The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Timeless and Period Motorcycle Design

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MV Agusta 750S - timeless design?
MV Agusta 750S - timeless design?

Every now and then some really interesting bikes come up for sale all at the same time and two current examples exhibit a striking contrast in what could be termed “timeless” and “period” design, those that look good over many years no matter what the present styles may be and some that need to be considered in the perspective of their own time.

The bike featured here is an MV Agusta 750S, well, a clone of a 750S, actually, but one helluva bike nonetheless. It’s changed hands in Europe over the years and was, for a time, owned by John Surtees, according to the listing. In my eyes, this bike needs no excuse, it’s just plain beautiful. Heck, the engine itself is a work of art. The contrast to the previous bike, the Von Dutch Moto Guzzi custom, is huge, and is a stunning example of timeless versus period designs.

I can appreciate a wide variety of styles, even if a particular example isn’t something I personally find perfect or appealing to my taste, while many of the comments here, when viewing some bikes, often take on the “I think it’s ugly, therefore it IS ugly” point of view. There are probably some readers who won’t like this MV Agusta, either.

Remember guys, this isn’t politics, it’s OK to see some good in a wide variety of bikes. Open your eyes and minds to styles and designs you personally might not find beautiful.

So, what other examples of timeless and period design do you have?

UPDATE: A little extra information on this particular bike. It seems in France the MV 750S could not be homologated so they would ID them as 600s, and several of those exist. The current owner calls it a clone because he does not have documentation to confirm this bike was one of those pseudo 600s, but if so, this bike may be a true 750S. Considering it was once owned by John Surtees, lends credence to that possibility. Could be a bargain.

Sold for: $68,355.00

More photos below:

MV Agusta 750S - timeless design?
MV Agusta 750S - timeless design?
MV Agusta 750S - engine
MV Agusta 750S - engine

Comments

  1. Bikes I can stare at:

    Laverda Jota
    Laverda 750SFC
    Guzzi MGS-01
    Guzzi Sport 1100
    Guzzi V7 Sport
    Ducati 999S
    Ducati 600 Pantah (later version)
    Kawasaki ZX7R/ZRX750 (’92 – earlier)
    Kawasaki ELR
    BSA Rocket Gold Star
    Harley KRTT/XRTT roadracers
    Honda RC166
    Any genuine board track racer from Cyclone, Indian, Harley, Excelsior, etc…

    • The BSA Rocket Gold Star is still one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever made. I saw one running about 10 yeasr ago. Some of the new Royal Enfield Classic designs approach its beauty. And I’d be tempted to own one of those.

  2. I keep looking at that seat. It looks functional and comfortable. All the custom cafe rides have no seat so one bad bounce and you can kiss having kids goodbye!

    I agree about what you said about beauty being in the eye of the beholder… This bike might not be my style, but I can see elements of what I do like. I want to build a dirt tracker/scrambler and wanted a different style of seat. I think I found it!

  3. A bonestock HD Sportster standard!! Not the lowered or the customs or all that,but the original stock Sportster.It has been a beautiful design since 1957 and I still love the look of that bike!

  4. The Original Triumph Bonnie, Harley Sportster and Yami DT Enduros all look “right” to me… Is this an aspect of what I grew up with? or timeless Good design? The pictured MV is not to my taste, Bad colors, Bad seat and IMHO if the bike was not an Agusta it would not get a 2nd look. The Von Dutch bike is a product of its times and fails to stand the test of time. Maybe I just have the taste of a common man !!!

  6. Clone or not, I’d love it. In fact, being a clone one would be more willing to enjoy it as it should be. . . in motion. That seat would help in that regard as well.
    The Surtees connection adds some spice. I like most Cafe styles to look at, (the old body get grumpy about riding them for very long), Standards (particularly Hondas and some Suzukis) as I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s, Race bikes of all kinds, even drags and all eras of racing of course. I drew, and drooled over Bimotas in highschool (KB2 was my favorite, and I was not a Kawasaki guy then). I loved Super Bikers on ABC. and as a Honda fan, and leaning to trying Motocross myself, I loved that the Big Red guys were winning (some did so well HRC gave them road racing rides afterward), and wanted one of those bike for the road. My 1980 XL250S has a second rear rim laced to a spare front hub with street tires on it. Even ride it in the snow, though last time I played I crashed rather hard (got cross rutted at about 30 mph) and tweaked the frame even more. It is still my backup ride. My daily ride is a 91 ST1100. I love it’s look. Better than the 1300, and I think that is because it really reminds me of the CBX with Hondaline fairings and bags I really wanted in 1984 ($3200 for one with 3500 miles of Honda executive usage as a loaner at a tech center, it may as well have been $300,000 to my unemployed 18 year old butt). I like a varied assortment of style, and I know what I like. . . some stuff I don’t, but yes, I can appreciate a good example of those as well.

  7. Strangely, at least half the stock motorcycles ever produced look very good to me – and that comes from one who loves all kinds of modified bikes. Customs, much as I adore them, seem to age a lot quicker than stockers. Of course some of the former become iconic, in part because the designers involved had a particularly good day and in part because that day the accountants let them get away with taking a few chances. Appealing to a select (and usually well off) group of customers makes this more likely.

    Personal 3 favorites:

    1941 Indian Chief (Last year of the odd spring front fork)
    1983 H-D XLX (no chrome or polished engine parts)
    1960s Norton Featherbed café racer with a 3-cyl. Kawasaki 2-stroke engine, with power pipes (guaranteed to piss off the largerst number of purists)

    Now a suggestion for later; what is the most disgusting motorcycle ever designed?

  8. Honda GB500, BMW R75/5, Honda MT125, Bultaco Metralla, Kawasaki W650, Honda CB1, Honda Hawk GT, Yamaha TD3….

    Wait, this is pointless.

    -todd

  9. The perfect example of exactly what you’re talking about is the MV Agusta 350S. The original version has much the same “timeless” look as the 750S you illustrated, but the ’76-on redesign is deeply rooted in the mid’70s zeitgeist.

    Old Style: http://www.thebikemuseum.com/master_view.php?id=9&view=268&MV%20Agusta&350%20Sport
    New Style: http://www.thebikemuseum.com/master_view.php?id=8&MV%20Agusta&350%20S%20Ipotesi

    Personally, I can equally appreciate both designs for what they are.

  10. I feel like “period” and “timeless” are the same thing. As an invention develops a design sensibility, the choices made in a time period become definitive of the object and therefore timeless. The Agusta is a good example–considering how much that bike has in common with modern bikes–I mean it’s a CB or a Featherbed; if you ignore all the swanky Italian design touches and what not.

    The Moto Guzzi–is more of a “period” piece. It is example of the vision and capabilities of bike customization of it’s time–principally it’s limitations. It’s still pretty though.

  11. a few of the road bikes that I’ve owned, & think deserve more credit are the Honda 450 cb/cl line and the 305 honda’s,
    both engines were fantastic runners (in there day). the 450 had a very interesting valve spring design, with fantastic torque and the 305 had an extremely high rpm range (for it’s day)

    I had a 450cl and a 305 super hawk, thoroughly enjoyed each one,

    both belong to the list of vehicles that I’ve owned and wish that I hung on to..

  12. Tough to get away from UJM’s: *some* of the functionality had to come from the form. Silence Of The Lambs taught us that we covet that which we see every day, right? And given that all the major worldwide manufacturers made dozens of variants over a 20+ year period, (and some still do, after 40+ years) we saw a lot of them. I don’t like the flat seats of the early bikes, nor do I like a huge step. That said, I owned a Suzi GL-650 … the “Z” lettered cruiser-esque model, with pull-back bars, a too-small tank, and shaftdrive – not what you’d expect of a guy who’s been club racing for 13 years – but it’s still in the garage, so I see it every day, so that’s the look I covet.

  13. Agree with Chris S – my first bike in the UK was a Honda CB72 (250 version of the 305) – really nice looking motor (like a Laverda 750), easy to maintain. I’m a sucker for a good looking engine. My current ride’s a ’69 Ambassador but my favorite would be a ’74 Ducati 750 SS!

  14. Reading posts like this is the reason why most of us come back on the site everyday right?
    If i could have that bike in like …. the…. 4/5 of its actual size this would have been THE iconic motorcycle for me…
    Everyone has the same picture (meaning this bike) in his head when your talking about Cafes. as my girl says ”Only the colours change”

  15. @ Todd: Speaking of Bultaco Metrallas, there is on for sale right now on BringATrailer.com and it’s gorgeous.

  16. I’ve had the good fortune to own many of the Italian icons listed by rohorn, but not yet one of the MV classics…DREAM!

    • Definitely agree on the classic looks of a Rickman Z! I had one to restore, but sold it. Now I can’t remember why!

      My all time fave would have to be a Seely Norton.

  18. Black Guzzi Sport 1100i
    Guzzi Centaro in Maroon/silver
    Guzzi MGS-01
    Norton 850cc John Player Special
    1980 Suzuki GS1000S
    1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo
    1983 Eddie Lawson Replica/KZ1000R
    1989 Egli Kawasaki turbo
    Ducati Paul Smart replica
    1994 Harley VR1000 (what a beautiful turd!)
    Britten V1000
    2007 Honda CB1100R concept bike.

    The only fully enclosed bikes that would make the list is the Roehr 1250SC and MV Agusta F4, that is because the paint and aura of the bike are amazing!

    I really enjoy the look of bikes with beautiful engines and details. Most modern bikes have ugly engines and underpinnings, even the modern Boost King, Yamaha FZ1 and Kawasaki retro bikes just don’t do it for me.

    I love the smooth look of the MV engine cases and cylinders. That is what an engine should look like to me, yet the tank and battery box look like afterthoughts to the design.

    I guess each to his own.

    Mark L.

  19. I’ve seen that bike come up quite a few times on ebay….. makes me wonder what’s going on with it.

    On a purely aesthetic level I always thought that particular MV looked a bit cobbled together and odd.

    But since the first time I saw a photo of one back in 72 it stuck in my imagination. It is one sexy piece of machinery.

  20. To me, the following have always been beautiful and timeless: the BSA Lightning and Royal Star, the Harley Sportster, the Triumph Bonneville and Trophy, the Ducati Diana (remember that lovely cylinder?), the Honda Super Hawk, the BSA Gold Star, the Norton Commando, the Vincent Black Shadow, the Honda CB750, the Ossa dirt bikes, and the old Czech Javas.

  21. This is a lovely bike. The curved pipes on some MV Agustas is a sight to behold. I think this model had them too.
    I agree the Laverda 750SFC is a gem, as is Honda’s RC30, Ducati’s 900SS, 851 and 916, Guzzi’s MK1 Le Mans and a 1916 Harley board tracker I saw in a museum once.

  22. My picks for timeless designs:

    Morgan 3 Wheeler, Honda CB750, Triumph Speed Triple, any of the Moto Paton race machines, Ariel Square Four

  23. I really like the Honda Transalp in the looks department, no matter what the time period is…I think it will look good.

    Also the above bike looks really uncomfortable to ride.

  24. The custom Guzzi is hideous now and I would have found it hideous in 1972 as well.

    The MV Agusta was out of date and old fashioned looking when it was made – compare it with a Z1 Kawasaki. I remember spending a lot of time looking at the MV, the Z1 and the Laverda Jota because they were on my “Top Trumps” playing cards. The Z1 and the Jota are the ones that have stood the test of time from that era in my mind.

    If you are lucky enough to be able to afford an old MV – I agree the standard ones had a cobbled together look, but one with the Arturo Magni chain conversion and spectacularly beautiful Magni exhausts would be the one to get.

    A few bikes stand out to me from different periods: Vincent Black Shadow, BSA Gold Star, Manx Norton, Kawasaki Z1, Laverda Jota, Guzzi Le Mans MK1, Suzuki GS750, Honda CBX, Suzuki Katana, Moto Morini 350 Sport and Strada, Ducati 750, Ducati 916, MV 750 F4.

    One thing that lot have in common is that they were all very good bikes at the time.

  25. true-pointless. But it shows the depth of great design/designers in this passion/hobby.

    I was just reminded of another timeless piece: Norvin done up in a Manx look. I imagine this will go on for awhile with an impressive amount of people in agreement a high % of the time for good reason.

    • there was some type of glitch with the page refresh. The above post was in reference to Todd’s post.

  26. I like the bike. I’m not sure about the paint, especially the blue tank. One think that doesn’t work in my eyes is the grey engine. I’m normally fine with that it looks out of place with the chrome. IMHO 😉

  28. My list of favorites bikes and also designs;

    Kawasaki Z1
    Laverda SFC
    Norton John Player Special
    MV Agusta 800 America
    Van Veen OCR1000
    Ducati 900SS
    Britten VR1000
    HD XLCR 1000
    Kawasaki Z1300
    Honda CBX 1000
    Kawasaki Z1000R ELR
    Munch Mammut 2000
    Vincent Black Shadow
    Kawasaki Z1R RC Turbo

  29. Back in the early 70’s the MV 750 America was my dream bike. But low…they cost about $3600. I bought a 72 Norton Commando (Combat) for $1600 with few regrets.
    Loved that Norton……