Sometimes bike manufacturers just get it all wrong. Now, we collected the worst of the worst, the really ugly motorcycles in the history of two-wheelers. Nobody said designing a motorcycle was easy, but don’t break the basic principles and go for sharp and muscular. Unfortunately, many designers break these rules and that’s the reason why choosing the ugliest motorcycles of all time is not easy at all. Here’s our list, in no particular order.
It’s been said that „it’s not what you ride, it’s that you ride”. Well, these 10 bikes are exceptions to that rule, they are just butt ugly. It’s rude to say, I know, because of the time and dollars that go into designing every new model. If it helps you sleep better, I can assue you that most of these bikes made at least a few supporters.
Morbidelli V8
1994 Morbidelli V8
Morbidelli was an Italian motorcycle manufacturer that produced small displacement street and racing bikes. The company was particularly successful in Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the 1970s and 1980s, winning four world championships in those years. But the reason why people still remember the brand is the horrifying V8. In 1994 Morbidelli decided to build a larger displacement bike with cutting edge technology and (..khm..) unique design. So they constructed a sport touring motorcycle that featured an innovative shaft-drive, five-speed gearbox, and a complicated 32-valve, liquid-cooled, 847 cc V8. The engine made 120 horsepower at 11,000rpm and pushed the bike to a top speed of about 230km/h – nice figures back in the ’90s. But the bike cost a shattering US$60,000 back then – it’s high price meant it would not be economically feasible to produce. Thanks to the exotic design and the extremely high price, the Morbidelli V8 vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Suzuki Hayabusa – click on the image for spec
1999 Suzuki Hayabusa
The Hayabusa was built for one purpose only: to carry the “fastest production bike” crown. Hayabusa is Japanese for “peregrine falcon,” but the bike looks more like a fat duck. Of course that does not change the fact that this bike is probably the most outrageously overpowered and dangerous production motorcycle and some owners have really made them look decent. But the factory version just looks silly and has some really ugly details like the headlight, the two stacked side scoops on the fairing, the earmuffed front fender, and that horrifying rod exhaust.
See this Hayabusa accessories cover: 03-12 SUZUKI HAYABUSA: Suzuki Genuine Accessories Cycle Cover
Ducati Multistrada – click for more photos
2003 Ducati Multistrada
Ducati tend to make really nice looking bikes so you’d think that they would have no place in a list of ugly motorcycles, but look at the 2003 Multistrada 1100 S! The engine is alright, the handling is smooth, the Ducati red color is beautiful but there’s a huge problem. The front end in general is the issue here. It’s grotuesque – the exhaust that looks like an artillery shell embedded itself in the rear, the seat is just ugly as hell but the main problem is the two slice toaster at the front. What were they thinking? Just looking at it makes me naseous.
2003 Honda Valkyrie Rune – click for more photos
2003 Honda Valkyrie Rune
The Valkyrie is a long, six-cylindered monster that weighs as much as a skyscraper and nimble as an Australian road train. What did the Japanese designers had in mind? To create a bike for a Japanese cartoon (anime)? Or the mammoth of motorcycles? Funny thing is that the Valkyrie was powered by a great engine, a six-cylinder boxer motor that put out 120 hp and 170 Nm of torque but the extremely high price (north of $25,000) and the design made sure of the pure sales numbers and that Honda did not develop a successor.
Are you interested in a Multistrada low seat? Check this one out: Ducati 96880041A Multistrada Low Seat
1994 Bimota Mantra – click for more photos
1995 Bimota Mantra
Small Italian manufacturer Bimota stuck a Ducati 900SS engine in a naked bike package, but it resulted in something rather bizarre. As Giorgio Sarti explained in his book about Bimota, the Mantra was one of the two attempts (the other one was the supermono) to sell different bikes than they used to (as to say supersport bikes). The result was a really ugly bike. When I first saw it, it was kinda like when something’s so ugly that you can’t stop looking at it. To be fair, the Mantra was powered by a great Ducati engine and the chassis, ergonomics and suspension are all top notch. We just hope that the guy who designed those mirrors got fired.
Stay tuned for seeing the second part of the list.
