Do you like motorbikes?
Discussion
As someone who essentially likes anything with an engine, here are my current favs:
Niki Smart's unbelievable prototype ABC500:
|https://thumbsnap.com/h3VvXpBn[/url]
He was also the lead designer on the Ariel Atom. The detailing is exceptional, see more at:
https://www.abikecompany.com/abc500
Browse the above link to more pics. Look where the front headlamps are. Where the rear light is. How the tank is split in two to facilitate the frame. It looks hardtail, but isn't - look where the rear damper is. Check out the groovy girder forks - looks like a 1920s solution, but it's bang up to date (he uses the Hossack design: https://www.hossack-design.com/). The overall design is a tribute to 1920s board tracker bikes.
How impressive is that? He only ever did this for a weekend hobby - I struggle to get the lawn mowed. He manufactured all the parts himself, including even the wheels. Jay Leno was very taken with it, though he's a bit on the large side to be sitting on something as slender as this : ) Here's a fascinated Leno quizzing him about it:
https://youtu.be/o-KGnUIDwAQ[url]
Other bikes that appeal to me:
The Vincent engine - the looks, the sound:
The Norvin - turn your volume up to 11 and enjoy:
https://youtu.be/jVeLhO9Kerk
And this fantastic one from Untitled Motorcycles in London:
Niki Smart's unbelievable prototype ABC500:
|https://thumbsnap.com/h3VvXpBn[/url]He was also the lead designer on the Ariel Atom. The detailing is exceptional, see more at:
https://www.abikecompany.com/abc500
Browse the above link to more pics. Look where the front headlamps are. Where the rear light is. How the tank is split in two to facilitate the frame. It looks hardtail, but isn't - look where the rear damper is. Check out the groovy girder forks - looks like a 1920s solution, but it's bang up to date (he uses the Hossack design: https://www.hossack-design.com/). The overall design is a tribute to 1920s board tracker bikes.
How impressive is that? He only ever did this for a weekend hobby - I struggle to get the lawn mowed. He manufactured all the parts himself, including even the wheels. Jay Leno was very taken with it, though he's a bit on the large side to be sitting on something as slender as this : ) Here's a fascinated Leno quizzing him about it:
https://youtu.be/o-KGnUIDwAQ[url]
Other bikes that appeal to me:
The Vincent engine - the looks, the sound:
The Norvin - turn your volume up to 11 and enjoy:
https://youtu.be/jVeLhO9Kerk
And this fantastic one from Untitled Motorcycles in London:
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 12th June 23:41
I've always loved motorbikes, but I'm not a fan of the current "bobber" style sadly. 
I can't get excited about any single, and for me a twin has to be a 2-stroke like the Yamaha RDs I had in my teens or the RG250 Suzuki I had some years later.
For me four-stroke bikes need at least 3 cylinders - but then my KH500 2-stroke triple was also fantastic!
But it's like cars - we all have preferences.
I can't get excited about any single, and for me a twin has to be a 2-stroke like the Yamaha RDs I had in my teens or the RG250 Suzuki I had some years later.
For me four-stroke bikes need at least 3 cylinders - but then my KH500 2-stroke triple was also fantastic!
But it's like cars - we all have preferences.
I don't like many motorcycles produced after about 1985, most of them are ugly bits of plastic to my mind, yes they are very capable and fast, but don't do a thing for me. The golden era was the 1960's and 70's.
1978 Suzuki SP370
1968 Triumph Bonneville
|https://thumbsnap.com/nov3gYP2[/url]
1978 Suzuki SP370
1968 Triumph Bonneville
|https://thumbsnap.com/nov3gYP2[/url]underwhelmist said:
I love bikes but the first couple you posted don’t appeal to me at all, they’re all form over function. Most bikes don’t look like that for a reason.
First 2 pics same bike different angles. Yeah looks unrideable, but it's deceptive. I saw Jay Leno on it and it's got a pretty standard riding position. It's a homage to the old board racers of the 20s; they all had that basic shape and were v functional for racing. Though for sure you'd hardly want to undertake a long journey on one! Whereas I've been on choppers that look comfortable, all big padded seats, but were a pita to ride. Here's an old boards racer from the 1920s - stance pretty identical: 
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 13th June 16:39
I’ve always loved bikes. I miss my Fireblade with its obscene power (but probably nothing compared to superbikes now). Most of all I miss my old VFR750. The engine was the work of a genius. The torque was out of this world. Very rarely had to change down as it would pull with astonishing ease in top gear.
Scared myself towards the end as I started to become too complacent on familiar roads.
Scared myself towards the end as I started to become too complacent on familiar roads.
Wacky Racer said:
1968 Triumph Bonneville
I have one of these as my current project. Well, technically speaking, it’s a Trophy, but it has a Bonneville twin carb head on it (the main difference between the two). It was sitting outside for 20 years, and needs everything. I have stripped it to a bare frame, painted it, and am now rebuilding it. Currently working on the engine but COVID stopped play as I need the local machine shop to reopen.
Lovely bikes with a unique sound. Can’t wait to get it running.
https://youtu.be/FQNC_KNgSJY
You’ll love these op.
I first got a bike 10 years ago in my mid thirties. Best thing I’ve done.
I don’t have the time or money these days to indulge too much but I still love going out on my SV650 when I can.
You’ll love these op.
I first got a bike 10 years ago in my mid thirties. Best thing I’ve done.
I don’t have the time or money these days to indulge too much but I still love going out on my SV650 when I can.
tommy1973s said:
As someone who essentially likes anything with an engine, here are my current favs:
Niki Smart's unbelievable prototype ABC500:
|https://thumbsnap.com/h3VvXpBn[/url]
He was also the lead designer on the Ariel Atom. The detailing is exceptional, see more at:
https://www.abikecompany.com/abc500
Browse the above link to more pics. Look where the front headlamps are. Where the rear light is. How the tank is split in two to facilitate the frame. It looks hardtail, but isn't - look where the rear damper is. Check out the groovy girder forks - looks like a 1920s solution, but it's bang up to date (he uses the Hossack design: https://www.hossack-design.com/). The overall design is a tribute to 1920s board tracker bikes.
How impressive is that? He only ever did this for a weekend hobby - I struggle to get the lawn mowed. He manufactured all the parts himself, including even the wheels. Jay Leno was very taken with it, though he's a bit on the large side to be sitting on something as slender as this : ) Here's a fascinated Leno quizzing him about it:
https://youtu.be/o-KGnUIDwAQ[url]
Other bikes that appeal to me:
The Vincent engine - the looks, the sound:
The Norvin - turn your volume up to 11 and enjoy:
https://youtu.be/jVeLhO9Kerk
And this fantastic one from Untitled Motorcycles in London:
Incredible bit of work that. Niki Smart's unbelievable prototype ABC500:
|https://thumbsnap.com/h3VvXpBn[/url]He was also the lead designer on the Ariel Atom. The detailing is exceptional, see more at:
https://www.abikecompany.com/abc500
Browse the above link to more pics. Look where the front headlamps are. Where the rear light is. How the tank is split in two to facilitate the frame. It looks hardtail, but isn't - look where the rear damper is. Check out the groovy girder forks - looks like a 1920s solution, but it's bang up to date (he uses the Hossack design: https://www.hossack-design.com/). The overall design is a tribute to 1920s board tracker bikes.
How impressive is that? He only ever did this for a weekend hobby - I struggle to get the lawn mowed. He manufactured all the parts himself, including even the wheels. Jay Leno was very taken with it, though he's a bit on the large side to be sitting on something as slender as this : ) Here's a fascinated Leno quizzing him about it:
https://youtu.be/o-KGnUIDwAQ[url]
Other bikes that appeal to me:
The Vincent engine - the looks, the sound:
The Norvin - turn your volume up to 11 and enjoy:
https://youtu.be/jVeLhO9Kerk
And this fantastic one from Untitled Motorcycles in London:
Edited by tommy1973s on Friday 12th June 23:41
Very much so; I've always thought that even the lowliest 50cc dog of a scooter is more fun than any car. Don't get me wrong I like cars too but after larking about on a bike the experience seems a bit...one dimensional. I did my bike test straight after finishing uni and got a 2006 GSX-R600. Contrary to the predictions of everybody I didn't die and loved every minute of it. The trouble I found was that bikes have fairly major drawbacks as everyday transport, and as a hobby they were always going to come after my sporting endeavours (but still cost a load of money). So I've been without a bike for ages now, but I do hope to get something smallish, simple and off-road capable to flatter around the local lanes soon.
Not a fan of the ABC. Very good styling work but not my taste at all.
I no longer have a bike, but if I had the space...
My favourite of 30 years was my urban tiger yellow and purple fireblade. Bought it on a whim after dropping my mate off for a puncture repair. That was an expensive favour.
I no longer have a bike, but if I had the space...
My favourite of 30 years was my urban tiger yellow and purple fireblade. Bought it on a whim after dropping my mate off for a puncture repair. That was an expensive favour.
I like bikes, but can someone answer me a question? Why do some bikers constantly tinker with them? We have a new neighbour who has one and every dry day presents an opportunity for him to wheel it out on to his drive and dismantle it, then put it back together, all accompanied by frequent and sustained revving of the engine. I could understand if it was an old bike, it it’s not, it’s a couple of years old max.
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