ugly motorcycles

ron bayless · Jul 5, 2017

The 2 most ugly bikes ever made were the vulcan 750 and the virago 750. Another bike flop was the pacific coast 800. Those are factory made.I personally hate bobbers and long frontend choppers. But those are rider choiced motorcycles. I dont understand no rear fender,open chain instead of protected,seats about 6 inches square, no suspension frames, and mile high handlebars. Lots of guys like them.Resale value is 10 cents on the dollar. Back on topic, I have often wondered if had the vulcan or virago what could I do to it to make it good to look at. But I own a magna and xs650 so what do i care? Anyone have bikes they think are ugly?

azman857 · Jul 5, 2017

IMO Viragos and Magnas are just ugly bikes. There is a builder in Cafe Racer magizine that cafes Viragos and they are better looking but still do nothing for me. There are other stock ugly bikeswhoose names escape me for now. As for rider made bikes...some bobbers are just butt ugly and / or impracticale. No front brakes and no front or rear fenders. One slip up and the rider is done!

xjwmx · Jul 5, 2017

I think the whole Japanese motorcycle aesthetic is messed up, with a few exceptions. Maybe because they started without a tradition.

angus67 · Jul 5, 2017

The modern japanese cruiser always had a hint of harley. I have a 2003 suzuki marauder. Add full rear fender and apes....instant harley at a fraction of the cost.

B Burdine97 · Jul 5, 2017

I agree with angus about modern day jap bikes looking a bit like Harley Davidsons as I have a Suzuki boulevard which I love!

B Burdine97 · Jul 5, 2017

Also, I agree the viragos are ugly, but the early model ones look good as cafe racers! Many people who are into cafe racers like the early model ones because they featured a mono shock. That helps to make one hell of a cool cafe racer in my opinion. Quick example below.

TimeMachine · Jul 5, 2017

Ugly or just Weird ?

TimeMachine · Jul 5, 2017

mrtwowheel · Jul 5, 2017

The top of my list of ugly has to be the Honda Magna. I don't care for the looks of the engine or the seat, tank and squished up frame. Honda's exercise in building the Magna was to demonstrate that they could build an engine in any configuration, and a V that wasn't a twin. Sort of, "We could build a V twin if we wanted to." The cooling system running through the frame? Black engine with hardly no cooling fins? The best part of them is the shaft drive and valves.

Scott

fredintoon · Jul 5, 2017

ron bayless said:
The 2 most ugly bikes ever made were the vulcan 750 and the virago 750. Another bike flop was the pacific coast 800. Those are factory made.I personally hate bobbers and long frontend choppers. But those are rider choiced motorcycles. I dont understand no rear fender,open chain instead of protected,seats about 6 inches square, no suspension frames, and mile high handlebars. Lots of guys like them.Resale value is 10 cents on the dollar. Back on topic, I have often wondered if had the vulcan or virago what could I do to it to make it good to look at. But I own a magna and xs650 so what do i care? Anyone have bikes they think are ugly?

Hi Ron,
despite the story of the Pacific Coast 800 owner who tried to "sell" his bike to his insurance company by leaving it outside of a biker bar with the key in it and when he went back the next day it was still there; I reckon if Honda hadn't painted them in pastel scooter colors but in black with gold pinstripes they'd have done quite well.

ron bayless · Jul 6, 2017

xjwmx said:
I think the whole Japanese motorcycle aesthetic is messed up, with a few exceptions. Maybe because they started without a tradition.

quite an interesting point.I never heard it before.I say I quite agree.

ron bayless · Jul 6, 2017

mrtwowheel said:
The top of my list of ugly has to be the Honda Magna. I don't care for the looks of the engine or the seat, tank and squished up frame. Honda's exercise in building the Magna was to demonstrate that they could build an engine in any configuration, and a V that wasn't a twin. Sort of, "We could build a V twin if we wanted to." The cooling system running through the frame? Black engine with hardly no cooling fins? The best part of them is the shaft drive and valves.

Scott

this is my daily rider.And it ain't ugly I do say.

ron bayless · Jul 6, 2017

um,.mr 2 wheel, this thread kinda backfired on me.lol.

YamadudeXS650C · Jul 6, 2017

TimeMachine said:
Ugly or just Weird ? View attachment 102334

Looks like a Stormtrooper.

gggGary · Jul 6, 2017

Eye of the beholder? Honda CX50-650, blech! diversion is the only hope!

looks good to me!

Refrigerator compressor comes to mind. But I kinda like pacific coasts and have always wanted to put some miles on one.

ron bayless · Jul 6, 2017

gggGary said:
Eye of the beholder? Honda CX50-650, blech! diversion is the only hope!

looks good to me!

Refrigerator compressor comes to mind. But I kinda like pacific coasts and have always wanted to put some miles on one.

the girls are smoking hot.The bike does look like a refrigerator compressor.Very ugly indeed.

ron bayless · Jul 6, 2017

A little histpry on the PC.Its name gives it away.Honda thought wow, the beach bingo thing, the beach boys, beach movies,lets make a beach motorcycle.Make it have plenty of storage space to take your beach supplies etc.Flop. Guys said no way, we dont want no plastic overgrown scooter. Give us spoke wheels,knarly handlebars,a bitch seat for my beach girl to sit on in her string bikini. The pc morphed into the st1100.A great motorcycle that sold in the dozens.

ron bayless · Jul 6, 2017

YamadudeXS650C said:
Looks like a Stormtrooper.

ugly and weird.I think the 4 cylinder bmws were the ugliest

Mackels · Jul 6, 2017

That is a Honda African Twin. Automatic. Do not like.

Mailman · Jul 6, 2017

Ok, at the risk of opening myself up to public ridicule I'm going to say that I think the Honda Pacific Coast was an innovative and pretty cool bike that was ahead of it's time. I even considered buying one. It was incredibly aerodynamic and well made. The fact that there are still so many well preserved examples for sale speaks to their durability and from all accounts it makes an excellent mid displacement touring bike. And if you've never seen the giant built in trunk you really should check it out.

Now go ahead and stone me.
Bullets bounce off me! Haha!

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