Automotive design has been transformed over the past 100 years.
More specifically, lets look at a fast bike, an adventure bike, and a comfortable bike.
The Kawasaki Ninja
First up, is one of the most well-known motorbikes.
From 1990 to 2001, this bike ruled the roads and bedroom walls of aspiring bikers around the globe.
When I was a kid, I didnt know much about bikes, but I knew the Ninja.
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In recent years, the Ninja has dropped some bodywork and now is a little more naked.
It puts its center piece of an engine on display for all to see.
Back in the 90s they were very popular with long distance tourers who valued comfort over speed.
The Society of Japanese Automotive Engineers included the Gold Wing in itslist of landmark Japanese automotive achievements.
The Gold Wing represented a very different approach to bike design compared to high-speed sports bikes.
The Gold Wing still kept some of its engine components on show, though.
The exhaust, radiator, and intakes are all clearly visible, but cleanly integrated.
From a stylistic point of view though, the R1150GS sits somewhere between the Gold Wing and the Ninja.
Its also worth noting how exposed the engine and its inner workings are.
Like car design, motorbike design is influenced by and spans a wide range of applications.
The shift to electric power has also opened the market for new companies to enter the fray.
Despite not requiring fuel tanks, their body work still appears designed to accommodate one.
It seems were yet to depart from accepted design standards and move to more futuristic unique designs.
So what about the future?
What could motorbikes look like someday?
Ultimately designs wont change too much.
I mean, if they depart too far from convention, they wont be motorbikes anymore.
The bikes components, from handlebars to accessories, are far more integrated and low-profile than contemporary machines.
The bike is certainly more angular, too.
Whats interesting is that the drive train is imagined to be completely enclosed.
Unlike the Ninjas or electric Harleys, nothing is on show.
Perhaps in the future, as batteries become more flexible, not an inch of space will be spared.
Its also impossible to miss its sidecar style add-on.
The bike also features a single swing-arm for the rear derailleur.
A design cue made popular by Italian sport bike makers like Ducati.
It gives an undeniably clean and uncluttered look, which seems to be a bit of a theme here.
Compare this to the BMW 1150GS Motorrad we looked at earlier.
A clever blend of the old and the new.
However, motorbikes might continue to look quite like motorbikes for a while to come.
We wont see groups of bikers standing round swooning to exhaust notes or ogling radiators and manifolds anymore.
HT:Designboom,Behance
Story byMatthew Beedham
Matthew is the editor of SHIFT.
He likes electric cars, and other things with wheels, wings, or hulls.
