The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Iconic Design on Two Wheels – What is the Motorcycle Equivalent to the AC Cobra?

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Kirkham Ultimate Roadster - Cobra built for Larry Ellison
Recreating an icon - Kirkham Ultimate Roadster - Cobra built for Larry Ellison

Is there a motorcycle equivalent to the AC Cobra? Is there a motorcycle that has that unique combination of appearance and performance that it appeals to almost any enthusiast? It’s hard to think of one. In the automotive world, no matter the enthusiast’s particular interest, many car guys, if not all, will find an attraction to the AC Cobra as one of those rare occurrences when it just came out right. The bodywork has the right shape, the performance, even today, over 40 years after the fact, still gets your attention. It is probably one of the most universally appealing designs in the automotive world and many companies have tried to repackage that lightning in their own bottle with endless Cobra kits or completely constructed cars. It’s an automotive icon.

The other day, I came across an amazing book from Kirkham Motorsports, “The Art of Engineering.” It’s a documentary of the creation of the ultimate roadster, in this case, an aluminum bodied recreation of the AC Cobra for Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle. Ellison, as you may know, is able to buy pretty much whatever he wants and Kirkham Motorsports builds some really high quality cars, one thing led to another and he gave them a dream order, build the best Cobra possible. The result is a jaw dropping example of metal work and engineering.

Notice what they did, they didn’t design a new car, they built the ultimate AC Cobra, improving on an icon. Working within the bounds of an established design, they recreated it with the best materials and engineering of today, correcting several shortcomings in the original with methods not available at the time.

Today, even some motorcycle companies like to compare the performance of their bike to the Cobra, that’s how pervasive the car has become, but to be this sort of icon, it’s more than performance, it’s the total package.

Suppose the same sort of order was placed for a motorcycle, the ultimate build of an iconic design using the best materials and engineering available today. What motorcycle would be selected? Is there universal agreement identifying any motorcycle as that rare combination of looks and performance that it appeals to everyone in the same way the Cobra does in the auto world or is the motorcycle enthusiast community too fragmented to agree on any one model? For a one off, cost no object build, what is the iconic motorcycle equivalent to the AC Cobra?

Note: The “Art of Engineering” mentioned above is available for download at the Kirkham link below, it is definitely worth your time! Beautiful photos of stunning engineering and body work.

Link: Kirkham Motorsports via HorsePowerSports

Comments

  2. LOL Palmer took the words right out my mouth! I own a 916 and an S1, and to me, the S1 is like a classic musclecar and the 916 a classic ferrari. However, my first thought was the 916 as an icon. A masterpiece of motorcycle design.

    • yep, that’s the one. The king. The standard by which all others are measured.

      And the era is pretty close too. . . and availability/street price, dammit.

  4. So the criteria include:
    — Aesthetic excellence
    — High performance for its time
    — Iconic status

    With all its shortcomings, I’d have to nominate the Vincent Black Lightning

  5. That’s an easy one. You’re talking about the Yamaha Vmax 1200. Few other bike models have had a similar impact and none for so many years.

  6. Haha, well, the Kirkham guys are my cousins-in-law. I saw that aluminum book while they were putting it together, during a visit to their shop. I’m interested how and where you came across it.

    As far as the iconic motorcycle goes, I’d have to agree about the Vincent Black Lightning, though it’s not as ingrained in the common culture as the Cobra.

  7. Along with the Buell, what comes to mind first would be the Kawisaki ZRX 1100 / 1200. Big muscle bike that can handle the corners as well. I saw one before at a local dealer with duel exhaust, lowered and blacked out. Just brutal! Didnt last long on the showroom.

  8. Although most of the Buells fit the criteria of sporty muscle bikes, to me they’re just not as iconic as the Cobra. I will have to chime in and also say the Black Shadow or Black Lightning. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people actually still believe it’s the fastest bike in the world!

  9. 1973 Ducati 750 SS is what i think of in terms of a classic bike that has a somewhat universal appeal. I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t love to ride one, and there have been kits to emulate and newer bikes that look back to that particular design.

  13. Not quite, from any factory in streetable form anyway, but a good clean Triton, or its eponymous anglo-american cousin come close.

  14. I don’t think some of you understood the question. Vincent’s are the only bike thats even close. Everyone can close their eyes and picture a Vincent. Even the non biking public has heard of Vincent. I seriously doubt there is public lore about any of the bikes listed above other than Vincent

  15. I have to agree that one of the Vincents would be the closest, but as much as I love bikes, nothing on two wheels reaches the iconic status of the Cobra.
    Nothing.

  17. The Vincent is nice, but I don’t think it’d be much identified by those outside of motorcycling.

    I’d say something like the BMW R75 or R71 (very widely copied).

  18. I despise Harleys, but I think it should be pointed out that thousands and thousands of ‘imitation Harleys’ are built every year. Their motor has been copied by S&S, Revtech, etc. Admitttedly, the ‘custom V-twin’ is supposed to be different every time, but let’s face it: the basic design of big-inch v-twin, extended forks, and (usually fake) hardtail is the most imitated, recognized form of motorcycle on the planet. How many reality shows and movies have been made about choppers, as opposed to Ducati 916 and Vincent Black Shadows? I would vastly prefer a Duck or a Vincent, but most non-motorcycle people think Captain America’s chopper is the quintessential motorcycle.

    I, personally, don’t want an imitation Harley, but I don’t really want an AC Cobra, either. Some things just seem emblematic of people with too much money and not enough brains – AC Cobras and big-inch choppers being two prime examples.

    • Godet-Egli-Vincent. Like the Kirkham and other Cobra replica/kit cars, a replica of the original, but better. Fast enough to stay with anything rideable. Made from international components Italian forks, wheels, and f. drum, British or Aussie engine, Swiss frame design, but built in France. Stock Shadow-spec engine (also a recreation using mostly reincarnated parts from the Owners Club source) is fast, but Aussie-built Irving-Vincent ( w/ 4 valve heads, 1300cc or 1600cc, and up to 165 HP) is REAL fast and, w/ mono-shock rear “frame”, still a race winner after all these years. The two Phillips designed it during WW 2, and build the series B, C, and D until 1955. Good luck finding even a basket case Lightning or Shadow for under 100 K. It’s still the Best Motorcycle Ever, although some Crocker people may disagree.

  20. Imitated Style —– Norton Commando (Any number of naked bikes essentially are trying to be a commando. Even Honda made the GB500 )

    Iconic — Ducati 916

    Game changing performance — Yamaha TZ 250/350 (R5, RD350, RD400)

    Mind numbing “they don’t pay me enough to ride this thing” — Yamaha TZ 750

    (nobody has ever confused a Buell with being a performance bike. 😛 Nor has anyone attempted to imitate one.)

  21. So many different ways to go approach this.

    Iconic because it’s what most people in the public think of when they think motorcycle?
    Harley.

    Iconic because the media show it as a classic, desired by all motorcycle?
    1940s Harley.

    Iconic because it’s what people in the motorcycling community think of as a classic?
    Vincent or Brough Superior.

    Iconic to the general public because it’s been so copied?
    Harley.

    Iconic to the motorcycling community because it’s been copied or inspired so many other bikes?
    Ducati (take your pick: 916, S1, something in the style of the current Sport Classic?)

    Iconic because when my girlfriend saw it, she said “Now that’s what a real motorcycle is supposed to look like”:
    Yamaha MT-OS (or the MT-01 with the MT-OS-like accessory fairing package)

  24. Grossly overpowered, poor handling, loud, sexy looking, rare, and very desireable?

    Sounds like the Kenny Roberts 700/750 flat track monster to me.

  25. I must say ICONIC is really only a Harley Davidson in the North American scene, a 1940’s Knucklehead in any shape or form would be my classic choice, but what about the sport aspect well in it’s time it was the ultimate in bikes nothing was faster or could be hot rodded so easily. If it was world wide choice it has to be the Brough Superior, again in it’s time it was the fastest and classiest of motorcycles every to be built, now again this is my opinion and I know others would disagree, but HD has been the most copied motorcycle of all time period, and still is.
    RATS

    • Brough Superior was a nice bike, but never made their own engines, (used JAP and others; several designs) and were instantly outclassed by the 1930’s Vincents, which were faster, had good brakes, cost less, and had suspension.
      I always thought that Sportster engines resembled the Brough JAP motors.

  27. I would also vote for the Yamaha V-Max, its along the same lines as the 427SC, Big horsepower not about great handling, that would be left for the 289 FIA Corba, I think that the V-Max emulates raw power and I LOVE the exhaust note through my aftermarket 4 into 2 header, we could argue a day about this……

  28. im with the buell crowed big american power in a sporty chassis. ducati too.
    if you are looking for something more classic than it would have to be a Norvin cafe racer.

  29. Some of you are drifting too much into the “Cobra like” idea rather than the iconic quality.

    H W Pfabe above quotes his girlfriend, “Now that’s what a real motorcycle is supposed to look like” and sums up the idea pretty well. Don’t over analyze the Cobra itself, think about what the idea represents, a motorcycle almost everyone thinks is a really desirable example of 2 wheel engineering.

  31. It will always be the Vincent Black Shadow. When there was talk of starting the Vincent company again I decided I would have to have one. I’ve ridden Harleys, Kawasakis, Hondas and Triumphs for the 30 years I’ve been riding, and still, I’d rather ride a Vincent than any of them.

  33. From a motorcycle enthusiast perspective, I am inclined to seelct the Norton Commando.
    For the general public, a 40’s Harley or Captain America chopper. I guess you have to define iconic. My wife wouldn’t know a cobra from a minivan, does that make it less iconic?

  35. without a doubt… V-Max! young and old know what it is.

    i guarantee a 20-something today doesn’t know what a Vincent Black Shadow is, but i bet they probably know what a V-Max is… and they know what a AC Cobra is.

  36. I would lean toward the Norton Commando. It’s a more traditional design and would be more recognizable in more countries (like the US) than the Ducatic. The most recognizable stykle of bike in the US (The v-twin crusier) is not a performance bike, wiht the exception of the XR-750.

  39. 916. Period. Ducati is as brand recognizable among non-riders today as Harley Davidson. It used to be that when you told a non-rider that you were a motorcyclist they would ask “do you ride a Harley?”. Now, more than not the question is, “do you ride a Ducati?”.

    Classic styling that any engineer/industrial designer drools over today, groundbreaking performance, and nothing else has come along in the 15 years since it’s introduction that has put people’s jaws on the floor to the degree that bike did back in 1994.

  40. Four bikes stand the test of time in terms of style, performance for their era, are still considered desirable by many collectors/enthusiasts, and will still attract the attention of the non-riding public:

    Indian Chief
    Harley Electa-Glide “74” (I hated to include that but it’s true)
    Triumph 650 Bonneville
    Vincent Black Shadow

    Few bike designs since the 1970s seem to have made much impression in the mind of the non-riding public except the Honda Gold Wing or the Kawasaki Ninja. Some bikes from the last forty years may become icons but I think it’s too soon to tell what will last in the minds of the public and rise to the level of icon amongst bike enthusiasts. There are plenty of great motorcycles out there but most are simply unknown outside of the world of the motorcycle enthusiast.

  42. If anyone knows there Cobra history,they would know that Caroll Shelby stuffed a big american V8 in a sporty lightweight european chassis in order to have the ultimate road car!! Only two makes come to mind that could that fill the bill,Waken motors(http://www.engmore.com/home.php)or Buell now granted Waken is european owned but the spirit is the same. Buell was running a european built frame for the first gen XB series bikes!! The Harley pushrod bigblock Vtwin is the signature american motorcycle engine as was Ford’s big V8 but at the time no one(in america) had a light sport chassis he wanted to use. So he found a European chassis to use. Light and compact all it needed was Big motor. Thus history was born!! A low slow handling cruiser will not equal a Cobra (sorry harley lovers)!!

  43. three possibilities all part of the same approach to the road – ducati 900ss, BMW r90s, mv agusta america

    form follows function – two wheels – engine and frame out in plain view – narrow overall structure and construction, dual disks – cafe fairing, upswept exhaust.

    one intuitively knows from “how it looks” “what its for” 😉

  44. Come on! I can’t believe no one mentioned the BRITTEN. That’s what would come out of you asked someone to build the ultimate Vincent Black Lightning. The Vincent was the best then, the Britten has been hard to beat since.

    That said, I think the 916 has been the most influential to modern performance bikes. But, like Fraser said earlier, I want a BSA DBD34 Gold Star but I’ll settle for my GB500 (which by the way doesn’t look anything like a twin cylinder Norton Commando – more like a Velocette KTT).

    As far as icons go (being off-topic) I’d say Vespa is #1, Harley a close second.

    -todd

  45. What about a custom framed, hayabusa powered (or zx14, or…?), single-sided suspensioned motorcycle with a AC Cobra-like body from headlight taillight that is 18 – 20″ wide and looks just like the car front a side-view!!

  46. Let me throw in the “car” possibilities. Arlen Ness and a few others have tried the “seen from the side view” of a motorcycle that looked like a car. Still, the American Chopper is what it is, ICONIC or not. However, not my cup of tea. Go find a Honda NR-750 for “modern” body work that has engineering “under” it.

  47. To meet the criteria I think it must be a motorcycle that no matter where you rode up on it;.be it Sturgis, or Pebble Beach, the Dragon, or a coffee shop filled with non riders, that people would notice and appreciate it. : Vincent Black Shadow , any Crocker and the Ducati 750/900 SS are my picks.

  48. I’d nominate the Confederate Hellcat. The vehicles simultaneously look both mean and fluid, are aesthetically beautiful, passenger unfriendly, expensive and hand built in small quantities. Vrrrm.

  49. I believe the bike that was originally built as a factory endurance racer and released to the public that set THE standard for a slew of copy cat bikes out today would be the: 1985 Suzuki GSXR750 (followed by the1986 GSXR1100)

  52. #1,Indian Chief, A rolling Icon that was always reconized by Bikers and Cagers. #2 Any Harley Davidson except the V-Rod. #3 Triumph Bonneville. Please note that all 3 of these bikes will not stay Dead, They are resurected and/or Copied because they are Iconic!!

  54. Yamaha V-Max
    Kawasaki Mach II 750
    Kawasaki Z1
    Honda CBX
    I’m tempted to include the CB750 as well

    It seems a lot of you are focusing on ‘old’ or ‘European’ and not ‘iconic performance machine’.

    Harley-Davidson? What?! Unless you mean XR750…forget about it.
    Ducati? I think there’s some confusion here. Ferraris existed in the time of the Cobra too. They’re cool, fast, nimble…and not like a Cobra. Ducatis are like Ferraris.

  56. Gotta be a Vincent. In its time, it was THE bike to own: Fast, stylish, innovative, it was everything a motorcyclist could want. Since then, others have come and gone, but the Vincent is the original dream bike. The only other bike that comes close is the Brough, really.

  57. Gotta agree with the (surprisingly) few who said Triumph Bonneville. It, along with Vincent Black Shadow, resemble most what people see in their head when the word “motorcycle” is mentioned, whether they know it or not. Simple machines, exclusive of anything not required to go & stop, and do both well… and don’t forget exceptionally handsome styling. Performance-wise, I don’t think any motorcycles can match the performance standard set by a Cobra over a similar period of time.

  58. I think many of you are still misunderstanding the question. They are not asking for a direct two wheeled equivalent of the AC Cobra, but are looking more to define what bike in the motorcycling world is as recognizable world wide as an icon of motoring as the Cobra is. I completely agree with the statements made in the article that nearly everyone, gearhead or not, recognizes the Cobra and thinks it an iconic piece of automotive history.

    Now what bike is as easily recognizable by even those who do not ride? Of course, Harley would be the easy answer, but one does have to take into consideration the design aspect, not just the recognizable aspect.

  60. I would have to say the Kawasaki z1 900 or the triple 750 widow maker… Both are iconic both are still ridden, modified, loved by any one who likes two wheels, are still quik even by today’s standards, and have parts made for them by a number of aftermarket companies. The only thing that doesn’t fit is that they aren’t american made. Which would leave buell or hardly…. In which case I’d have to leave to the harly people to decided… but would it be more acurate to say that the American vtiwn muscle cruiser would fit the bill reguardless of manufacturer… victory, harley, indian…. just a young motocycle nut rambling :).

  61. Hmmmmm…
    I always thought that the V-Max was the ultimate hot rod. Sorry Vincent fans. Vincents are great but nobody except bike enthusiasts know what they are and in todays crowd I’d say at most 25% would recognize one. I think it’s the game changers… The ones that were so radical that they put the competition on its head when they arrived.

    Bikes like the 1985 GSXR750, 1986 GSXR750 LTD or 1987/90 Honda RC30’s When these bikes arrived on the scene how many bikes were running clip ons as standard equipment and higher than 100hp out of the crate?

    • Because YOU don’t know anything about Vincents, doesn’t mean they aren’t the most revered and sought-after bikes ever. Let me know when you see a Gixxer of any year sell for $94,000, unless it was a celebrity-owned one. And Vincents, along with most other home-market Brit road bikes, had either low flat bars or clip-ons in the 1950’s and earlier. The Japanese superbikes were copies of English Cafe Racers or Specials. The Aussie Irving-Vincent makes 165 HP. Haya-who? My Evo Sportster 1200 will beat the bikes you mentioned, when it’s not eating clutches…

  62. ducati monster 900 : bare design, yet sexy, top performance (at the time), goes through the years without a wrinkle

  63. Hmmm…
    Shelby took one nimble sports car chassis and injected it with serious and crude horse power then massaged the hardware to create a race ready machine.
    Won races and stood the establishment of motor sports on it’s collective head.

    A motorcylce equvalent?

    I can only think of the Manx Norton and agree with Ceolwulf …. that meets those key ingredients.

    Maybe some Rickman framed race bikes or Dunstals … but they never stood the sport on it’s ear like the Manx did. Remember Manx race bikes were competing agains the likes of MV … Gillera and such big factory efforts. That’s the eqivalent of a Shelby beating Ferraris and Porches …..

    BTW … before the rock stars and baby boomers discovered car collecting … Shelby Cobras were cheap. For the most part a used Cobra sold for whatever the value of the engine it came with happened to be.

  64. Umm…. for all you guys looking for an American bike to fit the bill. You do realize that the AC Cobra was a British car right?

    • The AC Ace was British, but most of the body and some suspension parts were all that remained after the 260 and 289 smallblock Fords went into them. The 427s were American built, as were the Cobra Daytona coupes, all 6 of them.

  66. I don’t see how it could be anything aside from the 1969 Honda CB 750. The term “superbike” was coined for it. It was really the first bike that you didn’t have to be a mechanic to own. It was the first large-scale production bike to have either a disc brake or an inline-4 engine. Its riding setup and aesthetics are neither cruiser nor sportbike, yet can be appreciated just about anyone. Over time, it has been chopped, bobbed, cafe’d, you name it. It has been restored, rebuilt, imitated, and re-engineered by just about everyone, including Honda itself (see 2007 CB 750 Special Edition).

    To top it off, as a 40 year old bike, (like the cobra, might I add) it still doesn’t look particularly dated, unlike many of the old british bikes many of you were referring to, which no one would mistake for a “modern” bike. Conversely, its old enough, unlike the Ducatis, GSXRs, and Buells, that it has stood the test of time and has unquestionably influenced the styling and performance of virtually all motorcycles since. It is flat out a timeless classic motorcycle

  67. Have to go with the Harley Sportster, it really is an icon. The only bikes that truly do come close to matching that, are the Triumph Bonneville, and Ducati Monster.

  68. So, if the AC/Shelby Cobra is the quintessential roadster, then I think the motorcycle equivalent could only be defined in terms of categories like quintessential cruiser, quintessential race bike, etc.

    This would be a great question to think about as you walk through the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum, where just about every significant motorcycle ever made for the last 107 years is on display. It would be quite challenging for anyone to see the entire collection in one view and decide “which one’s the most iconic”. All the originals are there, the Britten, the Vincents, the Brough, the Indians, the Bonnevilles, the Manx Nortons, Crockers, Harleys, CBs, GSXRs, RCs, VFRs, Ducatis, and so on…there’s just so many! Over 200 marques from 20 countries. In fact I would say it’s almost impossible to choose just one truly iconic motorcycle.

    However, it is interesting to be around non-motorcycle people when they see the museum for the first time. You usually here them say “I recognize that!” most around the Harleys, and the Captain America chopper, but probably most of all, I would say the Triumph Bonneville (McQueen/Brando) takes the cake for iconic popularity and timeless design.

    my $.02
    -Brian

  69. To me, to be iconic, it’s got to be elemental. Two wheels/tires, frame, seat, showcased motor, handlebars, not much else, put together with a designer’s eye (whether the builder thinks he’s a designer or not). The Crocker definitely meets that criteria.

  70. I am still dumbfounded and almost nauseous at the amount of work that went into building that billet car.
    BILLET BILLET BILLET and more BILLET.
    A motorbike is a long way from that exercise, or at least it should be.
    A bike is about good engineering providing a simple solution. That’s the striking beauty about what a bike really is, never really about an over indulgence in materials, more so the right material in the right place.
    I never really got the Cobra thing… ramming a way to big, way too powerful engine into something that never wanted it always reminded me of a sort of automotive equivalent of foes gras.
    The closest thing to this on two wheels that I can think of, is some sort of custom chopper, with a fat v-twin, where the frame was made from one single 600lb billet of aluminium… great.
    Just because you can, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should.

  71. The Confederate motorcycle is the dead ringer for a motorcycle AC Cobra. All business. Brash in your face looks. Intimidating power!

  72. The “Cobra thing” was and is represented by the original 289 AC Cobra, A light weight High Performance Ford engine that was the forrunner of the 302 Ford engine. This was a Thin Wall casting very compact power plant. The Cobra pictured was a completely different car, The 427 Shelby Cobra was a tube frame hand built Monster that shared very little with the original AC Alpine, a English Sports car that came with a 100HP 4 cylinder engine that weighed as much as the 289 Shelby put in it. Yes the Cobra is Iconic, But the real Cobra, The AC was a well balanced, Light weight Roadster that Handled very well for its era. Not the bloated 427 Shelby that gets the attention now.

  73. OMG I made a BoBoo, The AC was not called an Alpine, That was the Sunbeam Alpine, the forrunner of the Tiger,another English car with a small block Ford slipped in place of the stock 4 cylinder. Shame on Me.

  74. Vincent Black Shadow for sure. The late Gonzo Journalist Hunter S. Thompson wrote an article, “Song of the Sausage Creature” about riding one, and the guitar great Richard Thompson wrote a song called “1952 Vincent Black Shadow.” Heck, there’s even an “alternative” band w/ a hot little singer called “The Vincent Black Shadow.” What other motorcycle figures so greatly in popular culture?

  75. for beauty I have to vote Norton Manx but the real world has forgotten them. Vincents are to rare and unheard of even by many people that ride motorcycles. So that leaves me with one motorcycle only. The Harley Davidson Sportster. It was the king for so long and is still made today. It can be much like the Cobra- Evil! You see the Cobra didn’t handle all that well if you look at the 427 version. Just nasty and overpowered. Now take a Sportster. Everyone recognizes one but do 100 cubic inches,and a few cosmetic changes and give it a classic blue with white race stripes, and you have scarey fast and it won’t handle so well either. But you do have something everyone knows about and will quickly realize it isn’t your normal machine.

  76. One cobby looking, evil sounding, 10 pounds of power in a 5 pound chassis, earth quaking machine that even looks somewhat like a cousin to the Cobra is the Royal Enfield Interceptor. But, its relative obscurity fails the iconic filter. I’d largely agree with the Vincent except they seem too civilized and refined even in the stripped Lightning form. I suppose iconic is personal too, and from that point of view I’d nominate the BSA that one of my dad’s friends rode. Red, rowdy, and rapid.

  78. Most motorcyclists know something about cars but most car people don’t know a lot about motorcycles so there are few really well known (to Joe Average) bikes. In North America most people probably see Harleys and Harley look-alikes as representatives of the species, but those people probably don’t want to own or ride one. Many people though, upon seeing the Cobra, want one.

    Part of the reason we have so many different suggestions for iconic bikes is that I don’t think we’re all on the same page when it comes to defining “icon”. An icon was originally a representation of someone or something, not the thing itself…. a painting of saint was an religious icon, the saint him/herself was not… a roadsign with a squiggly arrow on it that looks like the curvy road it represents is an icon. Emoticons are icons.

    When it comes to pop culture though, the word “icon” has recently come to mean simply someone or something well-known, popular, historically significant… Mick Jagger is a rock and roll icon, so is a Fender Stratocaster. Pictures of them are not.

    So, as far as recognizableness and/or historical significance goes, I’d have to agree with those who said Norton Commando, 650 Triumph and Vespa. People just know what they are. Harleys too. But my choice for the motorcycling equivalent of the AC Cobra is the first generation Honda CBX… big motor and horsepower (for the day), naked, not nimble but they were raced… I think someone won the Canadian Superbike Championship on one, and I think most people would agree that CBXs were beautiful.

    For historical significance within a motorcycling sub-group I’d pick the 1974 Honda 250 Elsinore.

  80. in light of the knee sliders direction after my last post. id like to nominate the KTM SuperDuke. i think is has all the bes qualities that a motor cycle should have.no holds bar , in your face performance and styling. very much a hooligan machine with no unnecessary pieces

  81. No question about it; a Vincent. Some variation of the original V-twin, stuffed into like a Featherbed or Egli with a bikini fairing, or maybe the Aussie version, the 4 valve Irving Vincent with 165 hp, set up as a Cafe. The build quality would be like the Ecosse Heretic, but not as busy, and lots of polished aluminum, but not on the bodywork. A fast, good handling, one-off Vincent is good as it gets..

  82. to make it short. we’ve all talked about harleys, honda, kawasakis, vincents, norton, triumph, ducati. and we are all thinking of specific models, because that was one of the main poitns of the question. but the motorcycle guy is different than the car guy. all of these bikes have been transformed and modified by their owners. triumphs into scrambler. nortons into cafe racers, and the same for ducatis. dont even get started on triumph …choppers, cafe racers, off road, dirt track. and vincents as well. there some bikes our there that are true icons in our two wheel history you guys have named all of them and the list could go on forever. but in my personal opinion. we should be comparing the style of bike most iconic, most remembered by the people. most copied by manufacturers. and most style interpreted by US (the real world riders out there on the street). most of the bikes on this website have been heavily modified regardless of the brand. and i think that the most common trend thru history is the cafe racer. need examples? the norton featherbed, but the bike itself. the frame… tritons, norvins, even sportsters. how many cafe racer hondas are out there? buells could be interpreted as a modern cafe racer. the new range of new classic bikes from ducati, guzzi, triumph. even motocross bikes are now been turned into cafe racers. so i think that a good rival of styling to the cobra could be any decent cafe racer. and it should be from that era if you really want to relate to the cobra in terms of styling and fashion of the time (maybe a good norvin? a 73 ducati 750 sport (actually that a little modern for the cobra. but how about a good bonnie with an aluminum tank, rear sets, clip-ons, upswept exhaust single seat cowl) could that be as iconic? i think Mr. McQueen (king of Icons) could have both in his garage. but then again, that’s just what i think. thanks for reading, and remember i loved and appreciatte all bikes.

  84. Hmm, difficult question. An Egli Vincent could be the one, or a Ducati MHR, or a Ducati 916, or a MKI Le Mans, or a Honda RC30. It’s hard to choose between them.

  86. mmmm i have to say i’m with todd here, the “iconic bike” should be te vespa, since 1946 they’ve been bulding basically te same models, with few noticable mods, and ANYONE you ask to name a bike company will for sure name vespa. Plus, their models have been widely copied by a vast range of other companies.

  87. The motorcycle version HAS been done.
    Bimota.
    Unfortunately for this discussion it’s iconic from the inside out.
    The engines are the most recognizable element, not all the surrounding machined aluminum plate and sheet metal.
    My next pick would be a Sportster.
    52 years continuous manufacture…but Harley lost it’s way when they veered off the performance path and turned it into the “Bloatster” line.

  88. Pull into any Bike/Car show on an Indian Chief, You will attract a crowd Young and Old who will claim to know more about the bike then you do! Even the Ladys know what it is. Tell a group of people at work that you bought a bike, The 1st question will be, is it a Harley? Pull up on a new or old Bonneville and 14 people will start telling you about the one they used to own. This is an Icon, not some modern Plastic Banana, not the fastest, not the most popular, but an ICON.

  89. I agree with those who voted for the Egli-Vincents or NorVins.

    Best motor of the era, stuffed into lighter, better handling frames.

    And still legendary today.

    That is the essence of the Cobra ..

  91. Greybeard,
    I was thinking sportster too, but one of the reasons I chose the CB750 is that before the CB750, the sportster was a high performance bike. After the CB750, the sportster was a steaming pile of… image. It was the pivotal moment that steered performance motorcycling away from the v-twins. It in essence caused the rift between sport bikes and cruiser bikes, though it itself was neither.

  92. It’s go to be an early CB 750, triumph bonneville or an XR750,the honda cub is also a great contender with one of the most durable engines in the world,it is highly recognizable,visible in any country in the world,much copied(especially all those chinese clones)and even much modified for performance!

  94. Everyone is WRONG THERE IS ONLY ONE BIKE THE BROUGH SUPERIOR SS. CLASS, CLASS CLASS. Iconic as the AC Cobra with the same take off that you can’t beat. They did the ton out of the box, Made for doing mile up on mile. Would whip the Cobra in the 1/8 of a mile. Then again most bike can take on most cars and win Worth over 125 Grand if you can find the original. Held 7 or 8 speed records in it’s time. world’s fastest at 130.6 mph in 1927. Last tried in 1938 with the first past at over 175 but on the second was a wipe out with the driver killed. If you don’t know the bike then you should look it up. http://www.broughsuperiorclub.com/pages/history/history_menu.htm.
    Also these years latter most of his bike are still out there going strong. The other bikes yes they are some of the best HRD , Indain, harely, etc but His bike are the icon of it’s time.

  95. The answers themselves indicate what the problem is; it isn’t the answers – it’s what’s assumed in the question. By limiting iconic status to the AC Cobra, it forces the answer to come up with one motorcycle. But – the AC Cobra isn’t the only automobile to achieve iconic status. For some, it’s a 1957 Chevy. For others, it’s a 1963 split-window Corvette Sting Ray. For me, it’s a 1937 coffin-nosed Cord – it’s what a car should be.

    I think that’s why we’re getting a myriad of answers. As some have said, HDs are surely iconic (not a Harleyphile so I’ll leave the choice of model(s) up to them). And surely an Indian Chief is an icon. Also, Bimota belongs in there (not sure which one). The Ducati 916 belongs (you can just 916 and everyone knows what that is). I’d throw in the Honda RC30. Of course Vincents, the Brough Superior, Norton Manx and Tritons fit too.

    For me -as is the ’37 Cord above – it’s the roundcase, bevel drive Ducati 750SS which was mentioned by someone else. It’s a thing of beauty and says fast.

  96. GROUND BREAKING FOR ITS TIME RARE SPORTY LIGHT WEIGHT MORE HORSES THAN CARRIGE HMM ITS A HARD ONE I WOULD SAY TAKE A LOOK AT THE WAKAN 1640 UP ON THE RIGHT HERE PERHAPS NOT THE SPEED DEMON BUT GARENTEED TO KEEP YOU SMILEING AS IT THROUGHS YOU OF THE SIDE OF A CLIFF

  97. I’m with Jorge the iconic style to be the (loosely defined) café racer style and I agree with many of bike examples cited above as iconic examples. What is so cool about the Cobra today is that you either build it, or have it built for you, that it’s genesis came from stuffing the ‘best engine’ in the best frame/body, and that it looks very sexy. ,

    For me, I’d have to put the Irving Vincent at the top of the list.

  99. There’s nothing more iconic than Vespa and a Honda Cub in the world of two wheels. Most of you come up with stuff of ‘legend’ not everyone know of. Something iconic is known by a lot of people.

  100. My two cents…

    Iconic? If we’re throwing in the Vespa, we have to mention the Cub… How about the Kawasaki Mach IV “Widowmaker”? Definitely more muscle stuffed into a frame that necessary… The CB750? Copied in some form or another by all the Japanese companies and even by Triumph. The 916 was iconic, but in the wake of the Japanese super bikes i.e. the Hayabusa and ZX14, has almost disappeared, excepting the die hard 916 fans of course.

    Copied? Definitely the Harleys and Indians. Look at all the Japanese and even the Korean Harley clones hitting the market recently. While I’ve never seen a Ducati copy with a Harley engine (Buell vs. Monster maybe) I’ve definitely seen cruisers built from Ducatis.

    Don’t get me worng, I’m not trying to bash Ducati. Just using it as an example (Sorry Ducati guys)

    As for perserverance. Definitely the V-Max. The bike went unchanged for decades. Why? It didn’t need to be changed.

    I’m loving this thread. From the original article “is the motorcycle enthusiast community too fragmented to agree on any one model?”

    I wouldn’t call us fragmented. Just highly opiniated, and loyal to the particular style we love.

  101. We’re talking Cobra,an American Icon and all you are sugesting Hondas and Manx Nortans,what the hell is the matter with you?Harley Sportster is the only answer,what do you think Carrol Shelby would say?a Honda?Back in the early 70’s a single engine Sporty had the land sppeed record at 265mph at Bonneville and today with upgrades you can make a Sportster run 9 sec quarters and even low 7’s on gas and 6’s on fuel.They are way under tuned stock.

  102. There is only one bike that snaps to mind with no question as to it’s legendary status. At over 60 years old it may seem antique, in some ways, by today’s standard. And, there will be those who will say different, but when it comes down to listening to and looking at this beauty, this distinct v twin…(feel the lump in the throat yet). The racing, special order, version of this bike went 150 mph in 1948. The Black Shadow and it’s brother the Black Lightning just can’t be beat. Like the Cobra these bikes have a mystery that seems to follow them everywhere they go. Vincent Black Shadow, my vote, hands down.

  103. Iconic- 1974 750 SS Ducati “green frame”. There are a hell of a lot more of these around now than the original 450 that were produced. Built the way the craftspeople at NCR http://www.ncrfactory.com/eng/index.shtml construct their bikes, would make it a dead ringer for the philosophy behind Kirkham Motorsports’ engineering. Build it with a true round case bevel engine (not a pantah based version), fuel injection or flatslides, Ti or Cro-Mo frame, lovely!
    Motorod, although Hunter was very enamoured with the Vincent Black Shadow, “The Song of the Sausage Creature” was written after riding the 1992? Ducati 900 Supersport.

  104. John, you are correct that Sportsters can be made to run below-10 second quarter miles.

    You can buy a couple of stock Japanese bikes that run below 10. You could make a Goldwing run below 10. So what?

    If the question was ‘what bike is the AC Cobra with the four-cylinder engine still in it?’, then I would agree it might be the Sportster.

  105. If the question is the motorcycle analog of the Cobra (and I thought it was) then most of these commercial offerings (V-Max) are moot because they weren’t designed and built (and used) for competition. And they are not rare, they are available all over the place. I can’t remember the number of AC Cobras produced before 1970 but it wasn’t many – a couple of hundred? That was the motivation to start copying this most beautiful design.

    Maybe the bevel drive Ducati’s – not everybody’s cup of tea, even people who own and collect them. I like Norton Commandos (who doesn’t?) but there are at least two highend restorers of these. Bonneville? I owned a 1978, loved it, but it’s not worth the trouble and there are bunches of these around too. Ducati 916? There are bunches of perfectly beautiful 916’s out there, why reproduce it? Vincents? Maybe.

    I pick the XR750, a bike just begging to be reproduced. There are way too few in the world. The XR750 was developed just for competition and DOMINATED. Few have made their way to the street. Unlike many competition bikes it was a versatile and beautiful, or handsome, design. Of course, HD would probably sue any independent outfit trying to do this into the ground.

    And I don’t mean Storz Sportster conversions or anything with a Sportster engine (sorry Mert), and I really really really don’t mean the HD XR1200 (gag!)!

  106. I agree that Harley offerings are iconic, but way too common to turn heads like an old Shelby would. More along the lines of a big Indian cheif… iconic American bike, but not the daily driver you see everywhere.

  107. What have you done here Paul? : )

    The question(s):
    1. “Is there universal agreement identifying any motorcycle as that rare combination of looks and performance that it appeals to everyone in the same way the Cobra does in the auto world or is the motorcycle enthusiast community too fragmented to agree on any one model?”

    The answer to that, given the responses, is of course “No, the motorcycle enthusiast community is too fragmented to agree on any one model”. Or, maybe the answer is “We’ll never know until they can actually stop to read the question, think, then type.”

    2. “For a one off, cost no object build, what is the iconic motorcycle equivalent to the AC Cobra?”

    I was thinking that the Britten advocates were way off base, till I re-read this part of the question. One off, cost no object – what else would you choose? You could buy three/five/nine Vincents or Broughs or MV Americas for what one Britten goes for – if you can find one for sale. It has looks, engineering calibre, performance (it wheelied past the factory Ducatis on the Daytona banking for crying out loud) and everyone who knows anything about specials bikes knows about the Britten. It raced at the Isle of Man! There are still one or two of the ten built that have never left their crates! It had carbon fibre girder forks! The looks may not appeal to everyone, but they are groundbreaking and certainly unique, and you can always paint over the pink if you want.

    And you CAN compare it directly to the Cobra, in that both were created by men who wanted to build something special to beat the established factory performance specials, and they both succeeded.

    Would anyone here seriously blow their blank cheque on a Harley, or a Buell, or a V-Max?

  109. I think the VW Bug is iconic. I think the Jeep is iconic. I think Vespa is Iconic. Ask anyone on the street what that shiny car at the top of this page is and they will shrug their shoulders. “I don’t know, a Ferrari? A MG?” Show someone a picture of a Bug, Jeep, or a Vespa, there’s no question. It’s an interesting topic but I don’t think the AC Cobra is any more iconic than a Ford Fuego. All those Ferraris that the Cobra beat are more desirable and collectible and ICONIC than the Cobra that beat them.

    Maybe “iconic” is the wrong word. Maybe the question should be more like “what is the most desirable bike to a motorcyclist like the AC Cobra is to American Muscle Car fans?” Now you can understand the plethora of responses.

    -todd

  110. ladys and gents, the cobra is about visceral muscle.it will kick ass in stock form right out of the box.in its introduction, nothing was like it.it was unique in every aspect.nothing came close to its performance.the VMAX is a muscle bike .in its introduction nothing was like it. the power it produced was unlike any motorcycle at the time.it had more horsepower than any 4 cylinder car the big three had to offer the same year 1984.one more thing that is informational the VMAX is faster than the cobra.the VMAX is also the longest running big bore japanese bike ever from 1984 to 2007 thats twenty three years. the cobra is a benchmark……………. so is the VMAX .

  112. Only trouble is the Cobra is beautiful the VMAX is without doubt the ugliest motorcycle ever made. Japanese icons CB750, DT250. VMAX is a gag.

  113. I’ve reread the article as well and agree that the word iconic is being confused with a limited production, high-performance car – the Cobra. As has been said, the Honda step-through Cub maybe the most iconic motorcycle ever made. The Vespa is the most iconic scooter, no doubt.

    Paul writes, “Is there universal agreement identifying any motorcycle as that rare combination of looks and performance that it appeals to everyone in the same way the Cobra does in the auto world or is the motorcycle enthusiast community too fragmented to agree on any one model?” The problem is, the question assumes that there is universal agreement about the Cobra (and that it is an icon). The Cobra is perhaps an icon to enthusiasts – probably not the public at large. I think a Mustang is more likely to be an icon to the public.

    But as to the question – leaving out the iconic status – I’d like to throw out one that hasn’t been mentioned: Ducati Desmosedici RR. This bike is beautiful, and is the closest thing to a true MotoGP bike ever made. Paul states, “Suppose the same sort of order was placed for a motorcycle, the ultimate build of an iconic design using the best materials and engineering available today.” I would argue that it comes closest to the best materials and engineering available today – hands down. In a few decades, it may have the iconic status of the Cobra (to the enthusiast – not the public).

    I again would argue that the stipulation of “universal agreement” is the problem, and that the Cobra does not have universal agreement either.

  114. Given the formula of the ac cobra , gobs of power in a light weight pakage. The 427 even by Shelbys account was pretty much user unfreindly. That being said it would have to be the Boss hoss.

  115. If we’re talking iconic to motorcyclists, the 916. Beautiful, performs, and a legend.

    To the general public? All sport bikes are still a “Ninja”. And that answers that question right there.

  116. Wow, … lots of opinions, though I do wish more commenters had read the post a little more closely before answering the question.

    I changed the title of this post several times before posting because I knew it would be easy to misinterpret, I should have tried longer, likewise my wording within the post.

    I really was not concerned with the non-riding, non enthusiast public or their ability to recognize either the Cobra or our unidentified iconic bike. My intention was to ask a purely enthusiast oriented question.

    Many of you have been trying to dissect the Cobra and compare its capabilities or characteristics to some bike when the Cobra was simply an example. The point is, whether an auto enthusiast is a street rodder, custom builder, import tuner, drag racer, Formula One or NASCAR fan, the Cobra is likely to be recognized in any parking lot, garage or Saturday night cruise and get a thumbs up. The Ferrari or Bugatti owner might think it’s crude, the tuner might consider it overpowered and so on, but everyone would know they were looking at something special and its place in the continuum of specialty and performance cars is hard won and deserved. You don’t have to love the Cobra to appreciate it. If I had asked, “What is the motorcycle equivalent to the Ferrari 250 GTO?” a lot of motorcyclists would be scratching their heads with no idea what they were trying to compare. The Cobra is known and recognized, even among motorcyclists, while at the same time it has a history of wins on the track and strip.

    The AC/Shelby Cobra was not perfect by any means, on the track it was more hammer than scalpel, but it worked in so many ways both on and off the track that it became legendary. It was a muscle car, sports car, drag racer, road racer and it is very, very well known. The explosion of so many kit car Cobra replicas has dulled the response it used to bring to anyone who saw one, but the originals were truly special.

    Now, with all of that said, the huge number of different responses in itself indicates there may be no answer. As Brian said “the motorcycle equivalent could only be defined in terms of categories like quintessential cruiser, quintessential race bike, etc.” That, too, points to how special the Cobra was. Compared to other drag racers or road racers or street roadsters or muscle cars, there were always better examples in each category, but how many were so all purpose?

    Another point of interest, did you notice how much more knowledge a motorcyclist needs in order to know why a particular model deserves special respect? The arguments in favor of the Britten, CB750, early Sportster and several others make sense but only in light of its background. Of all of the various models mentioned, the Britten is far more likely to grab the attention of even casual observers but not because it’s recognized as much as being obviously different, whether it is the icon we’re searching for, hard to say.

    Please continue to offer your ideas, but I have a hunch we’ll never quite get there.

    P.S. Some very well thought out responses here, a great conversation. Thank you for all of your input!

  119. Well I was almost there. You see 20 years ago my wife said she wanted her own motorcycle but didn’t want to ride, so I decided to build her a kit car. She ended up with a Healey replica called the Sebring 5000. All mustang running gear and a potent 302 in 2400 pounds. She HATED the Cobras as that was my choice. Women! She drove that car for 18 years and a ton of s-miles. I’ll still say Sportster because almost every other motorcycle is not recognized by a wide enough group and many that have been mentioned are not even recognized by so called motorcycle people let alone the public.

  120. Why has nobody really mentioned the Honda RC-30? Powerful V4 that sounded like a V8 and more, in a chassis sized like a 250.

    The CB750 is my choice if you’re looking at ‘period’ machinery. Similar rounded (and as others said, still not horribly dated) looks. An engine that was neither modern, nor archaic. It started the power race.

  121. good topic first of all!! the AC Cobra really is a ‘good’ performace packaged, with one beautiful exterior mucular design wrapped around it!! Almost a freak occurance really in the car industry….i don’t think you could come up with one bike that would fit the bill here as it doesn’t exist…everybody has a different opinion of what the cobra bike version would be….which is a blantently obvious sign that a Cobra-esk bike doesn’t exist.

    Vincent’s, honda’s, yamaha’s etc, sure they’ve got made amazing bikes, but none have been replicated, or tried to be improved as much as a fairly basic harley softail. Yet there are a whole lot of people here that would say 20 other bikes should have that title over the harley softail…in the end i came to the conclusion, bikers are brand, bike & bike type ‘biased’…but then i got to thinking, that’s probably an unfair label, which brought on the thought, there will never be one bike agreed on, because no bike fits the Cobra success design description…the Cobra was a one off…even now in the in the car industry, no other car has been able to acheive this again…

    For me, the harley softail and the Ducati 916 sit somewhere near the top of my choices….which in my mind are 2 beautiful bike designs, that cannot be ‘improved’, whether they perform well is not critical, as the performance of the cobra was great, but not the best……Also they are both expesive and ‘slightly’ out reach, but not completely…I think that also was a big factor to the success of the AC Cobra….the car equivalent would be the AC Cobra versus the Ferrari testarossa (or replace the testerossa with any other big dollar model ferrari/lamborghini/zonda, etc) …both beautiful cars, but the ferrari completely out of reach, but still widely admired. I think that’s what the AC Cobra had going for itself also, sure it was beautiful like a whole lot of a other cars (but also it was not a Brand people would object to), and also the pricing was not off the planet, so that us dreamers could still see that machine possibly sitting “well polished” in our garage…unfortunately i don’t think there is a bike that’s ‘great’ in ‘all areas’ to please everyone, instead we have bikes that are ‘perfect’ in ‘some areas’…

  122. Paul, in your reply you wrote, “Many of you have been trying to dissect the Cobra and compare its capabilities or characteristics to some bike when the Cobra was simply an example. The point is, whether an auto enthusiast is a street rodder, custom builder, import tuner, drag racer, Formula One or NASCAR fan, the Cobra is likely to be recognized in any parking lot, garage or Saturday night cruise and get a thumbs up.”

    Huh? Then help us out. The Cobra is just an example? If it’s just an example, then that’s all you’ll get in the replies – examples. Quite frankly, you’re being very confusing.

    So, what bike is the equivalent of “…a muscle car, sports car, drag racer, road racer and it is very, very well known?” The Vincent Black Lightning might be it. But – it’s just an example – like your Cobra.

  123. Based on the last post by Paul, an iconic bike would have to be recognizable by the large masses as a special/rare motorcycle.

    Vespa is recognizable, but not special/rare. Same with any Harley- they’re anything but rare today. Nothing from Japan that I can think of is recognizable to the average dolt AND special/rare. Either an Indian Chief or a 916 seems to fit the bill though.

  124. How about the equivalent being a Suzuki GS/GSX motor in a Martin/Harris/McIntosh frame? Is this not closer to the mark?
    – Mass market engine CHECK!
    – Tubular steel frame from a British manufacturer CHECK!
    – Reasonable price (compared to factory efforts) CHECK!
    – Performance CHECK CHECK!
    – Styling… oh dear… um!

    This is an impossible comparison. If we had a voting system you would end up with Ducati 916 and Harley Davidson Sportster duking (sic) it out.

  126. I would say the Harley XR750 (and XR1000) were the AC Cobra’s of the day:
    Both the AC’s and XR’s were considered “all engine” compared to chassis size and weight, both were derived from engine transplants into chassis/frames that previously carried less powerful engines, both were underestimated because they used supposedly “obsolete” pushrod engine technology, both kicked the crap out of the more “exotic” competition, the production numbers relative to each market (cars and motorcycles) were comparable, both are frequently imitated or counterfeited with “kits”, and both are American icons that will still turn heads if spotted today.

  128. Benjamin – I mentioned the RC30.
    Simon – I mentioned the MKI LeMans.
    There are a lot of posts to read through I guess.

  129. There has only been one bike that truly stood all previous designs on their heads in a similar manner to the Cobra.

    The Kawasaki Ninja GPZ900R.

    3 months after being released to the press, 3 Ninjas were entered into the Isle Of Man TT. They scored 1st, 2nd and 4th!
    Sub 11 second 1/4 miles as standard!
    They changed the direction of bike design entirely though some argue that the Fireblade did that.
    It became a icon when Tom Cruise rode it in Top Gun.
    Ask any general public member to name a superbike and there is a good chance that the word “Ninja” will come from their mouth.

  130. As youself one question.
    What bike would you take out a second mortage or sell your first born child when you came upon an unbelievable deal?
    Origional AC Cobras have set the record at car auctions.
    Choose the Vincent.

  131. Scotduke: So you did!
    Now if nobody else has put a list together, here are the candidates. I think we should put these to a vote:

    – Vincent (Black Lightning)
    – Ducati 916
    – Harley Davidson XR750
    – Honda CB750
    – Honda RC-30
    – Yamaha V-Max
    – Ducati 750GT or 750SS
    – Kawasaki Z900/Z1

    Any others left out simply because there aren’t enough mentions through these posts.

  132. OK, abandoning the performance criterion, I also nominate:

    1949 Harley FL Panhead, the first with hydra-glide forks and the Air Flow front fender designed by Brooks Stevens. It’s a beautiful and practical design that 50 years later still distinguishes many H-D roadsters. To me that beefy fork and fender are as much a symbol of the Motor Co. as the bar and shield or the 45-degree V-twin.

    Stevens also designed the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile.

  135. I think people are still not getting it, despite two additional posts from Paul explaining what he’s actually asked here… lets break it down into biker talk then.

    “The Cobra is one car that pretty much any car enthusiast can get a woody over.”

    “The _____ is one bike that pretty much any bike enthusiast can get a woody over.”

    Does that help explain what we’re actually looking for here? : )

  136. Hmmm very nice discussion, unluckily few japanese bikes standout from the cookie mould, the same has to be said for Harley Davidsons, show me a non-petrol head that can tell you the difference between a Dyna glide and a sportster and I will give him a ride in my AC Cobra.

    The italians have the looks, and yes the Ducati 916 would be seen as iconic, however it does not inspire that real brute sense of overawe that the AC Cobra does.
    To be honest the VMAX is a lot what the Cobra is on two wheels, however you still get people coming up to you and ask if it is a Harley.

    I hate the bike but I think if there is one modern bike that transcend gender and age and would live in time to come as a real icon would have to be teh Suzuki GSXR1300 Hyabusa.

  137. The Laverda Jota is one bike that pretty much any bike enthusiast can get a woody over. You mean like that phantom?

  138. Not bad Marvin, and certainly the first appearance of a Laverda on this list. Personally I’d have gone with the SFC : )

  139. I’m a bit confused as well (see Rich’s comment above). The confusion could be more from the various comments that seem to be off the mark from what I thought was the original topic (Vespa, V-Max, etc.).

    Performance is not solely defined in a straight-line. The Cobra won roadraces, not just drags, therefore, the V-Max cannot be considered (plus, not every gearhead generally agrees enough about its aesthetic quality to be proud to own). Not to mention, they are not rare or unobtainable to prompt companies to build kits.

    The Guzzi MGS-01 is another example worth mentioning in terms of aesthetic and performance (raw, non-tech power in a good handling chassis). But, I’d say there hasn’t been “that” bike built yet that would have an equivalent amount of gearheads say they would have an example in their garage.

  140. RIGHT. I think it is time to settle the score according to The Phantom’s succinct summation of the question we are ultimately posing:

    1. The Honda RC-30 is one bike that pretty much any bike enthusiast can get a woody over. (Close but maybe no cigar?)

    2. The Honda RC-166 is one bike that pretty much any bike enthusiast can get a woody over. (However this is not a road bike… damn)

    3. The Honda CBX-1000 is one bike that pretty much any bike enthusiast can get a woody over.

    Yeah that does it for me. I seriously think the CBX 1000 is the ultimate. Who could knock back classic superbike looks, especially in Metallic Burgundy/Red? Who could argue that the first mass produced 6 cylinder motorcycle (yeah I know Benelli was first with a 750/900…but it wasn’t DOHC 1000cc) doesn’t evoke some stirrings in the nether region? Who hasn’t lusted for one of these in their lifetime? To think about it logically, the CBX-6 was actually the forebear to the V-Max – Big F@#KOFF engine dominating the visuals, multiple pipes caressing the ear drums!

    What other motorcycle can seriously challenge this mantle?

  141. The AC Cobra is a early Ace.
    Its pretty much a rolling brick with horse power.
    I have to go with a American bike around that thought.
    My never made bike is a,Harley Davidson XLCR 1000 with a XR 1000 motor.
    But for real,the new XR 1200.
    They should handle the same.

  143. Re-reading Paul’s topic: “Suppose the same sort of order was placed for a motorcycle, the ultimate build of an iconic design using the best materials and engineering available today. What motorcycle would be selected?”

    Also factor in the Cobra’s ability to look great while winning road course races by using somewhat low tech means to achieve huge torque & horsepower…

    The one bike that could come close to that “dream order” is the Irving Vincent from Australia. It has been re-built with updated machined parts. It has won races (2008 BoT) and it looks stunning.

    Wakan, MGS-01, & Kenny Dreer’s 961 Norton are close. All 3 have brutish, low-tech power placed into a good handling chassis and are very attractive, aesthetically. But, none of them seem to command the equivalent consensus among enthusiasts that the Cobra does when the conversation turns between cars & bikes.

    Suppose there was a similar consensus in the bike world, would it be with the same level of enthusiasm as the Cobra gets?

  144. I find it interesting that only a very small handful of people have mentioned the Indian Chief. I mean, this is a design that virtually singlehandedly brought back the Indian name out the grave not once, but now twice! To top that off, Kawasaki liked the design so much they mimiced it on their own Kawasaki Drifter series of bikes. Moreover, to this day, several companies specialize in handmade copies of that classic design (Kind of like a rolling “kit car” of the motorcycle world, huh?).

    That’s an “Iconic” design.

    As to any other iconic designs……I’d say that Harley holds a serious claim to that title as well. Lots of folks copying that look as well. Shoot, virtually the whole cruiser market segment is just trying to mimic that look!

  145. Benjamin,

    Yes, yes, yes, the CBX… the first generation/naked version… with the Euro spec. bars and pegs. Mmmmmm.

    I thought I had seen a recent Honda 6-across-the-frame show/concept bike but a quick Google just now didn’t turn up anything.

    Why, oh why did I ever sell my 79 CBX ?

  146. Just a few more points in support of my already stated opinion:

    Seriously, is a parked Ninja or Vmax going to draw a crowd? No, far too common and too new to be iconic. Or for that matter, is any sport-bike with full body work, going to draw a crowd when parked? I really doubt it. The AC Cobra is an American classic recognized around the world. But it wasn’t high technology, and in fact, it was very old school, even when introduced. Push-rods. Just like the HD. It reflects a certain time period of design, the 60’s, and sport bikes with full body work are decades beyond that period. “Iconic” as applied to a motorcycle in this comparison has to feature the engine as part of the “Iconic” aesthetic IMO. During this period, you could not visually separate the engine from the bike and more than the motor from “motorcycle”. While the Vincent is a strong contender, I don’t think it’s a parallel to the AC Cobra. It reflected the highest technology of it’s day, and it’s day was an earlier era. The XR750 clearly is: It’s old technology managed to dominate newer technology just as the AC Cobra’s did. Just as the AC Cobra’s legend lead to the high performance Mustangs of the day, the XR750 lead to the Sportster. I think the Mustang, and the Sportster are iconic parallels, and I think the race-bred XR750, and AC Cobra are parallels. No offense to sport-bike fans, or fans of Japanese motorcycles, but they’re just too common place to get noticed by any but a few inside aficionados, and to your average person, they probably all look pretty much the same. An XR750 is instantly recognizable as a Harley to your average person, but it’s still utterly unique.
    And the Ducati, while a fantastic bike, is to the AC Cobra what the Ferrari was: It’s antithesis. The AC Cobra was a simple, low-tech American machine that kicked the hell out of the Ferraris. Were there not so many produced, I would say that the Sportster itself, is the ultimate iconic motorcycle; it’s influenced an entire generation of Japanese cruiser copies. But the bike from which the Sportster was derived, the XR750, that is the true Father of the original muscle-sport-bike, the Sportster, and that is strictly comparable in every way to the AC Cobra.

  147. All good points Byrd, but I don’t see why you’d have to exclude the Sportster just because a lot of them have been built. It comes down, again, to what we mean by “iconic”: I don’t think rarity or exclusivity is, or should be a factor.

    I think the sense of the word that we’re trying to get at here is what bike just says “MOTORCYCLE” when you look at it and ride it… what bike embodies all the things that a motorcycle should be, or is expected to be. To my mind the Sportster does all that admirably.

    Here’s a thought I just had: Though many different bikes have been suggested here by riders who favour different sorts of machinery, one thing they all have in common is that the bikes suggested are pretty much all honest examples of what they purport to be… the Ducati 916 is a real performance bike that isn’t a copy of something else; the Sportster is the real thing, the one others copy; ditto the Vespa, the CBX, the Britten, the Honda step-through 50, the Vincent, etc. Some of them are exotic and performance-oriented, some are cheap and slow but none of them are fake something-elses.

  148. Actually Frozen Prairie, the 916 is actually a copy of something else (to a certain degree) – the rumour goes that when Massimo Tamburini first laid eyes on Honda’s NR, he tore up his designs for the 851/888 replacement and started again – single sided swingarm, underseat exhaust, letterbox headlight… but I’m not taking anything away from the 916 which is absolutely one of the best ever bike designs ever (and without a doubt has the punch to match the looks).

    Good post; an interesting and pertinent point regarding those bikes being exactly what they portray themselves to be.

  149. I get your point frozen prairie, and you’re right in that a thing doesn’t have to be rare, to be iconic. A 57 Chevy 2 door is as Iconic as it gets. But iconic wasn’t the only parameter if I understood the question right. Desirability factors in, as does the reasonableness of a no-expense spared build budget. The AC Cobra isn’t the universal icon that the Mustang was; it was an icon among gear heads who knew cars. I’d give the Vincent my vote were it offered up two generations later. I’ve got nothing against Sportsters, I ride one. But an XR will get my attention instantly and the fact that there’s a zillion Sportsters running around doesn’t make me think of one as the ultimate 60’s bike to build if money is no object; let us also not forget Evil Knievel’s association with the XR. Now that’s truly iconic. If I were building an ultimate no expense spared bike that was emblematic of that era, but brought up to date, I’d build an XR with increased displacement, magnesium engine cases, a chrome moly frame, lots of titanium bits to save weight, and I’d try to arrive at something with about 100 horse power, that weighed only around 330 lbs, and looked like an XR750 with a nickle plated frame and original XR styling. Even Harley has recognized what I’m saying here to a degree with their recent purchase of Storz designs and the new XR1200. I think HD’s effort is typically clumsy looking, but they recognize the desirability of the XR’s image. It could have been been so much more.

    I’ve thought of another bike that may be a candidate: The Rickman Triumph 750. I think that could fit the model, as I understand it, as well.

  150. I also nominate the Vincent Black Lightning. That motorcycle is a legend.

    Besides that? I’d nominate the H-D V-rod – for an 1100cc V-twin that bike is amazingly fast,

  151. As far as XR750 desirability goes, I’d much rather have a XR750TT. It is much, much better looking even though it has a fairing (voiding Byrd’s criteria for me).

    One great thing is building an anything-goes, money is no object motorcycle is much less expensive than doing the same thing with a car. Maybe that’s why it’s done more often on cars – to show off. Besides, you could probably build a better motorcycle by spending LESS money. Just look at the Web Surfer for instance.

    -todd

  153. I find the comments highly entertaining, and from the various responses, I had to go back and look at the original question…

    Personally, I think the Ducati 916 has become an icon of class, beauty, power, sex appeal, etc. People who don’t know anything about motorcycles know what a Ducati is. If you can’t appreciate the 916, there’s something wrong with you…

    I like the Vincent, but nobody under the age of 45 knows what they are. Icon, Your tyical high school kid doesn’t care that the Vincent was the fastest motorcycle on the planet, what 75 years ago, but mention “Shelby”, and his eyes will glass over…

    The Norvil was closer to the idea Mr Shelby had – put a BIG engine in a light chassis, but again few peole know what they are…

    The Suzuki Hayabusa was designed as a “sort tourer”, but is the most highly modified speed bikes in the world. We have a local speed shop (Smithers Customs in Olathe, KS) that build 400+ BHP bikes as a start…

    The Britten is the “Ultimate Garage Build”…

    But, truth be told, I don’t think there really is a motorcycle equivilent. Only the Kneeslider touched on what the Cobra was – a body/chassis that was designed to use a 4 cylinder engine, and some crazy ex-racer stuffed a big honken’ american V-8 where it shouldn’t have gone. I’ve seen, and driven in, numerous real Shelby Cobra’s. They are horribly engineered, and the construction was even worse. But, the AC Cobra is as american as apple pie – big, loud, fast, nasty, even a little sloppy!

    Every country has it’s little “niche” – Germany builds “driving” cars (BMW’s, Porsche). Itaily build “sexy” and fast cars (Ferrari), England builds “class” (Royce and Bentley). America built the GT500 Mustang, the Corvette ZR-1, the Camaro, etc. We build big, loud, fast “Muscle” cars.

    Shelby didn’t build a better car, he gave the rest of the world a black eye. His mad creation kicked the worlds collective ass in a grand stage the way only America could. The Cobra wasn’t a better “driver”, it wasn’t “sexy”, it wasn’t “classy”, it was a brute that made everybody crap their Pants!

  154. Quote from Trey: “The Cobra wasn’t a better “driver”, it wasn’t “sexy”, it wasn’t “classy”, it was a brute that made everybody crap their Pants!”

    Honda CBX 1000? Hehehe

  156. Keeping with the stuffing of a large motor into a Bristol, I would have to go with a Matchless G15CSR. But working with the idea that motorcycling has yet to meet leaves us with reason to live>

  157. To the original question, “Is there a motorcycle equivalent to the AC Cobra?”, I wish to delete my suggestion of the Confederate Hellcat, and nominate a bike I can’t believe I completely forgot about: the Alfabike by Chris Barber.

    http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/04/alfabeast-alfa-romeo-powered-custom-for-sale/

    http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/09/alfabike-follow-up/

    That’s the sexiest gas tank ever in the history of motorcycles.

  159. If there is still som readers her, i wanna point out that according too hondas own book about their history, the japs tried for years too match the performance of the british twins. when they finaly got it right, the british couldnt keep up.
    The early CB bikes are classic, and just a copy of the british twins, pluss a more powerful motor. And honda is still launching new CB’s!

    But you cannot pick just one. All motorcycles are like cobras. They are all icons for youth, madness, bravery, adventure, osv. Every motorcycle, exept from vespa’s and cub’s, are overpowered and ridden for stupid reasons. The point of almost all motorcycles is too make us droole, just like the cobra does.

  160. My idea of the 427 cobra would definately be the SUPERMANX built by AMERICAN CAFE RACERS an ex employee of jesse james. The man has built on of the finest motorcycles I have ever laid eyes on and only have seen one fine example but good god almighty, it is a beautiful creature. If you are unfamiliar or doubt what I say, by all means, google, and drool!!! I am in the Detroit area if there are any cool riders out there. Feel free to E-MAIL me @ superfly5189@yahoo.com. Keep the rubber side down.

  161. I have to give another vote for the 916 according to the questions presented.
    Is there universal agreement identifying any motorcycle as that rare combination of looks and performance that it appeals to everyone in the same way the Cobra does in the auto world or is the motorcycle enthusiast community too fragmented to agree on any one model?
    Well we obviously don’t all agree but you have to look at the question from two points of view. The motorcycle enthusiast and those only peripherally or generally aware of motorcycles. Many of the answers here are from the motorcyclist point of view and are informed by a knowledge of history and affinity for details lost to the non two wheel set. At the same time the bike recognized and appreciated by the pedestrians has to also have the performance and iconic status to the moto head as the Cobra has to the gear head. I think the 916 covers that criteria more evenly than anything else. Is it the most iconic motorcycle? That question can’t be answered. It’s certainly one of them. I think the all the Harley’s are disqualified from this consideration. While they are the most recognizable and iconic of motorcycles they are a different kind of icon. More in line with a Cadillac or Camaro. While there are some early examples of HD’s as performance bikes and some drag version equivalents to the slicks shod Camaros even the most nimble HD’s are pig iron by performance standards and the Cobra was a compact performance roadster. While the Cobra’s performance has nothing on it’s high tech modern equivalents it still provides the essentials of power, poise, and style. I think the same could be said of the 916. HD’s are an icon just not the Cobra equivalent icon. As for recognizable forms I’d say the 916 is the most recognizable motorcycle after the HD and while no one’s building 916 clones there are many bikes built both commercially and custom that nod to the 916’s styling and sporting Vtwin cues. Hell even Ducati returned to and updated the 916 form for their current sportbikes after the too radical departure of the 999. It wasn’t an accident that when the Guggenheim “Art of the Motorcycle” show’s poster and cover of the coffee table book had the 916 as the largest and most prominent bike on it’s cover.
    I rest my case.
    For a one off, cost no object build, what is the iconic motorcycle equivalent to the AC Cobra?

  162. From the unbelievable discrepancy among commenters it’s clear the answer to the question is “No”. There is no single motorcycle that captures the essence perfectly. There are honestly, just too many amazing motorcycles.

    For my money the ultimate icon of motorcycling is the Triumph Bonneville. Once again, that’s just my two cents. I love all motorcycles.

  163. I read the post properly…we are not talking about factory built bikes for the general public but a “special”

    I think squeezing a suzuki Hyabusa motor into a GSXR 750 chassis…yeah the handling may suffer a bit but you got a big block in between your legs to make up for it and peel your eyelids back in the straights.

    bit of a basic answer…you build a freak.

    oh! you`ve now got a spare GSXR 750 motor kicking around, better shove that baby into an RGV.

    hmmm…spare RGV motor..”hey kid..bring your BMX over here”

    the end

    p.s. a Spondon chassis might go well among this lunacy 😉

  165. 70’s vintage 900 sportster is the closest I can come up with that fits most of the perimeters. Lean musculer look and powerful engine (when it would start). And I’m not a HD fan.
    If I were to build a bike that IMHO fit a two wheel version of cobra. It would have to be a street tracker simular to Yamaha xs650 flat tracker or Harley xr750 flat tracker.
    A lean, clean, and powerful scooter.
    My final answer is a catagory “street tracker” since no one produces a two wheel version of the cobra (yet).

  166. Buell? Harley? A rice burner? come on And no not a 916, no 4 valve Ducati would fit the bill
    Gotta be a Ducati Paso. set the bar for every motorcycle made after including the 916.
    That would be the only design fitting the bill . Iconic, art the way only Ducati can do.
    The only other possible choice would have to be a Britton