I agree that the 749 has its own appeal, but for me its not the details but the stance that does it for me. It doesn't have that head down ass up stance of the 748 and 1098, otherwise I really like it.
One can make the argument that the 916 was innovative, and the 999 was also equally innovative design-wise.
The 1098, while quite pretty arguably has a derivative design (back end off the MV, front end like the last gen R1, itself a version of the 916). I realize that bike design doesn't have to always be innovative but methinks the 1098 is poaching its own (and others') heritage.
That being said its one of the top 5 best looking bikes available today, if not THE best, but one wonders what the 1198 replacement will look like as it seems a bit stagnant now to keep making it more thin and more pointy.
I think bike design in general is progressing that way (witness the new ZX10R) but I'm not sure how far it can go. Certainly the once-epitome of pointiness: the MV Agusta, that ultimately set the standard for how 2000s superbikes would look, now has created the new F4 1000 and the F3 675 that look 99% like the old F4 750.
Perhaps the true innovations in bike design lie in emerging genres like big trailies, or muscle/power-cruisers like the Diavel.
Posted: 22/11/2010 at 04:00
