Motorcycle Uglification

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Sure glad Moto Guzzi hasn’t fallen into the “Uglification” of their motorcycles. They are well styled and beautiful! Hope they stay that way.

Don’t have many other words to describe what  BMW has done to some of their bikes. 50 years since the beautiful 1975-1977 boxer twins and we get this?! I realize beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but come on! Stop letting first graders style their bikes!









And the same can be said for “most” not all electric automobiles.

[Perazzimx14]

 

[Motormike]

I know!  No one ever called the BMW GS line of bikes "good looking" but at least they had a certain "Panzer wagon" function over form styling.  Now the newest GS Adventure looks like a Yeti cooler on two wheels!
Given enough time, I can usually warm up to the looks of most any bike, but it just ain't happing with the new GS bikes.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

And they’re asking $30,000 for the BMW RT!

[Perazzimx14]

And they’re asking $30,000 for the BMW RT!

More importantly they are getting 30K or close to it for the RT and typically selling all inventory. When is the last time you were at local shop and saw a 4 or 5 year-old leftover BMW marked down 40% from MSRP like is all too often the case with that certain Italian brand ?? Guess looks ain't everything!

[bad Chad]

In some ways it mirrors what has happened to automobiles.  Cars have for at least a couple decades, when viewed from a distance are largely indistinguishable from each other.

[wirespokes]

Don't forget what happened to the LeMans - V7 Sport started it all - one of the best looking bikers ever, morphed into the LM1 another good looker, then the LM2 got hit with the ugly stick, LM3 mostly recovered only to go downhill to the LM1000. I guess you could blame it on an Argentinian infiltrator, not a true Italian of the marque. Wonder what we would have had if management hadn't gone all to hell in the 60s.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Don't forget what happened to the LeMans - V7 Sport started it all - one of the best looking bikers ever, morphed into the LM1 another good looker, then the LM2 got hit with the ugly stick, LM3 mostly recovered only to go downhill to the LM1000. I guess you could blame it on an Argentinian infiltrator, not a true Italian of the marque. Wonder what we would have had if management hadn't gone all to hell in the 60s.

Don't agree about the Le Mans 1000, especially the last ones. If one actually wants a Le Mans to ride, rather than just look at, they are the best of the bunch IMO. 

[sdcr]

More importantly they are getting 30K or close to it for the RT and typically selling all inventory. When is the last time you were at local shop and saw a 4 or 5 year-old leftover BMW marked down 40% from MSRP like is all too often the case with that certain Italian brand ?? Guess looks ain't everything!

This dealer should discount this 4 year old “ new” BMW, if they actually want to sell it.

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2022-BMW-R+18-5021318953#sid=555203

btw, it’s one of the few late model BMW’s that actually look good.

[MikeP996]

"Cars have for at least a couple decades, when viewed from a distance are largely indistinguishable from each other."

Yeah, gone are the days of parents saying to the kids in the back seat, "First one to see a Studebaker gets a Milky Way!"

[AJ Huff]

Guess it depends on who you are. I think all dual sport/ADV bikes are hideous. So Guzzi is sadly failing me.with new bike offerings.

-AJ

[Moparnut72]

I think MG has the best looking dual sports and ADVs of the bunch. I saw a video yesterday covering a facelifted R9T so I went to the BMW website to check out the line. Every one of them got hit by an ugly stick except the R18. Unfortunately it hasn't got many favorable reviews if any. The local dealer has a few for sale at pennies on the dollar. Like Harley they have increased displacement to automobile levels resulting in excessive vibration which is one of the main complaints.
kk

[SIR REAL ED]

The bikes are heavier and uglier now than they were in the 70's & 80's.... Just like most of us!   

[wirespokes]

Don't agree about the Le Mans 1000, especially the last ones. If one actually wants a Le Mans to ride, rather than just look at, they are the best of the bunch IMO.

Yes, I love the LM1000 too. It's a great bike once the jetting, throttle springs and everything else is corrected. And the final version looks better than the early ones, but they're still homely bikes. I love my 87, but it's not something I have to turn around for another look after parking.

The BMW GS used to pin my ugly meter. But then I wanted a dirt road touring bike so broke down and got one. After a while I found a certain beauty in them. Kinda weird how that happens.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Yeah, so homely.  My well-used '91 before it was wrecked by it's owner of 34 years.

[sdcr]

Yeah, so homely.  My well-used '91 before it was wrecked by it's owner of 34 years.

I wouldn’t kick that out of the garage…

[Motormike]

More importantly they are getting 30K or close to it for the RT and typically selling all inventory. When is the last time you were at local shop and saw a 4 or 5 year-old leftover BMW marked down 40% from MSRP like is all too often the case with that certain Italian brand ?? Guess looks ain't everything!

Today's motorcycle companies have the same problem as car manufactures: Far too many companies and brands chasing a shrinking market (at least in the US).  If the car manufactures think it's bad now, wait until Chinese autos start to flood the market!

[Tusayan]

I saw a video yesterday covering a facelifted R9T so I went to the BMW website to check out the line. Every one of them got hit by an ugly stick except the R18. Unfortunately it hasn't got many favorable reviews if any. The local dealer has a few for sale at pennies on the dollar.

Which is what people miss about BMW.  It's a very good thing that selling GSs is like printing money, because BMW wastes some of it developing new models that fail and are forgotten.  Ugly worked once, starting in 1993 with the R1100GS (the earlier ones weren't so hideous) but ugly often fails BMW today.

[DoubleGuzzi]

.. ugly often fails BMW ..

Scarver anyone?

[Turin]

[ridingron]

This dealer should discount this 4 year old “ new” BMW, if they actually want to sell it.

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2022-BMW-R+18-5021318953#sid=555203

btw, it’s one of the few late model BMW’s that actually look good.

MY eyes! My eyes! That is one ugly motorcycle! Maybe a different color paint would help, but WOW just WOW! I don't recall seeing that model before. Any ideas on how many they've sold?

[Perazzimx14]

This dealer should discount this 4 year old “ new” BMW, if they actually want to sell it.

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2022-BMW-R+18-5021318953#sid=555203

btw, it’s one of the few late model BMW’s that actually look good.

The ad say it's new and also also says its a demo bike. The price is listed at both $17,999 and $12,999 OTD depending on where you look. PRetty confusing as to what you might be getting.

As they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally I think the R18's and an abomination but I don't care for cruisers.

[blackcat]

The GSA and GS lead those sales. The snob appeal of BMW's will always be a strong sales feature compared to a Moto Guzzi.

"2026 YTD: Global sales stood at 124,751 units through July 2026, marking a 2.7% decline compared to the same period in 2025."

[Perazzimx14]

The GSA and GS lead those sales. The snob appeal of BMW's will always be a strong sales feature compared to a Moto Guzzi.

"2026 YTD: Global sales stood at 124,751 units through July 2026, marking a 2.7% decline compared to the same period in 2025."

Wonder how much the pandemic is effecting theses numbers. 2020 - 2024 demand far outpaced supply driving prices and units sold to unimaginable numbers. Now post pandemic and life getting back to more normal people are now flooding the market with used motorcycles they boredom bought, so supply is far outpacing demand then add in motorcycling in general in in decline I'm surprised there was not a sharper decline. But in the world of numbers I imagine manufacturers like BMW realistically expect a 2 to 4% growth each year but then for a couple of year see 10 or 15% growth then have a year with only 8 to 12% was there really a decline in sales or did they just not match the overinflated projections?



 

[Motormike]

This dealer should discount this 4 year old “ new” BMW, if they actually want to sell it.

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2022-BMW-R+18-5021318953#sid=555203

btw, it’s one of the few late model BMW’s that actually look good.

Well, the motorcycle looks good, as long as you completely ignore the grotesque mufflers and engine cylinders!  I and a fellow riding friend demo'd one at Americade shortly after they came out.  We both agreed it was perhaps the worst motorcycle we'd ever ridden.  The rear shock must have been set up for an NFL linebacker.  On the rough roads around Lake George, the bike would put blood in your urine! If you weren't ready for it, at start-up, the torque-roll would almost jerk the handlebars out of your hands! After the ride I made a snide remark about what Harley Davidson model BMW used for inspiration...a 1948 hardtail Panhead?? Sorry if anyone here owns one, but I'm not going to sugar-coat it...I thought it was singularly awful.

[Tusayan]

A BMW dealer friend has had a hard time selling the R18 cruisers. I’ve never ridden one but the description reminds me a lot of old R12C of 25 years ago. I ferried one of those 500 miles once and it was truly awful, oddly enough I remember using the same expression… “the worst motorcycle I’ve ever ridden” and harsh rear suspension was a big part of it.

[Huzo]

MY eyes! My eyes! That is one ugly motorcycle! Maybe a different color paint would help, but WOW just WOW! I don't recall seeing that model before. Any ideas on how many they've sold?

Well..
BMW succeeded where Guzzi failed with the V9, Mandello tried to produce something that would induce a vomitorious response like that WW2 throwback is able to do so easily and they just could not do it, try as they may. Anyone who spends decent money on that BMW pus bucket, is just answering the question no one asked.
I’d wager they would also have matching Pit Bull terriers with studded pink collars..(and matching ones for the dogs..).
Their personalities are as ugly as their bikes.
Won’t matter in another 15 years when we’re gone, because 80% of bikes will be electric and a gas (petrol) driven Honda 500 twin, will run at USD 25,000.
Motorcycles have historically been affairs of the heat and BMW are now showing us that you don’t need the “spark” of an affair and you can exist without a heart.
The owner’s personalities are as flavourless as their bikes.
Now I KNOW who will scour the known universe to pull out the name of some guy that  had one and is generally seen as an ok person, offering it up as proof that my opinion is flawed.

If Guzzi were as “perfect” as BMW, this forum would not exist.

[Tusayan]

Won’t matter in another 15 years when we’re gone, because 80% of bikes will be electric

This is the ‘opinion du jour’ in a few places around the world but I doubt very much that it will be true.  Also, I don’t have reason to think I’ll be gone in 15 years and look forward to riding my existing fleet at least that long.  I once saw a guy riding a Ducati 996 onto the Corsica Ferry who was well into his 70s, and I might be able to do that 

The owner’s personalities are as flavourless as their bikes.

I have three BMWs along with two Guzzis, four Ducatis and a Laverda.  I know a lot of BMW riders and while the demographic is not the same as for the Italian bikes, there are many interesting characters riding BMWs, along with some with which I have little in common.  The same is true for Guzzi riders. 

[TN Mark]

Seriously? A thread about hating on someone else’s choice of motorcycle?

We can, and should do better.

[Motormike]

I don't hate BMWs.  I've owned several. I am having my doubts about Huzo, however.