My main beef with modern motorcycles is that they try to look aggressive. Either in a garish sportive futuristic insectoid robot kind of way, or the flat black look-what-a-dangerous-bad-boy-i-am variety. They lack class or charms. Another detail that strikes me is that modern paintwork is very glossy and covered by half a millimeter of clear coat, while on classic machines, the coloured layer is right at the surface. Small detail, but gives to me a very different feel.

@michaellombard894

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly, truer words have never been spoken. Insect-like, robotic, and Darth Vader-ish styling. What has happened to flowing lines and smooth styling. I hope it comes back!!

@Mr.-Wint

2 жыл бұрын

Reflects the stressful way of living nowadays I believe !

@shinkishimoto7607

2 жыл бұрын

You're describing modern japanese scooters with the modern robotic aggressive look. The only modern japanese scooter design i like is the PCX 160

@user-dy6bv3vi7o

2 жыл бұрын

You should check out new bikes from "royal Enfield". They aren't made the way you described

@datgio4951

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaellombard894 dont get me wrong, that’s still pretty sick, but a bit of variety would be nice

We old farts love the designs we fell in love with at 14 regardless the long, logical-sounding reasons....

@savage22bolt32

2 жыл бұрын

That's me too, bro!

@carlarthur4442

2 жыл бұрын

Me too . In the sixties we could build a bike out of odds and sodds . Miss those days you could buy a bike from anything for a tenner to whatever you could afford. Now you can't change a spark plug without a splash tool .

@chantakzee

2 жыл бұрын

Let's be honest here, people like old bikes because that's the coolest thing around that time when motorcycle movies is in hottest blockbusters and UJM floods the market with motorcycle that looks exactly the same for each producer.

@mickmccrory8534

2 жыл бұрын

I now have the '68 Bonneville that I wanted when I was 14.

@travygrain3314

2 жыл бұрын

I am 14 but I still love the older bikes WAY more. I have a 1982 Honda XL185S right now and mostly do dirt riding

Mechanical systems can be taken apart and put back together. Every once in a while the light bulb goes off and you actually understand how it works. A very satisfying experience. Not so much for "chips" and software.

@s_t_r_a_y_e_d

2 жыл бұрын

me an electronics test engineer: are you sure about that soldering and having knowledge of basic electrical theory should be just as important for a mechanic as knowing how to replace a wheel bearing or bleed brakes. the real problem is manufacturers blocking right to repair at this level and that working on micro electronics isn't "manly" thus hard to get wrenchers to bother learning it.

@camgere

2 жыл бұрын

​@@s_t_r_a_y_e_d Yes, I'm sure. Don you really understand how moving a charge through an electric field creates a voltage? Not just some number that shows up on a meter. That's a first day lecture in a beginning electrical course. How about the characteristic impedance of a trace on a circuit board? Otherwise, I totally agree with you. "Soldering and having knowledge of basic electrical theory" is an excellent idea. As a test engineer you have access to design information, engineers and source code. Consumers don't. Which brings up "right of repair". I totally agree with you that consumers should be given information relevant to maintaining their purchases. Henry Ford gave tools and instructions to Model T owners on how to de-carbonize the heads on the engine. He realized that many farmers were fairly adept at working on farm tractors. Can you imagine a Mercedes S class owner picking up a valve grinding tool out of the factory tool kit? Scotty Kilmer has shown that scan tools are the upside of sophisticated electronics. They can allow cars to diagnose themselves. Manufacturers haven't gone out of their way to make scan tools accessible to the average consumer. Manufacturers love "proprietary product lock in" like using your iPhone with a Mac computer. Thought of monopoly control makes them deliriously happy. Wireless communication between the car and manufacturer (OnStar and Tesla auto-update) is a real battlefield right now. Happy fixing!

@FabioRodrigues-xs8vf

2 жыл бұрын

So you're main argument is that you don't understand it. I agree that it's fun to work on things you understand. But if when faced with something new your default atitude is to disregard it.. it reflects poorly on who you are. I'm generally curious when I don't understand something. I work in understanding it.

@pedromateus4268

2 жыл бұрын

@@FabioRodrigues-xs8vf No. The main argument is that you don't have the right to understand it. According to manufactures. As he said, engineers at the manufacturer do have the source code, equipment and blueprints available. Consumers on the other hand don't. I get that you're into learning new stuff, and I am too. But today's products don't allow you to. Legally at least... There are a lot of counterfit tools for fooling an iphone to think the new battery is still the same for example.... But the fact that you have to go through that route is just ridiculous. Consumers should have access to tools from the manufacturer and the right to repair.

@thewinter_

2 жыл бұрын

@@pedromateus4268 perhaps *your* main argument is that manufacturers have a vested interest in making sure the consumer does not understand the products they buy, which is something I agree with. However, OP's argument is that just because *they* don't understand "chips and software", it's therefore impossible to understand.

Clean design no electronic fuss, simple mechanism, good ride quality makes the old the better choice, Royal Enfield is catering to their moto of pure motorcycling

@tomoates8568

2 жыл бұрын

I'd argue I get much better "ride quality" with the more modern bikes with the modern tech. There's no doubt that a lot of older classic bikes are awesome, but I'm not going to make an old bike my daily commuter when there's so many modern bikes that are far safer and easier to ride

@2lbsTrigrPull

2 жыл бұрын

@@tomoates8568 Modern bikes are more sophisticated. You can already tell a huge difference from bikes that are 20 years older than the newer models. They are in comparison to their matching CC range lighter, more manoeuvrable, more reliable, just better in most aspects. Technology advancements in suspension, rubber quality for tyres and electronics made a huge difference.

@devenpawar8

2 жыл бұрын

Imagine getting an engine malfunction in the middle of a desert because you couldn't get the newest update for your ecu, that happened w me. Gonna switch to a simple mechanical bike soon

@RATsnak3

Жыл бұрын

Electronics can be the opposite of “fuss” especially if you’re talking carburetor vs fuel injection.

@garyshoaf5699

11 ай бұрын

With most of the older bikes, they could be modified or customized. Many hoppers from the 70s were works of art. Not necessarily practical or easy to ride, but an expression of the builder. The engine was the centerpiece.

In some years we will talk about why buyers prefer “old”internal combustion engine motorcycles than electrics…

@MyKharli

2 жыл бұрын

There will be a time ,if we survive the climate catastrophe , that the thought of `burning` such useful stuff which presumable we will need forever , will seem so short sighted .

@2lbsTrigrPull

2 жыл бұрын

@@MyKharli Fuel can be made synthetical.

@HiroNguy

2 жыл бұрын

"My uncle has a country place No one knows about..."

@popinmo

2 жыл бұрын

@@2lbsTrigrPull never will be as good as eletricity nothing will any technology that isn't electrically powered evantually will be

@bertrandgeorgeon3992

2 жыл бұрын

@@2lbsTrigrPull ...with coal.

The way light plays on and thru the bike. Its the same with older cars and even bicycles. They were built by engineers first then styled not styled by a team of designers instructed to hide the engineering. They were intended for those that knew how things worked not for those that just hand it back to a dealership. Repairs were done by mechanics in overalls that you knew their name not technicians with a laptop in the back room where you aren't allowed.... unlike most things in today's world, they made sense....or maybe I'm just a old fool and the good old days aren't real...

I like Royal Enfield because in many ways they are making motorcycles the old way, despite their new factory and their embracing of modern features. Most of their current bikes make a minimal use plastics, and that's refreshing. I love my Himalayan, and I'm thinking of buying a Classic 350. The Himalayan was also designed by Pierre Terblanche.

@61.pranamyajoshi23

2 жыл бұрын

The reborn classic 350 is just beautiful. Thanks to RE that they have refined that engine.

@harshilpatel1478

2 жыл бұрын

Wait up they are gonna come out with the new 350 this year.

@adarsh47k89

2 жыл бұрын

500cc also best bro👍😎

@gradientO

2 жыл бұрын

Why 350? It's slow as fck, i should've got the int650 lol

The classic, simple motorcycle (like a Royal Enfield) reminds us of the very first kind of motor-transport, the motorized bicycle. The classic motorcycle still looks like a motor-bicycle, in that all it's design elements serve a purpose. Yet it also has the power of ten or more horses and it is built by skilled craftsmen and engineers. It is a symbol of beauty, technology and freedom all rolled into one. We may not consciously realize these things, but there is a reason even non motorcycle people stop to look fondly at these old machines!

As a 72-year-old rider, new bikes are like new cars cookie-cutter butt ugly.

@whalesong999

2 жыл бұрын

Born in 1941 and got into motorcycles while in high school. The era from then til the mid '80s had the most overall practicality and value. Full fenders, a dual seat, and uncluttered features that were easy to care for. My '57 BMW R-26 was the best "keeper" I ever had and was no slouch at cruising 60mph. I was a mechanic and service manager in the industry for nearly 20 years - there were some exciting developments but also some minor failings, mostly for the status in a market category.

I really like sport bikes, I adore them. Modern bikes made to look old (save for Indian and Triumph) just fail to capture my attention. I looked at a Harley Davidson from 1920 and it just looked incredible. I'd ride it right now if I could.

I don't mind the plastic, what I hate is the grotesque styling that make modern motorcycles look like mutant Japanese insects or hodge-podge plumbing nightmares. Modern motorcycles are hideous.

@finlaymcdiarmid5832

2 жыл бұрын

I agree 99.9% of the time but the ninja h2 somehow manages to not look like a mangled bionicle repurposed into a bike. Thats about it though the rest look worse than horrendous.

Am 68 and still ride a lot, love the older bikes for the simple lines and simplicity. Yep you can fix them yourself in your shop, but you gotta fix them more often but often the routine repairs can be done in fractions of the time to the new bikes. There are some bikes out there that are simple, good looking and cheap. Most riders now days are wrapped up with the high tech and MUST have this stuff on the bike and look down on others who cannot match the specs with their bike. Well there is a stretch of road close to home that has some shall I say interesting characteristics that a good rider will drool and have fun, while many of these hyper bike dreamers wherein tech is the point and not the ride. Many of these dreamers have bikes that should have cleaned my clock badly I ate for lunch.

@jamesmcgrath1952

2 жыл бұрын

I'll be 70 soon and have 5 bikes. Just got a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. But I still love the old bikes. Even at my age I have no problem with a kick start. Merry Christmas.

@naturalforlife6741

2 жыл бұрын

I'll be 68 at the end of the month. I love all style of bikes. I have 5 bikes now. A 2015 XT250, a 2017 Harley Street Glide Special, a 2018 Iron 1200, a 2021 Yamaha MT07, and a 1965 Triumph TR6. I love them all. I've been riding for over 50 years and have owned a lot of bikes. Too many to list. The Harleys style have seem to have remained the same for a long time. I have pictures of me sitting on my dads 1959 Pan Head. It seems that I was born to ride.

@geraldscott4302

2 жыл бұрын

I have 7 carbureted bikes, one is a 2013 Royal Enfield B5 Bullet that I converted from EFI to an Amal carburetor, one is a 1979 Vespa P200E two stroke, one is a 2002 Harley Sportster, the rest are '70s and '80s Japanese bikes. I have 2 1960s pre emissions cars. Computerized "technology" is not for me when it comes to motor vehicles.

@thomasheer825

2 жыл бұрын

@@geraldscott4302 What is fun for me is the Kids and grandkids scratching their heads when I work on a carb or change out points. Have a 47 VAC Case Tractor, and 6 motorcycles that range from the 70's to the early 2000. As for automotive 4 wheels again oldest is 68 Poncho to Mom's 18 Grand Cherokee. The cool 4 wheel is the 99 Jeep Wrangler with 2.5Lt with 5 speed and a home grown turbocharger system.

@tomoates8568

2 жыл бұрын

I hear you. I'm 29, and I just got into riding last year. Commute every day on my bike and love it. Maybe it's because I didn't grow up with the old bikes or pay attention to motorcycles growing up, but I'm definitely the kind of person that likes the modern bikes much better. Just for simple things like having safety features like ABS. My first bike I've been riding is a 2018 Triumph Speedmaster. Been riding every day and hoping to upgrade maybe next year for a larger cruiser bike. Probably going to try out the new Low Rider S when I get around to trading in. I love hearing older people still loving motorcycles. Hopefully I'll be the old timer one day talking about my favorite bikes too lol. Ride safe

My 2014 triumph scrambler already looks "old", and feels like I just bought it. People stop me and think it's 1960s/ 1970s and they are always fascinated ( mostly non riders).

Your channel deserves much more love and subscribers. I genuinely like your content. Keep em coming.

@rohitdangale3594

2 жыл бұрын

What do you know of riding a bike

@Edgar-Friendly

2 жыл бұрын

He is growing. Now over 3000 subscribers. It takes time, but Bart is going in the growth direction.

No talk about sports bikes and how their aerodynamic fairing improves performance and helps with rider fatigue?

You are right on form vs function (less so on materials) and the parallels with cars are the same. Early motorised transport was all about beauty and character (form) and then efficiency, performance and safety took over (function). Now all modern cars look like identical jelly moulds and we've lost the intimacy of self servicing with the complexities of things like EFI and ECUs. The exception are the Italians, who have always prioritised the aesthetic and make the function conform to it. Tamburini would have been a better designer to highlight, in this regard, than Terreblanche. Interesting video though.

The old motorcycles are much more honest. No fly by wire. No nanny functions. A carb handles fuel which you totally control. The FI unit has a brain somewhere which you request for fuel. No plastic covers. And so on.

@danmanthe9335

2 жыл бұрын

I drive a throttle by wire truck with an automatic transmission for a living. Every time I try to accelerate it's like asking a committee for permission to do something that they don't understand

@twrcrew8852

2 жыл бұрын

@@danmanthe9335 you must drive a shitty DBW vehicle. For actual vehicles meant to be fast, not only is this not a problem but it is vastly superior to boomer tech.

@danmanthe9335

2 жыл бұрын

@@twrcrew8852 seeing as how it weighs 20,000 lbs empty no, it wasn't meant to be fast. At all. In any galaxy anywhere, it's slow

@twrcrew8852

2 жыл бұрын

@@danmanthe9335 then ofc its no metric of what DBW actually offers. there are more pros than cons. the one boomer argument for anything electric is "i can't see what's happening so it sucks". while it offers superior smoothness, response, ease of replacement, ease of access and removal/installation. and zero plumbing in most cases. I understand that there's a lot not to love about modern equipment that were put there EXPLICITLY to make life more difficult or adhere to politician's ideals that are not based in reality or experience, but DBW is not one of them.

@danmanthe9335

2 жыл бұрын

@@twrcrew8852 no, it is absolutely not a fair assessment of what the technology is capable of. Just one particular instance of it being frustrating

IMO, a motorcycle that missed the mark is BMW's R18 that was inspired by BMW's 1936/37 BMW R5. The R5 in classic black and BMW white pin strips, maintains a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance. Much of the DNA of the R5 is carried over to the R18 but in BMW's effort to build a muscle cruiser competitive with Harley-Davidson and Indian the 1800cc engine size is out of proportion to the rest of the bike blurring the classic lines and symmetry. What would this bike look like if BMW had used a 1250cc engine in proportion to the classic R5? The R18 is a piece of engineering art but a failed motorcycle design.

@Yutter89

2 жыл бұрын

Also sitting one one, I was amazed with how low they sit and small of rider they felt designed for. I'm a bit tall, but I've never had a such a large bike feel like it was built for only a 5'2 rider

I love the old style bikes and I am currently looking to buy one. The new modern bikes are good but they lack the charm of the old bikes

I have a new w800. Like few other machines this one always gets people attention and questions. It harkens back to a simpler time.

Sometimes I feel It would be fun to see Ryan from Fortnine and Bart talking in a podcast. Bart you should someday start a podcast.

I find the feature of a bike that interests me the least is its appearance. Acceleration, handling, brakes are far more important. I am always mildly surprised by the number of people who tell me my 1290SAS is a great looking bike. I suppose it is the combination of orange on black with orange crash bars, but I admit that in the beginning I thought it resembled a large insect. The performance on the other hand is terrific, maybe not in the class of my old R1, but the ability to wring the neck at any moment, upright or cranked over, confident that the electronics will prevent me making a fool of myself is reassuring in my eighth decade.

In the 60s-80s Portugal used to have a company, "Casal", that specialized in making small 50cc bikes (almost like mini-caffe racers) which was perfect for the people, since 90% of the country was just rural villages. It is now a staple of automotive history in Portugal

I've never heard of the BST Hypertech before, but the first time i saw it i instantly whent: WOW!!!😳😲 Because it might not be traditional beauty and design, but it is not a traditional motorcycle. It has the same idea as the Ducati 999: it has to be functional and the design most last years. And even though it is electric (and i'm a sucker for internal combustion engines) i love the approach and design of the Hypertech. And i hope that this is an example of what is coming in the future

i borrowed a R1 and I also rode a modified cb400 cafe racer, it always gave me a different and confident feeling and the soothing vibrations of old motorcycle, the smooth hum and the rev match , all mechanical with no cruise control or so what ever, pure manual and even driving slow, it is always a different feeling without the adrenaline rush. cant explain, but when you take a ride on a modern bike again, I know you will feel it, pros of old bike is that when you have basic knowledge of motorcycle, you can service it on the side of the road and even old people will always give you a helping hand with their wild stories and memories, and some pro tips you'll never even gonna experience in modern bike. As my old man says, Big toys for the big boys

For me, the most beautiful motorcycle was the Moto Parilla 250cc scrambler built for the US market. Not only is the bike a work of art but the motor itself is a separate work of art. the most beautiful engine in motorcycle history.

@redtobertshateshandles

2 жыл бұрын

Old MVs were the same.

In the early 1970's Cycle World remarked that the most popular bike of the day, a Honda CB350 would never be a classic because it had too much plastic

Norton 650 ss for me !

I understand and share your point of view, but there is also a beauty on the engineering of getting all the modern functionality in an affordable package. Think on the MT-07 saga or the Honda 1100 one. That is a lot of engineering about getting the most for a price. And that is also valuable.

It all boils down to "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder".

@gokulkrishm51

2 жыл бұрын

Finally the comment I was searching for! For me I love a classic bike as well as an adv (just the ones without "beaks")

Thank you for making this video, it was needed to say that we as riders needed to evolve as well. And that will actually bring back the beauty to motorcycle design

I'm so glad I found your channel, keep up the amazing videos! Love from Greece

Back in 1998, I attended The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum. It was unprecedented at the time, and turned out to be one of the largest-attended shows ever held there, drawing folks who wouldn't usually be caught dead in any sort of museum. It was a supreme celebration of motorcycle design, proving that great design can be art.

Modern manufacturing can produce craftsmanship far better than the old days. But it still costs a lot.

Such good thoughts, I'm so glad to have found your channel. In terms of Americans, the British are far better are appreciating the fine details of motorcycles. I have trouble watching all of the American motorcycle channels, because Americans have been damaged by constant high horsepower plastic, and they don't notice the fine details, like gear ratios, engine vibration, engine sounds, or really anything in particular, only the seat, the gas mileage, the horsepower and the handling. In America, the Southern California motorcycle reviewers talk about how comfortable motorcycles are and how fast it is coming out of a turn, but in England and in Australia, they talk about the feeling you get from seeing the motorcycle. There's also the problem of American motorcycle riders having way too much ego, and that ego gets exhausting to listen to, even though it's unintentional. This channel reminds me of the British and Australia and New Zealand channels, thank you for noticing all the fine details and really going deeper into what motorcycles should be, without any American ego.

I think its the tire sizes. if you like through the 90s and the old primordial sportbikes where they were still trying to figure out standard tire sizes, the ones we have today are head and shoulders above how all the old tires worked... but they ugly. kinda like how the Indian ftr went to some funky tire sizes that bike looks amazing but handles like garbage. the form follows the function but that doesn't mean it looks good. old bikes they had no clue what the best tire size was so they just went with stuff that looked right, handled like ass but looks great.

@bartmotorcycle

2 жыл бұрын

I think you're on to something

Bart, You're a friend I haven't met yet irl. Great Video, motorcycle are a piece of art, Craftmanship is important whatever you make.

Thank you for making this video. So true. These totally ugly modern motorcycles with their hodge-podge jagged plastic pieces, the freaky license plate holders etc. I'd take a 79 KZ1000ltd, a '70s BMW R100, an '83 CB1100F, a Harley Sportster 1200 or Lowrider Sport any day.

@savage22bolt32

2 жыл бұрын

Anything from the 60's or 70's will float my boat! I bought a 2020 Honda CRF250L, but certainly not for it's appearance. I am really getting used to the electric starter & fuel injection tho.

@michaellombard894

2 жыл бұрын

I have to say the mid-late 70s KZ1000ltd is the best styled bike I've ever seen. Utterly amazing curves, proportions and of course performance.

@robertspringer9477

2 жыл бұрын

What were they thinking about with that seat? I wouldn't ride that thing to a shit throw!

we had an Old Bike, the 90s I believe, It was a Honda, And As a kid, I had always loved it, and I used to just sit on it and dream of riding it one day, I was 6 or 7 that time, One day after I woke up, I couldn't find it in the garage, Turns out my dad "Gave it away" to his brother, and after some years his brother sold that bike to a scrap yard. And it made me sad but there was nothing I could do I was just a kid. But this is the story of why I love the old bikes, It's nostalgia for me, and believe it or not, But I don't know how to ride a motorcycle, I never learned it,

Great video, loved the F9 refference, one of the other best motorcycle channels. Great content, keep going.

@LoneWanderer905

2 жыл бұрын

Also, on the end, as a motorized bike owner (and I guess a builder now?), I really get the kicks from knowing that I just took my old shitty bike, put a china engine in it, tuned it to the best of my knowledge (not much), put some MOTUL in it, and immediately fell in love with two strokes. Just changed my 44t crankset to a 36t to get some more final and oh baby. 50 km/h is a lot on a old bike with a CB400 handlebar (I bought it for so cheap, I had to install it) I've ridden bikes for more than 10yrs, never liked motocycles too much, as soon as I rode it... Yeah, fuck the world, forever two wheels.

There's a point where chasing function over form really removes something from being a human experience. Classic bikes are on the right side of that line, imo.

@thomasfolks

2 жыл бұрын

As an architect, my dad was taught "form follows function", where the purpose of a product should be the primary influence for its design. A good designer can then add touches such as practicality and attractiveness. Maybe bikes are now much bigger projects, made of components from separate teams rather than a person with a single vision?

Just about every air cooled motorcycle looks better than most liquid cooled motorcycles.

I love my 82 seca 750, that 4 into 1 Supertrapp makes that inline 4 sound so cool

Really linking your content. Good stuff. Subscribed

I can appreciate my buddys' modern rides but to me the 30-60's era bikes are absolutely gorgeous to me. Hell, my favorite putput I've had over the years is my little 53 Harley Hummer. It's slow, sounds like an angry weed eater going around town but it's the definition of "riding a slow bike fast" while having those amazing old school curves.

Modern Indian FTR1200, Chief, BMW R flat motor and Z900 Cafe have done a wonderful job too.

I’ve always wanted a 1939 Norton 16H. I would even settle for a military variant, as big of a gremlin as it would be to maintain.

Craftsmanship “you hit the nail on the head! Great video! 👍👀👍

I have a two modern bikes, a 2015 Kawasaki KLR-650 and a 2018 BMW K1600 GTL. The KLR (of that generation) was killed as of 2018, with a carburetor, etc (it didn't have points and condenser but it was close) and the BMW has the fuel injection, cornering ABS, traction control bla bla bla.. Which one do I ride 99% of the time, the BMW because it's better handling, faster, more comfortable etc. (and I think that it looks damn good!)

”You’re able to make that bike your own”, Government: ”hold my regulations”

It BUGS ME that the rear of current bikes are “jacked up” pointing into the air! Passenger cannot reach foot pedals easy or at all. They have to climb and sit higher off ground…(wife Asian) short legs but still 5’1”. So not as short as most.

My wife told many years ago that she preferred my bikes over some our friends because you could see the engines on mine. For example our Laverda RGS. Did I marry well or what...

@bartmotorcycle

2 жыл бұрын

My wife says the same thing, she hates motorcycles with any body work. I'll show her a beautiful Ducati sport bike and she's like 'meh, I like your bike more' lol

Love your vids bro!’

The Curved fender Indians were absolutely lovely.

I ride a 1961 Cushman Eagle…, with a 670cc V-Twin in it…….!

@JamesCouch777

2 жыл бұрын

That would be a great ride 👍

This video gave me chills and it reminded me why i love motorcycles so much, they’re just an engine fitted to be on just two wheels, something about that is art

I could not agree! Some people love to sit emotionally . But it is true that innovation will change

You look at. You hear that You feel that. It makes you feel good. 🙏❤️

I think the BST looks incredible. Truly brilliant.

What’s the model of the triumph? It’s super dope!

The problem with modern motor cycle design, is that it is led by marketing trends, and what the management "think" the customer actually wants!!! The companies believe that the riders want high tech motorbikes with traction control, semi automatic gear change( Honda's shame) and basically extremely heavy motor bikes that most riders cannot afford to buy, or service themselves because of poor layout design and the electronics onboard!! Thus you have each year, more and more weird shaped plastic rockets , that may go like rockets, but in reality, are soulless plastic heaps. What's the expression about climbing mountains? why do you climb? because its there! So applied to motorbikes, just because the technology exists , you don't actually have to apply it all!! Don't get me wrong ABS and electronic ignition and yes, fuel injection is good, also hydraulic brakes and clutches are all natural improvements in reliability, so yes include them! But my beef is with the look of the bike , they just cannot keep the lines simple? They literally overdesign the look of bikes. What suffers, well for a start, you cannot easily access any service areas without needing to strip half the bike!! The original reason for all the " aerodynamic fairings on production bikes, not racing, was to cover up the grotty engines and rusty exhausts pipes! At the end of the day, vintage bikes look, and will always look the best, because they weren't designed just for show, but for everyday riding and practicality too. Even the modern day retro bikes are just fakes, made to look like the old ones, but are let down in two most important areas, no kick start and water cooling! and engines, that are way too powerful!! do you really need a 900cc Triumph Bonneville, today in 2021, when an original 650cc would be lighter and fast enough on todays congested roads!! WTF happened to motor bike design?? well it died, for the sake of progress!!

Only thing i miss about older bikes is color choices and good paint finish. Besides that they can keep the drum brakes, carbs, old tech in the past

I ride a modern crf 250 ,it needs plastics to cover the rad/ coolant reservoir. I look at the old XL250 and it looks so much better imo because it's air cooled, no ugly pipes , no plastics and a lovely air-cooled finned engine. On another bike, the MotoGuzzi , why paint the entire range with black engine paint? they look terrible compared to the old alloy coloured engines of earlier bikes

Nice video, man. Just subbed!

Glad I've had a chance to ride or own a lot of my favourite machines. Just missed the Rd 250/350s by a couple of years. Then again had some wild years on 86 gsxr 750. Still got sports bike but triumph main ride & ktm for mud rivers or the rare crash. Electric could be the future but it looks a bit lifeless.

Just found your channel and I am now binge watching eveything

The older , simpler, real functional, creates true form.

Fairly new to bikes but a car guy since day one, but after starting riding I was worried about how an electric motorcycle would be harder to control without the clutch, just like electric scooters or CVT scooters are harder to have throttle control of

I have a 30 years old bike, and I wouldn't trade her for anything. I love that simple look she has, a big old air cooled engine, a single brake rotor ( I don't like the brake performance though hahaha), the big two chrome pipes. The really comfy and wide seat which offerrs perfect place for my pillion. The simplicity if I wanna fix something, the only thing is needed is a basic toolkit. Around 100k miles in it's clock still running perfect, no sign of engine wear, doesn't burn any oil. So definetly a keeper :) The only thing I miss from a newer bike is the ABS and injectors, but I guess I can live without it.

I like most motorcycles for various reasons and the new modern classics like the speed twin are really nice with injection and water cooling, so stepping back to air/ carbs are a no go for me. I will say, there is no chance of me ever going electric!

It's cool bro.. thank's for this perfect information and we are the old soul with old style yeaaahh!!!

I really love this channel I really hope it blows up

That’s why I like my rebel 250, it has that classic look and it’s bare bones basic and I can work on it, I took my rebel off road a good bit and even ramped it lol still running

I’m enjoying your channel. Thanks

Just have a look at say the 1973 Honda CB350F, - lots and lots of chrome all housed in beauty a n d styling, - compaired to nowadays plastic covered agressive looking bikes !

amazing video man, loved it

Pierre Terblanche designed some of the worst looking Ducati's ever made and he was quickly shown the door when his designs weren't popular and that electric bike is appalling I wouldn't give this guy bus fare.

Almost zero plastic on or in Yamaha Road Star, single carb V Twin with classic styling, 99 to 07 carbed, 08 to 14 EFI love my 07 and 04.

I think it's the same with new cars, they can be both beautiful and cool, but just not the way old cars used to be..

That first Dude WAS NOT IN FUKIN FLIP FLOPS! OMFG

The thing about old motorcycles and cars is that they had personality, no matter if they were ugly or stylish they all had a distinctive look, they were the result of a person's vision coming to realization. Nowadays they all look generic, like if they had been made by a machine learning algorithm engineered to make the most safe-looking design possible that no one can really come to either love or hate because of how bland it is.

Well done. And thanks.

I was never much into retro "looking" motorcycles. But after watching this video, I'm still not into retro "looking" motorcycles.

My pet hate is the trend for custom bikes to have a huge hole where the airbox and battery and oil tank should be. They achieve this by relocating the battery to somewhere else which will inevitably be an inferior compromise, and by removing or downsizing the air filter. It's form following the opposite of function. For an engineer like me that's ugly.

Interesting vid, bart. I personally don't think new motorcycles are ugly, unless if they r trying 2 look retro. I think retro bike images of the 60's or 70's r 2 bland and boring 4 my taste, but they were fine back then when ppl didn't know any better. Case in point, spoke rim's, I do not like the way they look, and why any modern manufacturer would prefer them over alloy rims on today's high speed highway is just trying 2 make extra $. Metal is gr8 when ppl want shiny looking, but when it comes to colors, like ducati red, or ktm orange, it has to be durable polymer plastic. Let's not even get in2 carbon fiber looks. Anyway, ride safe, god bless u.

I love my 1980 cx500. My 83 gpz 750. But they have problems. They can get cranky. However my 06 zx12 just works.....until someone decided to jump it with a truck. The old bikes are easier to work on but require more maintenance. New bikes work better but when something goes wrong it can be a nightmare to figure out what is wrong. Without the proper training it can be almost impossible. I'm an electrical technician (not going to say engineer) I know how to read and troubleshoot electrical circuits but getting one is not possible. That's the main problem. Yes if I take it to a dealership I know it will get fix correctly but that costs more. Plus there is some "fun" in working on your stuff. Doesn't matter what it is. There is pride in keeping something working. They are taking that away and making more things disposable.

Motorcycles of old, like cars of old, didn't all look alike (form). Then aerodynamics, which initially was mostly used just for form, became more scientific and important to overall "function" and soon all classes of cars (passenger, sports) and motorcycles (sports, dual purpose, touring) looked alike. To try to go back to a unique design ( form) meant giving up some " function."

Hello, i love old motocycles and i am going through my moto licence. Is there some models that have this look and Are not too much expensives ? Thx for your channel from Switzerland ❤

I cannot imagine how recent motorcyclists find the modern shattered aesthetic attractive. I always owned inoffensive bikes , occasionally pretty ones and could never afford the beautiful ones. I have no intention of buying an offensive bike. KTM vs Ducati. eg: I think the Thruxton looks better...prettier... with the cafe racer fairing on it (an option).

I like the BST design very much, and I'm a Harley/vintage Honda kinda guy.

I agree with most of the points made here, however - where new motorcycles excel: modern disc anti-lock brakes, suspension, responsiveness and overall smoothness of the engine and the ride. If we examine the point of engineering, it is to make a design to do the desired job with the least amount of parts - on this point, I think many designers fail.

I would like to know what car has its crash structure made of plastic.

I have a ural retro a motorcycle that from a design standpoint hasn’t changed since the 1940’s. It has a sidecar, a boot, and looks like every vintage bike people drool over. Because in all reality it pretty much is. But the mechanics were modernized to increase reliability. But the bike on paper fails miserably if you’re a stat junky looking at plastic toys explicitly for gimmicks and gremlins. No Abs, no real computers. A death sentence apparently. The body is made out of heavy steel. Acceleration is there, the hp is only in the 40’s just like the design. But I got it because it’s from another school of thought. Fenders and bottom of the side car are lined with undercoating to protect from rust. The bike has similar tires to an dual sport it can go where you point it. The suspension is overkill. It passes the chicken egg basket over a field test. The gear box takes the same oil as the engine. It’s designed like a tractor because in Siberia you’re SOL if your out of oil. Less things to worry about. And it will go through snow. People have driven these through blizzards It has reverse, and it seems to have been fuel mapped to run on the crappiest gasoline you can imagine. The 40 something horsepower engine is a boxer twin with a fighting German heritage and a heritage of fighting the Germans. The tool roll it came with I’ve used to fix a friends car. You can dissemble the motorcycle with everything they give you from the factory. It’s illogically logical. On paper it fails every notion for modernity, but when explained to a human. It makes sense. And besides how many bikes have the option of a factory machine gun mount?

Here in the Philippines, scooters and ebikes are everywhere. I ride a custom cruiser and its just a neck breacker.

this was an interesting video but I cant help but feel like youre trying to be nostalgic about somethings you couldnt enjoy. how different really is doing a computer sketch vs a complete hand drawn sketch? how is it different if the bike was sculpted on clay vs 3d modelled? speaking from the perspective of the end product, does it make a tangible difference if an exhaust pipe was made through human labour or mass produces in an automated factory? sure, such a process is much more authentic and sentimetally more valuable, but these seem to be arbitrary rules to design a retro bike

I think it goes for firearms as well, there's something about older mechanical designs that just look a whole lot more aesthetically pleasing.

Thanks for the BST, the first electric motorcycle design that looks good. This coming from a many Guzzi Owner.

A lot of old stuff looks a lot better than new stuff because it is perception is understandable. You see a steam locomotive's pushing rods that turn a wheel; You see the puff of oily exhaust coming out of that old car's exhaust pipe as the car accelerates or changes gears. You hear grinding gears if they're not perfectly synchronized. You see the warping of the drive chain as torque is applied upon that motorcycle's acceleration. In some cases you can see moving parts functioning on cars, motorcycles and boats. Half the fun of going somewhere isn't arriving it's traveling.

because new motorcycles look like they were designed by somebody who's on meth

That's why I love my stunning 2019 Indian Springfield in steel gray and metallic burgundy. It looks old, but is far superior in form and function. Cruiser Heaven, all day, every day.