The design that goes into modern motorcycles must be incredibly intricate and difficult to finalise. Then they let things down with the final appearance and to be blunt they are not the sleekest of machines. Go back 20 or 25 or so years the models sold by the likes of the Japanese manufacturers, BMW, Moto Guzzi Ducati and Triumph (the Hinkley factory versions were stylish and did the job as they were intended. (And mostly reliable). The modern bikes to me simply lack style and seem to be sold on all the tweaks and add-ons the manufacturers can cram into a micro box of electronics. They are to full of gimmicks included to sell more bikes and have lost the art of style design and unable to design something which is both sleek and capable of looking good.
Even BMW have followed the route with their electric bike 110 MPH but with only a 80mile range. It looks as if it was designed and built on the same assembly line as a Lego model! It is plain bl**dy ugly! They should be sold with a free face mask to disguise your identity.
And before anyone asks yes I do ride bikes and at present have two, both BMW's one from 1993 and the other from 2000 and cover around 15,000 miles a year. Both are entirely reliable and do not require a degree in engineering to service them ourselves. BMW Labour charges are around £120 per hour, and the others are not far behind
I have a friend who has a classic Triumph, a 1966 Tiger 90 that has been restored and the clean, classic design lines make maintenance an absolute pleasure, it doesn't leak oil (well not that I have seen) The design is a true classic and will be around long after some of the plastic adorned modern bikes have been long recycled.
Sorry, rant over.
Autumn light in the Goyt Valley by Colin, on Flickr
