not like it). The rest looks great, again, I like the standard exhaust (and do not like the Arrow optional exhaust).
Suzuki GSXR1000 K6 - the exhaust can looks ugly from the side (OK from the rear). But I can't be bothered to change it.
Daytona 675 - the long leg of the numberplate holder (but not allowed to change it where I am at) and the fact that I cannot buy a rear sit cover that would fully replace the rear seat (what is sold is partial cover for the rear seat and I do not like it). The rest looks great, again, I like the standard exhaust (and do not like the Arrow optional exhaust).
Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Sunday 22 January 15:09
WaferThinHam said:
Bellypan gap on the 2008-2016 Fireblade.
I get why it's there, but god it looks crap once you remove the OE exhaust. If Honda had sold an infil panel they'd have made millions! (Yes I know you can get infil panels now)
It's similar across a lot of the newer generation of bikes.
Oh, and the rear hugger is stupidly short. If you're going to fit hugger. Fit a proper one. not a 2 inch piece of plastics that does nothing.
I totally agree with you!I get why it's there, but god it looks crap once you remove the OE exhaust. If Honda had sold an infil panel they'd have made millions! (Yes I know you can get infil panels now)
It's similar across a lot of the newer generation of bikes.
Oh, and the rear hugger is stupidly short. If you're going to fit hugger. Fit a proper one. not a 2 inch piece of plastics that does nothing.
CBR1000 look s
te without original exhaust!And then we have these bikes with open exhaust collectors: S1000RR and R1.
S1000RR only look good during 2015-2016 model years, now they are back to the ugly open collector.
R1's collector looks so ugly as well, why in the world they couldn't cover it with some plastic or a piece of aluminum (like on Daytona 675, for example)?
That's why I like old school bikes, like my 954RR and K6, they have fairings extending all the way back to the rear tyre, and the new Fireblade went back to this look!
Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Sunday 22 January 15:10
On my MV F4 its the useless mirrors and the fact that you crush your thumbs between the bar and the tank when you are on full lock
Daytona 675, the fact that even on the brand new ones they still have huge unsightly indicators where most manufacturers for the past 10 years have integrated them into the mirrors and tail unit. Watsen design repeaters are such an improvement
Daytona 675, the fact that even on the brand new ones they still have huge unsightly indicators where most manufacturers for the past 10 years have integrated them into the mirrors and tail unit. Watsen design repeaters are such an improvement
I'm a huge fan of gold stuff! I used to have an XT660X in the 'Scooby' blue with gold wheels - loved it just for that 
The worst bit of most bike design has to be front mudguards: surely there must be a better way to stop all the salt/dirt & other associated st from flicking up from the front wheel & corroding the headers, radiator etc....
Oh, & why can't manufacturers design number plate mounts? Why do we need to splash out on after market tail tidys, which are of patchy quality??
The worst bit of most bike design has to be front mudguards: surely there must be a better way to stop all the salt/dirt & other associated s
t from flicking up from the front wheel & corroding the headers, radiator etc....Oh, & why can't manufacturers design number plate mounts? Why do we need to splash out on after market tail tidys, which are of patchy quality??
The 1300 Pan European looks bloody silly without its panniers. The old 1100 had spring-loaded panels that flipped down to hide the pannier hangers when you took the boxes off and the lines were then similar to other Honda rear-ends. I guess that Honda's market research suggested that nobody buys a sports-tourer to use it without the luggage.
The cheap ass matt black plastic fill in bits on my Speed Triple (mine is red).
I was in luck and found a bike where the last owner however spent £600 (yes I have the receipts) on carbon fibre replacement bits for literally everything except it seems the lower side sections of the front mudguard. The guy even managed to replace the rad and clock shrouds/surrounds and the battery/airbox cover on the front of the tank. Standard I have to say its those parts look really low rent having seen pics and others in the flesh.
But on mine the red paint/CF/black frame/swingarm/engine combo does work and actually look very nice. Just I spot the mudguard parts he missed everyday and am currently choosing to ignore them cos I have better things to spend my own money on lol
I was in luck and found a bike where the last owner however spent £600 (yes I have the receipts) on carbon fibre replacement bits for literally everything except it seems the lower side sections of the front mudguard. The guy even managed to replace the rad and clock shrouds/surrounds and the battery/airbox cover on the front of the tank. Standard I have to say its those parts look really low rent having seen pics and others in the flesh.
But on mine the red paint/CF/black frame/swingarm/engine combo does work and actually look very nice. Just I spot the mudguard parts he missed everyday and am currently choosing to ignore them cos I have better things to spend my own money on lol
I'm in two minds about the air duct sleeves on my T595 Daytona. They're not real carbon fibre, nor is the binnacle. I like the look of them but I can't quite work out why Triumph chose to do them like that. The carbon fibre hugger looks miles better, as it's proper moulded graphite with a nice weave.
I'm also not too pleased with the exhaust fittings. When I changed the can I had to use some aftermarket fittings as the originals on the low level bracket were stuck fast. I used nuts, washers and bolts from B and Q. It doesn't look great but it seems sturdy enough.
I'm also not too pleased with the exhaust fittings. When I changed the can I had to use some aftermarket fittings as the originals on the low level bracket were stuck fast. I used nuts, washers and bolts from B and Q. It doesn't look great but it seems sturdy enough.
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