Topic: Top 10 Motorcycles "Discovery Channel"

[seaweb11]

Did any of you guys catch the Discovery Channel top 10 bike Show  tonight?
Greatest ever Motorcycle

#10  Knuckelhead 
# 9  Moto Guzzi 8cly
# 8  Vespa
# 7  Brouch Superior SS 100 
# 6  John Britten V 1000  "a kiwi" home made......cool
# 5  Triumph Bonneville  650
# 4  Y2K /  A Helicopter Turbine  400 klms per hour  450 lbs!

#3 CB750 

#2 Ducati 916
#1 Honda 50 

Comments........

[kghost]

Opiate for the masses 

[Raul CB750K1]

All of them have been important for one reason or another. It is true that no matter what field you do a list of "the better...", there will always be disagreement. For example, the Guzzy 8 cyl was a piece of art but very unsuccesful in competition, so it was not a sensation for its performance but for its engineering. Does it deserve to be in the list better than the Ariel Square Four or the BMW R32?

Anyway, if it helps to widespread the "bike cult" then those TV programs are very welcome from my point of view!!!!


Raul

[cub]

The same channel that gave us 'American Chopper'. I'd say their judgement is not of high value...

[mick750F]

   You've got to wonder what their criteria was...

[Zeke]

You guys are a bit grumpy this morning.

I don't have a TV anymore, and I don't really miss it EXCEPT for the shows on motorcycles.  Yeah, American Chopper can be a bit stupid but I like to watch anything cycle related.

Quit yer whinin'.

Always liked Triumphs myself.

Zeke

[heffay]

no t.v. here either... i can't remember if i stopped having t.v. because there was nothing on or there was nothing on because i stopped having t.v.

[MikeDeB]

I missed that show but one does have to wonder what their criteria was.  It's hard to define the "greatest motorcycle" but much easier to define the most "significant motorcycle."  In 2000 there were a number of articles written on that subject and there was a group of journalist that actually cast votes for various motorcycles.  #1 was the Honda CB750 and the reasons were what the bike represented in 1969; advanced technology for the times and what the CB750 did to the motorcycle industry overnight along with it's enduring impact on basic motorcycle design.  #2 was the Honda 50 and the reasons were that the bike was still in production (the longest running ever) and that to this day, in some countries, it is still the main form of transportation.  I don't recall the other motorcycles that came close but I don't believe the list was anywhere near what Discovery's list was.

While some of the bikes on Discovery's list are rather cool (and I really appreciate them including a Ducati) one would really have to wonder about one of them...

[dusterdude]

mike,which one would you wonder about.

[MikeDeB]

mike,which one would you wonder about.

Since there's been so much bashing of that brand lately I'll stand mute.   

[Jonesy]

Anyone know if they are going to re-run the show? I'm curious now and would like to see it....

[dusterdude]

awww,cmon mike,take a stand man.

[seaweb11]

The criteria seemed to be inovation / new technology.
To answer a question above about the Guzzi. Seemed an 8 cyl was a bit before its time even though it was plagued with problems.

It was a cool show, I learned a bit more than I knew before.
I belive that was the purpose behind TV before it was ruined back in the 60s with soap ads.

[6pkrunner]

The show was for entertainment primarily and it was pretty well put together. The knucklehead really did almost what the model T did. Intrduced motorcycles to a wider audience. The old Honda 50 changed the face of motorcycling for sure and proved not all were goons and thugs. The Bonny showed that there could be a sport side to motorcycling and the SOHC showed that there could be refinement. I'd have to say the old black bomber 450 for no other reason other than that was the shot across the bow of both the American and British industrys. While an offshoot of what the Bonny did to the Harley, the CB450 was the first real hit to their superiority and market domination. The 750 was the howitzer that killed it. The Z1 was an offshoot from the CB750. Just more of what you got already.

[MikeDeB]

I'm shocked Ducati wasn't on there more, bike mags rave about them like Ducati's paying them. Don't get me wrong, I like 'em, but they definitely get an inordinate amount of press in certain mags

There's a reason for the inordinate amount of press on Ducatis.  It's not because they're the greatest bike on the planet, it's more because of how you feel when riding one.  When you own one it's like having a sultry Italian mistress at your beck and call.  She exudes something that is so intoxicating, you almost have to experience it to truely understand.  If you read Peter Egan's column in Cycle World, he discusses them quite a bit and at times gives a little insight to why they are so highly regarded.  I won't tell you they're the greatest bikes on the planet (because they're not) but I just love them (I ought to, I own two).  When I walk out to the garage and open the door the feeling I get when I see them is so incredible and difficult to put into words but it is an emotional feeling which is the same feeling I get when I look at my CB750's.  A warm and fuzzy feeling that no other motorcycle gives me even though I really like and appreciate other motorcycles.  There's a saying about Ducatis, "you don't start a Ducati, you bring a Ducati to life."