The most beautiful motorcycle ever built?

[Sam Cogley]

I don't know, but it has to be close...presenting the 1934 BMW R7 prototype:

http://www.retrothing.com/2009/08/the-art-deco-bmw-motorcycle-that-time-forgot.html

 

[tom1356]

Close.
But the prize goes to the 1936 Rhinebeck.

 

[jimfet]

I'd love to lay you down...........

 

[Sam Cogley]

Close.
But the prize goes to the 1936 Rhinebeck.

Hmm. I actually thought about that when posting this thread. It's a lovely machine, but possibly too bulbous for my tastes. Besides, the riding position on the R7 looks worlds more comfortable and practical than the Rhinebeck.

 

[prisoners]

I scrape my pegs often enough with my VTX....getting low on either one of those would cost thousands in repair!

 

[tom1356]

Hmm. I actually thought about that when posting this thread. It's a lovely machine, but possibly too bulbous for my tastes. Besides, the riding position on the R7 looks worlds more comfortable and practical than the Rhinebeck.

Agreed but I would have them in the living room not the garage.
Those two are built to admire not ride.

 

[djv8ga]

I'm more into this kind of beauty...

 

[Sam Cogley]

Agreed but I would have them in the living room not the garage.
Those two are built to admire not ride.

True, but the R7 looks like it would be fun to take for a ride (and apparently the BMW staff did when it was built, a reporter testing an R5 reported seeing it running around the Bavarian mountain roads).

 

[voltcontrol]

Close.
But the prize goes to the 1936 Rhinebeck.

I was thinking about this one too, it's a '36 Henderson btw. :thmbsp:
There's a vid of a guy riding it, but I can't find it..

 

[tom1356]

I was thinking about this one too, it's a '36 Henderson btw. :thmbsp:
There's a vid of a guy riding it, but I can't find it..

You are correct. Rheinbeck was the show where the pics were taken.

 

[similost]

I'm gonna have to go with the Rhinebeck too. It was so over the top and so way far ahead of it's time. Although, it's not a practical rider..

Now as far as I'm concerned, I'm going to have to say to me, this has got to be the most beautiful bike... Bikes are about seeing the engine.. seeing the parts that make it go... and to have an old rotary plane engine as the centerpiece, unbelievable.. I would give $1000 just to have the owner fire it up so I can hear it... (I do know Jesse James built this, but not sure if he owns it or not) I would imagine the sound of it riding down the street would clear the road around you..

 

[djv8ga]

Bikes are about seeing the engine.. seeing the parts that make it go...

Exactly.

 

[sxty8goats]

I'm a simple man. Honda CB750 1980. It may not be the most graceful bike out there but to me it is 'Motorcycle'.

 

[Andyman]

I've always thought this to be quite beautiful...

 

[gearhound]

I reeeeeally love the motorcycle, that Richards Thompson wrote a song about...................................

...........Vincent Black Lightning..........................

Steve

 

[jdurbin1]

pic from Wiki...

 

[Jeffery]

I'm gonna have to go with the Rhinebeck too. It was so over the top and so way far ahead of it's time. Although, it's not a practical rider..

Now as far as I'm concerned, I'm going to have to say to me, this has got to be the most beautiful bike... Bikes are about seeing the engine.. seeing the parts that make it go... and to have an old rotary plane engine as the centerpiece, unbelievable.. I would give $1000 just to have the owner fire it up so I can hear it... (I do know Jesse James built this, but not sure if he owns it or not) I would imagine the sound of it riding down the street would clear the road around you..

I prefer the layout of the JRL radial engine bike, as far as radials go, but the sweeping lines of the '30's bikes is much sexier IMHO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU_HYXOgbRw&feature=related

 

[Sam Cogley]

Bikes are about seeing the engine.. seeing the parts that make it go...

Take another look at the R7. The cylinders/head assemblies and exhaust are exposed, they're just so artfully crafted that they don't really look like engine parts.

 

[moinau]

A few options here.
So far I like all of the options shown so far, especially the BMW prototype, the R7 and the HRD.

 

[sfox52]

I'm gonna have to go find my old "Classic Bike" mags. Though some of the old American iron is attractive, I was always fond of the european makes.