Top 10 aesthetically challenged bikes
For every 916 and MV Agusta F4, there’s one of these
MOST of the time, manufacturers do a good job of styling their bikes. In fact, we’re quite spoilt for good looking bikes and there are numerous two-wheeled design icons that are as good to look at as they are to ride. But that’s not always the case, and for every 916 or MV Agusta F4, there’s a minger lurking just out of sight, so we decided to shine a light on some of the most aesthetically challenged bikes of all time.
10. Aprilia Starck Moto 6.5
Designed by French designer Phillipe Starck, a man famous for his chairs and lemon squeezers, the Aprilia Moto 6.5 is study in ugliness and the curve of the bash plate and exhaust make it looks pregnant with its engine. You’re unlikely to see one on the road, but if you do, cover your eyes. Stick to kitchen utensils next time, eh Phillipe?
9. Bimota Mantra
The bulbous top section of the minging Mantra looks like the offspring of a Yamaha TDM 900 and a Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special. Allow your innocent eyes to cast over the rest of the bike and you’ll see a frame that could be made from polished scaffolding poles but thankfully this photo doesn't show the wooden clock surround.
8. BMW K1
The BMW K1? More the like notoK1. It looks like a child’s toy from a 1970s, not BMW’s flagship 1989 sportsbike. It’s a massive, bulbous thing and looks challenging from every angle.
7. Suzuki Hayabusa
The Hayabusa isn’t a pretty sight, but at least its ugliness has a purpose. Owners often say they don’t mind the looks because you can’t see it once riding it, but when it’s this aesthetically challenging, getting close enough to climb on board must be difficult.
6. Ducati Paso
Think Ducati has always had a knack for design that's likely to get your trousers twitching? Think again. The Paso is less bike, more wall of badly shaped fairings. And how stupid is that red screen? Very.
5. Buell RR 1000 Battletwin
Who said American manufacturers can’t do fully-faired sports bikes? Going by this catastrophically ugly Buell from the 1980s, we do.
4. Gilera CX125
No wonder the Gilera CX125 wasn’t a sales success, it looks like it was inspired by the Sinclair C1 with wheels from a Vauxhall Cavalier.
3. Victory Vision
A massive, swoopy looking menace to the eyes from across the Atlantic, Victory’s Vision could only be good looking if you’d lost yours – vision that is. It’s an enormous snub-nosed, big booty bike that looks like a Gold Wing from a future we don’t want to be a part of.
2. Norton Nemesis
The Norton Nemesis never really was, and based on looks alone, that's a good thing. The tank looks like it’s been staved in with a baseball bat and it’s got a tail unit that’s unfinished, as far as we can tell. And was the 'Nemesis' logo created in Microsoft Paint?
1. Morbidelli V8
Kill it with fire! Motorcycles don’t come much more fugly than this Pininfarina-designed sports tourer from Morbidelli. It looks plasticky and has a hideous, bug eyed front end that almost looks sorry for being such an affront to decency. Thankfully this munter never made it to production.
