THE 10 GREATEST MOTORCYCLES?
It's a while since The Discovery Channel produced a series of documentaries about the 10 Greatest Motorcycles of all time.
Do you agree? What would your nomination for the greatest ever motorcycle be? Let's get this from a Kiwi perspective.
Here's the link to the Discovery Video Page.
And here is the countdown by their experts with the You Tubed Video.
Number 10. Harley-Davidson Knucklehead
Number 9. Moto Guzzi V8
Number 8. Vespa PX 125
Number 7. Brough Superior SS 8
Number 6. Britten V1000
Number 5. Triumph Bonneville
Number 4. Y2K
Number 3. Honda CB 750
Number 2. Ducati 916
Number 1. Honda Cub
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I think some of those ratings and selections are way off. Certainly the Discovery Channel has a global audience and that no doubt moderates their perspective and these ratings. But if we look at this from a Kiwi Rider's point of view a Guzzi V8 or a Y2K have very little - if any - relevance and the 916 Ducati is a great motorcycle indeed - but 2nd greatest ever?
I'd say the bike they rate Number Three is the greatest. The Honda CB750. It shifted the centre of the motorcycle Universe almost single-handedly. Regardless of its on-road performance or any other factor that must be the greatest feat yet?
BD
Please leave a comment with your nomination for the Greatest Motorcycle ever.
BD
Please leave a comment with your nomination for the Greatest Motorcycle ever.
10 comments:
I agree with the CB750 but also I thought the Cub a worthy contender.
Depends on what is meant by "greatest ever", really as the greatest from a techincal or performance view can be very different from one that has had the greatest influence in motorcycling. In that case both the CB750 and the Bonnie as well as the Harley Sportster and even maybe the Norton Commando get a strong vote.
The inclusion of Brough Superior and two pure racers (Britten & Guzzi V8) that only achieved limited success are a little mystifying from my perspective. Fantastic motorcycles to be sure but not particularly influential overall with limited sales and/or success.
Just goes to show how subjective the phrase "Greatest Motorcycles" is.
Good Point. My OS dictionary defines it as:
'Of ability, quality, or eminence considerably above the normal or average.'
BD
I agree the Y2K and Guzzi should be dropped. If we talk about pivotal moments in motorcycles then you'd have to drop in the first adventure bike. Secondly would be a two stroke. As for specific bikes I'd leave that for others to argue.
>>the first adventure bike<<
Which of course begs the question: What was the first Adventure Bike?
I think the DKW - it's blueprints mysteriously appeared in motorcycle design rooms around the world,and gave many manufacturers a glimmer of hope.
Motu.
I think the best adventure bike would be the Yamaha DT-1. The reason that it had pure off-road/on-road ability with reliability.
The Y2K ? I don't think so.
Influential should also be a factor. Lots of motorcycles are of good quality, but look at how many great motorcycles had "character", which we all know is another name for flaws.... Methinks if the king of Gonzo Hunter S Thompson was having a vote that the Vincent Black Shadow would adorn that list.
Yeah - I thought a Vincent was a notable omission too.
I'm happy to see the Ducati 916 there. The Kawasaki Z1 900 is missing but I'll concede the 750/4 was first and the core influence. Not a bad list given that agreement among motorcyclists is impossible.
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