MOST BEAUTIFUL [ACCESSIBLE] BIKE EVER?

[rodekyll]

Late '40s BSA ZA10 plunger twins were nice.  The BMW /2 is a favorite for style (not so much the mechanicals) and the Eldorado.

[Waterbottle]

"Beauty .... Is in the eye of the Beer Holder" or something like that  :D
There are so many bikes we would all like to have ? 
One of the bikes I found fun to ride in town was a twin cylinder SL175 honda Scrambler. I'm pretty sure they made 250's and 350's too. One of those would be nice.

[Vasco DG]

Not really accessible but for great technology for its day and stunning looks the Rudge Ulster and the Cammy New Imp of the mid-late thirties both are wonderful.

For you youngsters? I still think the Griso is the most astonishing styling statement of the last ten years.

Pete

[Chuck in Indiana]

Ralph , those GB 500s were amazing . Probably my favorite Japanese MC .

  Dusty

Mine, too. I never understood why they were "unsuccessful." Of course, I never bought one, either.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Toaster tank beemers . Go ahead call me crazy  ::) :D

  Dusty

:hurl:  :-*

[Guzzistajohn]

Bulltaco Metralla

[huub]

I owned both of those 10 years back both in tough shape, on my why did you sell them list?

owned both morini's 20 years ago,
they were cheap, and i didnt want to ride the v7sport and norton during the winter.
so they got a couple of winters of winter use
i am not good at selling stuff, so they are still in the back of the shed somewhere...
i should restore them, i've got very good memories of those bikes.
you can ride them like a absolute hooligan, and the chassis lets you get away with anything.

may be now it is the time to buy a early ducati 748, or a Mv 750, those are pretty affordable right now .
those would look gorgeous in the living room, but too fast to actually ride around here

[blackcat]

Fastback Commando.

Next in line after the LM1000, already in the yard waiting.

Mine. Hate working on the bike compared to any MG though the later ones as above are a bit more friendly.

[blackcat]

Technically accessible with the right amount of cash.

[Lannis]

The 1989 Honda GB-500 single.  I bought a new one 25 years ago and decided it was too nice to ride.  It sits in my dining room (wife's suggestion) growing more valuable by the day.  I love to look at it.  Better than any oil painting.  Plus, if I rode it, I would lose Guzzi seat time. 

Ralph

For the sake of my son's mental health, I won't tell him about this situation ... he's been lusting after a GB500 for 10 years since he was 18 years old, but the price keeps going up and getting away from him faster than his earning power, and with a third child on the way this year, well ....

His problem is that he didn't get the "Too Nice To Ride" gene from me ... all I had to offer was the "To Ride!" gene, and that's what happens to any bike he or I gets .... !

Lannis

[ken farr]

1969 BSA Royal Star

...while I really like the Fastback Commando, and have/love a Sunbeam, I have always liked the 500cc BSA's.
I was at a show once, and an older gentleman, who rode his 500 there, said, the 500's lasted forever, weren't at all as tempermental as a 650+ machine, 1 carb and 1 tank of fuel lasts almost forever......he then kicked it once and rode off into the sunset.....

kjf

[Hugh Straub]

This is a tough question

The Velocette Thruxton, from which Honda's GB 500 clearly took styling cues, are both beautiful.  (Living with the Velo teaches that sometimes beauty is only skin deep) But, for my taste, the fast back Commando wins the swimsuit competition.  That said, I do find my black Breva 750 easy on the eyes.

The ugliest bike I ever owned was the '72 Suzuki GT 750 in turquoise blue and white.  With its then unusual radiator, it looked like a jukebox.  Ugly, however was also just skin deep.  The bike was a jewel which I've long regreted selling.

[Lannis]

This is a tough question

The Velocette Thruxton, from which Honda's GB 500 clearly took styling cues, are both beautiful.  (Living with the Velo teaches that sometimes beauty is only skin deep) But, for my taste, the fast back Commando wins the swimsuit competition.  That said, I do find my black Breva 750 easy on the eyes.

The ugliest bike I ever owned was the '72 Suzuki GT 750 in turquoise blue and white.  With its then unusual radiator, it looked like a jukebox.  Ugly, however was also just skin deep.  The bike was a jewel which I've long regreted selling.

I had the blue and white GT750 with the dual disk brakes.   They were really pretty by then, and fantastic road bikes.   I loved the feeling of riding a big Evinrude down the highway.   Three quarts of injector oil would last 3600 miles, so it actually used less oil than a four-stroke where you throw away three quarts of oil every 3000 miles.   No valves to adjust, no oil to change, nothing to do except tighten the chain, keep air in the tires, add gasoline, and ride ....

Lannis

[Cage Free]

Mine, too. I never understood why they were "unsuccessful." Of course, I never bought one, either.

A really cool bike that was over priced at the time but now a collectable. My pick for most beautiful is the Honda RC45.

[sgtstinky]

 http://www.bike-urious.com/wp-content/uploads/BSA-Rocket-3-Left-Side-1024x685.jpg

I love the triples

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I'm finding it difficult to narrow it down to just one. From a purely aesthetic perspective, I guess this is the one that does it for me:



But, I find simplicity, robust construction and long term durability most attactive. Doesn't even have to be fast or handle like a roadracer. Can even look like a 2 wheeled version of a '50s Buick. Still beautiful.



That's why I am addicted to them...  ;D

[eldoroddo]

If we're talking accessible in about 1980, any Vincent would do.

[Steph]

But, I find simplicity, robust construction and long term durability most attactive. Doesn't even have to be fast or handle like a roadracer. Can even look like a 2 wheeled version of a '50s Buick. Still beautiful.



That's why I am addicted to them...  ;D

 :+1

[cj750]

I had the blue and white GT750 with the dual disk brakes.   They were really pretty by then, and fantastic road bikes.   I loved the feeling of riding a big Evinrude down the highway.   Three quarts of injector oil would last 3600 miles, so it actually used less oil than a four-stroke where you throw away three quarts of oil every 3000 miles.   No valves to adjust, no oil to change, nothing to do except tighten the chain, keep air in the tires, add gasoline, and ride ....

Lannis

I used to have this:



Now I have this:



I loved the styling of the '72 because it was so darned unique. Couldn't be mistaken for anything but a water buffalo. The '74 styling is definitely prettier, but not as distinctive.

[Testarossa]

My vote is for the unit Triumph twins from Meriden. Elemental and the proportions are just right. Like a Spitfire, or an E-Type.

[Travlr]

I know they are controversial, but I still like my old Paso.

Mike

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I know they are controversial, but I still like my old Paso.

Mike

My brother bought one of the first in the country, a friend of ours still has it. Bro' upgraded to a 907ie. This past summer I bought an '88 750 Paso project myself. I agree, visually stunning, even if not everyone sees it that way.

[Hugh Straub]

Great Pics of the Suzuki GT 750ies.

I still don't think my '72 was pretty, but its the bike I sold I wish I had back. While not now environmentally correct, I used to enjoy the great cloud of exhaust smoke as the bike cleared her throat after sitting at a stop light.  My riding buddies soon learned not to stay too closely behind.   The bike was a delight.

[Turin]

But, I find simplicity, robust construction and long term durability most attactive. Doesn't even have to be fast or handle like a roadracer. Can even look like a 2 wheeled version of a '50s Buick. Still beautiful.

Can't argue with that ;D Kinda funny a paso popped up on the same page of this thread. I sold my '88 paso 750 ltd to buy my ambo.

[Lannis]

Great Pics of the Suzuki GT 750ies.

I still don't think my '72 was pretty, but its the bike I sold I wish I had back. While not now environmentally correct, I used to enjoy the great cloud of exhaust smoke as the bike cleared her throat after sitting at a stop light.  My riding buddies soon learned not to stay too closely behind.   The bike was a delight.

I turned down the oil injectors down and down and down until it smoked very little and would get 1200 miles to a quart of injector oil.   Bike had 80,000 miles on it when I sold it and running great .....

Lannis

[smartin108]

More modern than anything so far, but I really like the Tenni green Griso.

[mjptexas]

THIS:



The big Brutale is arguably one of the most beautiful naked bikes ever built.  MV's attention to detail is astounding.  A two wheel Ferrari for what, 4% the cost of the four wheeled version?

[pedorro]

Can I say the Ducati 916?  Granted, it was expensive for it's day, but what a beauty.  

You may, and I agree!!   ;-T

[cj750]

I'm not sure why it hasn't been mentioned already, but I don't think motorcycles come any better looking than this:

[garbln]

Just finished it last summer, I'll try to get a better pic.