The motorcycle as an artform.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Dancin' Joe.

[joceiphus]

I have sometimes been upbraided on this list for expressing my disapproval of those who "hardtail" bikes that formerly had rear suspension and make other Teutelisations to stock machines in order to create "works of art"
It has been said "A motorcycle is a work of art that is best seen while in motion."
Thus, the best art is the art that moves the best.
It follows that modifications to a stock motorcycle that reduce it's rideability also reduce it's aesthetic appeal.
Similarly, scratch-building a motorcycle that rides poorly is also bad art.
A prime example of good motorcycle art?
Anything built by John Britten, who didn't give a sh1t what his bikes looked like so long as they performed.
A prime example of bad motorcycle art?
Any of the creations one sees on TV chopper-building shows, where the builders don't give a sh1t about how they perform as long as they look "artistic".

The real question is; why do you want to have this debate again? Everyone knows you don't like hardtails. What's the point of telling everyone again and again?

[tbishop11]

I've always respected Fred's solid stand on Hard tail bikes, He's consistent and you can't beat that. I definitely know better to say any more then that though. Especially since I ride one of those unmercifully chopped and hard tailed versions? But I actually ride it, and when I say ride it I ride the poop out of it... Literally... I think that poop may actually come out of it? But I still like it anyway.

[Pat Kelly]

I'm certain Capt America's (Peter Fonda) bike was stolen. Possibly Billy's (Dennis Hopper) too.

[joceiphus]

Right on, I have always wanted to put big mudder tires on a scoot with a pink and purple theme and a big rainbow logo on the side of the tank. When can you bring your bike here?

Just keep an eye out for the guy in the tu-tu!

[fredintoon]

I do still like the looks of these two bikes.
Does their use in a movie (an art form) also make them an art form?

Hi Pat,
I saw "Easy Rider". What a dog. You can practically hear them saying "We have run out of money and run out of dope, how can we end this thing?"
"Let's have rednecks in a pickup blow them away."
The movie is bad art too.

[lakecountrydave]

"Teutelisations" is a great word! I personally dislike hardtails, but believe in each to their own. I am inclined to appreciate performance upgrades more than style upgrades. However the unridable choppers serve an important function, they make me laugh.

[madmax-im]

Interesting points here...I like the looks of bike by OC Choppers...from purely an asthetic point of view...not a funtional point of view. Would I ever ride one? Hell No...but IMHO theyare an art form in unto themselves...and as was said ..."Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Well...Yea.

It sits in a museum now................Motionless.

It ALSO has NO front brake.

[1st bike]

HEY IVAN!!!!

come on man, why you gotta bring pink bikes into this? i'm working on it, okay?

[Pat Kelly]

For the record, In an interview I saw some time ago, Peter Fonda told the reporter " It was a beautiful bike, a bitch to ride though".

I believe those were his exact words.

"A beautiful bike".... beautiful as in art?

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Although no longer what I would prefer to ride, I do still like the looks of these two bikes.



Does their use in a movie (an art form) also make them an art form?

For the record, In an interview I saw some time ago, Peter Fonda told the reporter " It was a beautiful bike, a bitch to ride though".

I believe those were his exact words.

[T99Ford]

Since we are all philosphical, if the work of Jesse James is "bad art", why is it so darn popular? I would tend to agree more with Kat that any style of bike is another "form" of art. The choppers of Jesse James (which I do not really care for either) are certainly more popular than the pristine stock XS11's here. I think ratty versions of choppers and alley builds would be considered the bad art, rather than one interpretation from another. Plenty of people here don't like what I do to bikes either, but it is driven purely by my own aesthetics, not what other are telling me. That would make my bikes art also; reliant on the inspiration, not the interpretation.

[Pat Kelly]

Although no longer what I would prefer to ride, I do still like the looks of these two bikes.



Does their use in a movie (an art form) also make them an art form?

[Ivan]

The freedom to do whatever the hell you want to whatever the hell you want, is art to me.

Right on, I have always wanted to put big mudder tires on a scoot with a pink and purple theme and a big rainbow logo on the side of the tank. When can you bring your bike here?