Ugliest And Best Looking Motorcycles

Discussion in 'Other Bikes' started by 03_triple, Feb 11, 2025.

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  1. learningtofly

    learningtofly He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!
    Subscriber

    Sep 25, 2018
    2,169
    1,000
    Hertfordshire
    Love CCM's personally... been on a factory tour and have thought about buying one as a second bike. Beautiful things :p

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. johne

    johne Standing on the shoulders of dwarves.

    Jan 16, 2020
    2,083
    1,000
    Where the Wolds meet the sea
    The most popular bike in the world? Probably. Love 'em or hate 'em. I really like them. Stupid money for a good 'old' one nowadays.

    honda-c50-cub.jpg
     
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  3. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,372
    800
    Yorkshire
    One machine which really got my rocks off every time I saw one was the Kawasaki Z1300, 600+lbs of water cooled, six cylinder, shaft driven loveliness so I just HAD to have one.
    My first, post test motorcycle......

    '83Z1300(3).jpeg
     
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  4. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,372
    800
    Yorkshire
    Isn't this the most prolific vehicle ever made, usurping even the VW Beetle with tens of millions made so far?
    I take one over a piece of modern battery powered crap anyday.
     
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  5. johne

    johne Standing on the shoulders of dwarves.

    Jan 16, 2020
    2,083
    1,000
    Where the Wolds meet the sea
    I think so mate (C50). Crikey a Z13 as your first post test bike, that's impressive, mine was a CB350 Honda. Lol
     
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  6. Boothman

    Boothman Noble Member

    Jul 26, 2023
    713
    443
    Wigan
    A C50 was my first ride. 1982 and 16 years old it was my means of commuting as I was starting my apprenticeship. It was my dad’s from new and I loved it. Regrettably (or luckily) a friend of my dad’s from the local cop shop pointed out to him that it was a motorcycle and not a moped. Was quickly sold and a secondhand Yamaha DT50 replaced it.
     
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  7. ajc400

    ajc400 Senior Member

    Jun 4, 2024
    463
    113
    Glasgow
    Maybe it's because I started out as a Lambretta riding mod in the 60's (!) but I've never quite understood the Honda 50 bug - it was just a utility bike that some folk rode to work instead of taking the bus!

    I remember in 1970 when I commuted to work on my Triumph 500 (5TA), a new guy started in the office, saw my bike gear and said that he rode a motorbike as well. He pointed out the window, and there beside my bright orange 500 was...... a little red Honda 50! We became best buds anyway, but a Honda 50??

    At 5 o'clock he got the last laugh, as his little putt-putt started and rode off while I was still trying to kick that bloody old Triumph into life!! :laughing:
     
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  8. GavJ

    GavJ Member

    Jul 7, 2024
    34
    18
    Scotland
    Dont think my RT will ever feature in poster with model draped over it :grinning:
    RT.JPG


    but my Thrux might :cool:

    Art.jpg
     
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  9. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,372
    800
    Yorkshire
    For me, this one sentence sums up the demise of the British bike industry. The Brits just continued turning out, outdated, unreliable, maintenance heavy machines where the Japs just got on with their, 'improve and refine' design ethic and the rest is history. Who would have thought that some of these old British nails would eventually command the prices they do.
     
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  10. joe mc donald

    Subscriber

    Dec 26, 2014
    14,595
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    @tcbandituk But a good clean one was a nice bike that went forever. Only my opinion as I had two and they never let me down
     
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  11. 03_triple

    03_triple Member

    Dec 8, 2022
    32
    18
    belgium
    I had a similar optimistic first post-test bike: a ZL900 "eliminator" from 1985. "Improved" with a 1100 bore-kit, K&N filters and an open exhaust. An absolute animal of a bike, with a surprisingly good handling (brakes not so much) and the great engine of the gpz900. Took me, even as a 19-year old several months to dare to open the throttle.
    And REALLY goodlooking, in my opinion. (photo from the interwebs, not mine).
    kawasaki-zl900-eliminator-1985-2.jpg
     
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  12. Pedro1340

    Pedro1340 Senior Member

    Jan 31, 2018
    652
    143
    .Glasgow
    Until you try and start one with the ridiculous key fob,if you think the triumph one is dodgy ,this thing is just embarrassing, speaking from experience grrrr
     
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  13. ManInTheJar

    ManInTheJar Well-Known Member

    Feb 4, 2023
    73
    68
    Scotland
    No contest for the ugliest bike, it is the MZ Trophy with it's brutalist design.
    IMG_7557.jpg
     
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  14. Trickle333

    Trickle333 Member

    Sep 23, 2024
    58
    18
    Staffordshire
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  15. Trickle333

    Trickle333 Member

    Sep 23, 2024
    58
    18
    Staffordshire
    I agree. My first was a bit sexy with a seat hump . and th silver broke up th blandness a bit..

    upload_2025-2-17_12-56-51.jpeg

    th second one i had looked better in reality as it was a dark grey with flek. Not black like it looked in th piccies... But pritty.... Naaaa.

    upload_2025-2-17_13-0-27.jpeg

    Plus th twin dustbins didnt help. But one needs to have th bonkers time in ones life at least "once" so one feels alive... Not for me old bones now though..

    upload_2025-2-17_13-2-44.jpeg
     
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  16. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,372
    800
    Yorkshire
    The most important and noticeable upgrade of the Gen2 IMO was the 1441cc engine. I agree the exhaust cans are huge but the alternative Akrapovic items are too loud for me so I stuck with standard. It doesn't get used much these days, around 38k on the clock now with less than 1k in the last two years but it reminds me every time I ride it that I can't sell it.
     
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  17. Trickle333

    Trickle333 Member

    Sep 23, 2024
    58
    18
    Staffordshire
    I agree. I was only going to buy one and keep it a year for safety reasons. But boy it was a difficult sell. I used give mine a cuddle (Weird :confused:) in th garage and say you give me everything and more.....:heart_eyes::heart_eyes::heart_eyes: Bloke who had it off me, rung me up after a 200 mile ride home and thanked me over and over again. If your into a thing that just wants to keep giving its a definite try it and see.... Too old and creaking now so its a sit up and beg Triumph from now on. :blush:

    Back to th origianal thread aye...;)
     
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  18. Trickle333

    Trickle333 Member

    Sep 23, 2024
    58
    18
    Staffordshire
    Th wife liked these from th start, but dosn't like me..!!!! (Is this normal) were as it as grown on me as th years go buy like th Katana did....:eyes::confused:

    [​IMG]
     
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  19. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,372
    800
    Yorkshire
    I'd go as far as to say the ZZR is one of the most enjoyable bikes I've owned. The only mods I've made were for comfort with bar raisers/spacers and I use an Airhawk seat cushion for long rides. I've done numerous day trips to Scotland, the longest of which was 798m on some fantastic roads through Dumfries and Galloway and on through Argyll and Bute. It does that with ease and will still scratch through the twisties, well, as far as a 260kg bike can scratch. Such a shame they're not made anymore. A future classic maybe? :grinning:
     
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