Top 10 Sexiest Motorcycles of All Time

Definitive? We're not sure. Debatable? For sure! It's not about price, it's not about performance. It's about the feeling they give you. Pics courtesy of Bennetts

Posted: 16 March 2010
by Roland Brown

8. Cagiva V589
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Cagiva C589

One of the most vivid images from 500cc grand prix racing in the late Eighties was of Randy Mamola power-sliding his factory Cagiva sideways out of a bend with smoke pouring off its rear slick. Randy managed only one podium finish aboard the Cagiva, and couldn’t approach the four championship runner-up spots he’d managed for Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha. But the tiny Italian factory’s efforts to beat the Japanese giants in racing’s toughest class were truly heroic.

Cagiva’s creation might not have been the fastest of the 500cc brat-pack, but it was surely the most deliciously sleek and streamlined. There was plenty of high tech beneath its all-enveloping bodywork, too. The 498cc liquid-cooled V4 used contra-rotating twin crankshafts, and produced about 150bhp. The twin-spar aluminium frame and banana swinger were Cagiva’s own; suspension was Marzocchi and Öhlins’ finest.

Cagiva’s growing GP challenge saw race wins for Eddie Lawson and John Kocinski in the Nineties. Kocinski even led the ’94 championship before cash problems forced Claudio Castiglioni to abandon his dream. More recent rumours that Cagiva would produce a limited-edition replica for track-day or collector use have faded. But the red bike that Randy rode remains a stunning memento of one of racing’s most inspiring struggles.


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Discuss this story


Tee Jay
No wonder, many Italian bikes. I'd have put the NR750 to a higher position.

Posted: 16/03/2010 at 22:04


Craggsy

Pretty predictable list, but in my order:

  1. Ducati 998s
  2. Laverda Jota
  3. Moto Guzzi V7 Eldorado
  4. Ducati 900ss
  5. Hesketh
  6. Vespa (the older the better)
  7. Honda CBX1000
  8. Kawasaki Z1
  9. BMW R90s
  10. Norton Commando

Posted: 16/03/2010 at 22:43


Ben Cope

My top 10 bikes would be:


  1. Bimota V-Due
  2. Cagiva V593
  3. Ducati 748 SPS (in yellow)
  4. Aprilia RS250 (original)
  5. Honda RVF400 NC35
  6. Yamaha R7
  7. BMW R25/3
  8. Ducati Streetfighter S
  9. Bimota SB6R
  10. Suzuki TL1000s

Posted: 17/03/2010 at 15:15


tytek

Glad to see the Slabby was there (even if was the 750 and not the 1100).

I would have liked to see the RD350LC a bit higher and the RC30 at the top spot.

Personal taste I guess...


Posted: 19/03/2010 at 12:28


Jackojet
not a mention for the 98 R1 ?

Posted: 20/03/2010 at 06:43


allan.o.drefn

yamaha R1

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll263/rtbdirect/women/washing.jpg

   any sexier and I'll go blind...


Posted: 20/03/2010 at 08:45


Joe Barker

           Number 1.          1999 Suzuki Hayabusa, Copper.

 The motorcycle that revolutionised the meaning of pure usable power and top speed.The rest are just expensive pose machines.The new MV's are expensive assesories promoted by fasion magazines as sexy.Where is the evidence to show thier worth ?   

The Busa set the bench mark in aerodynamic design and linear power,something the rest of the manufacturers are only just acheiving today.


Posted: 23/03/2010 at 02:12


futter

Pretty true to form - but they missed out a few:

Husky Nox

Vincent Black Shadow

Bimota Tesi

Gilera Saturno

 And more - loads for other people as it is a bit subjective, personally I'd include a VOR530SME and a CR500AF.


Posted: 24/03/2010 at 19:22


Leprechaun
Good list but they need to replace the CBX1000 with the RVT1000. One of the best V-Twins ever made!

Posted: 26/03/2010 at 17:24


Ben Cope
[b]Leprechaun[/b]
posted
Today 17:24 Leprechaun, there's no CBX in the list..!

Posted: 26/03/2010 at 17:33


EA$Y RIDER

HONDA X11 anyone?

no didnt think so..... love is blind as they say.


Posted: 30/03/2010 at 14:03


STEVEYBOY
RC30 Top Dog for me. Beautiful machine

Posted: 31/03/2010 at 14:49


DAGZ
My yamaha thunderace lol

Posted: 20/08/2010 at 17:24


pyndman

Aaaahhh.........no. I dont feel that Ive just been reliably informed for some reason. You people have no soul. How on earth could you leave out the BMWR90S? The first 1998 R1 as well - they went downhill from there though, the new ones look like a girl addicted to plastic surgery. i.e., should be sexy but has just done a bit (a lot) too much. The RD350? Every design principle of sexiness is missing from that bike. You got number 1 right though, no contest there.

Basically it goes like this. Japanese bikes are all ugly except for their racing machines. They had a little revival in the late 90's early to mid 00's and have just gone absurd now. Italians lead the way in design and always have done basically, the Germans were hot post world war 2 up to1980 when they totally lost the plot. The Brits ? Yeah they're alright. I dont see how you could leave out the Brough Superior or the Norton Comando, though Triumph MK2 has never roused my trouser. Americans? Should stick to burgers - and they're no good either. Get that Harley out of there, Ive never seen such over ratedness in all humanity, though they'd make good tractors.


Posted: 24/08/2010 at 01:33


grace simbajon
are the bikes really the sexy or the girls in the picture? hmp..

Posted: 25/11/2010 at 18:11


Vinnychoff
i owned one in black so have to agree

Posted: 23/12/2010 at 23:19


rockk d

i own a ducati 916 sps, all i can say is wherever i go, everybody from kids to chicks , elder women , men , all look and gaze at it s beauty.

and when i ride it, it s roar makes the car alarms go off, kids cry thinking they got struck by thunder, girls get wet wherever i go.

that s what i call a sexy bike, and my dream cometrue since i was an embrio .


Posted: 19/05/2011 at 20:03


ZeZe Bakr
You guys dont no what sexy is

Posted: 17/09/2011 at 06:56


Harry Bosch
This list is incomplete without the stunningly beautiful TRIUMPH DAYTONA T595...at least in the TOP 3. (In strontium yellow or red...an absolute timeless classic!

Posted: 26/05/2012 at 09:14


Hugh Jarse

Hi Futter

 

God bless Nelson Mandela.

Unfaired bikes are for ballet dancers.


Posted: 26/05/2012 at 15:14


Hugh Jarse

Hi RocckkkD

 

that's' a grat'e po's't yoo rote - wot a grate s'el'ectshun ov b'iks'. A'nd oll them men gazzing at choo. Oooh


Posted: 26/05/2012 at 15:17


brian crabb
the rc 30 im my opinion, followedby the nr 750, very erotic, sorry i mean exotic, lol

Posted: 27/11/2012 at 08:20


Endover
I've examined all the photos. Did you say there were bikes in this article, somewhere?

The Ossa Stiletto was the sexiest dirt bike every.

Posted: 04/04/2013 at 17:18


Endover
ever.

Posted: 04/04/2013 at 17:18


SpikeIsland
This list, to my mind is back to front - or upside down if you want it that way. RC30 & SPS should be top of the list & WTF is that Harley doing in a sexy bike list?

Posted: 04/04/2013 at 19:45


Cowboy Jim
no Honda 250 6 ? I mean lets face it... it's a sexy bike

Posted: 05/04/2013 at 11:54


lecram andrews
Honda GB500tt full stop.

Posted: 06/05/2013 at 11:49

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