Looks or performance.........

[scotto-]

What do you feel is more important in your motorized bike, the way it looks or the way it performs? Of course having both is the ultimate in my book, what would you prefer if you could only have one or the other?

I think these are two things that are of the greatest consideration when it comes to building your own bike. As much as I like a great looking bike that attracts the eye, I will take a bike that performs great to my expectations anyday.....how about you????

 

[happyvalley]

Form follows function.

I'm probably in the minority here but I used to do a lot of long distance cycling. Now I've gotten older but wanting to continue touring I've added power assist so performance for me means a bike that does that well, is reliable, doesn't weigh a lot, and impacts the original functionality of the bike at little as possible.

How it looks.........meh, as good as a bike with 4 panniers and a single wheel trailer can, lol.

 

[scotto-]

Form follows function.

I'm probably in the minority here but I used to do a lot of long distance cycling. Now I've gotten older but wanting to continue touring I've added power assist so performance for me means a bike that does that well, is reliable, doesn't weigh a lot, and impacts the original functionality of the bike at little as possible.

How it looks.........meh, as good as a bike with 4 panniers and a single wheel trailer can, lol.

I don't mean to sound biased, but I absolutely agree HV. Hope you've got handsome panniers tho.....not that it matters

 

[matthurd]

i remember at dans CT ride and cook out earlier this year a guy named scotty (he doesn't register on the forums but he does browse them). to most people his bike would have been considered ugly, but the thing ran along just great.

http://motorbicycling.com/f35/ct-ride-cook-out-28785-7.html russels post his first pic is the one i'm talking about. kept right up with all the nice looking new in frame 2 strokes that were there.

and honestly when you saw how much work he put into it you couldn't help but admire it anyways

 

[DuctTapedGoat]

My bike is truly hideous - I love it that way. It's my daily driver, not a showstopper. Runs well, tops out at 35, and when it gives me trouble, it's what I can handle.

Anyone who's seen it knows what I'm talking about.

http://motorbicycling.com/members/d...b-picture1648-06-13-2011-newest-pics-bike.jpg

 

[azbill]

I say function wins over form...
if it ain't runnin right it's just a lawn ornament, no matter how pretty she is

having said that,,,I love the way my stretch looks

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

If I have to choose one over the other?, I would have to choose how a bike looks!!!
I've built some pretty fast bikes over the years, but I built my name on how my bikes look.
People who are spending a lot of money want something that looks good!

 

[F_Rod81]

I love having a sleeper whether it's Autos or MB's. Looks like it won't do much then all of a sudden your gone.

 

[biknut]

Number 1, it has to look good to me. I can live with slightly less function than ideal if the look is right.

Generally speaking it's easier for me to improve the function than the looks, so I try to start out with a bike that I like the look of, and then I try to address the functional deficiencies I don't care for.

 

[MarkSumpter]

i remember at dans CT ride and cook out earlier this year a guy named scotty (he doesn't register on the forums but he does browse them). to most people his bike would have been considered ugly, but the thing ran along just great.

http://motorbicycling.com/f35/ct-ride-cook-out-28785-7.html russels post his first pic is the one i'm talking about. kept right up with all the nice looking new in frame 2 strokes that were there.

and honestly when you saw how much work he put into it you couldn't help but admire it anyways

I'm surprised that old 5hp briggs with the pulse carb didnt walk off and leave the chinas sitting... If geared out right and well tuned it darn sure will.

 

[killercanuck]

"Chrome don't get you home..." (Had to get that in here)

I'd rather have a reliable machine. But I think we all kinda strive for the reliable jaw-dropper

But hey... Even a budget build, cruising up a hill passing peeps pedaling their arse off, with a smile on your face, yields the same effect.

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

"Chrome don't get you home..." (Had to get that in here)

I'd rather have a reliable machine. But I think we all kinda strive for the reliable jaw-dropper

But hey... Even a budget build, cruising up a hill passing peeps pedaling their arse off, with a smile on your face, yields the same effect.

Nobody asked about reliability!! The question was 'performance or looks'?

Of course reliability wins over everything!!

 

[2door]

I've always aimed for both, or all three if you consider what Venice said.
I like to tinker and detail so making the bike look good is just part of the build. You can have it all, if that's what you're after.
Tom

 

[flatblack]

2door, I'd agree. I don't think you have to choose between the two. That's what got me so interested in the hobby. I can build what I like and perform to the level that I want/capable of.

 

[killercanuck]

The question was 'performance or looks'?

Well there should have been a third option

But what good is performance without reliability? Ask the 6 out of 9 e-bikes that fried out at the last death race... ref

 

[Mike B]

Looks.

I don't want to go fast and I won't ride an ugly bike.

 

[culvercityclassic]

I go for the "Look"...and also end up with performace....

 

[timboellner]

It depends on your bike budget.

I"m all about more bang for the buck.
That's why I got into this in the first place.

My money goes into making mine perform better, rather than look better.

Are you gonna spend more time looking at it or riding it?

Tim

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

I go for the "Look"...and also end up with performace....

True true my brother!!

I think this thread got derailed... you can have a POS that looks good or something that looks like a POS but is fast... We've always shot for both!! (but I answered the original question with looks!)

 

[killercanuck]

Roger Venice, I missed the last line of your post. Read before speed

You are the creme de la creme, because you know what you're doing. And you're not just building trailer queens, they scream!

You can have a POS that looks good or something that looks like a POS but is fast...

Most of us are going for the fast POS Worrying about looks later, for sure, heh heh.