Top 12 Ugliest Motorcycles in 2022
While one person may find a motorcycle to be a thing of beauty, others may find them to be beasts. However, there are some motorcycles that are so aesthetically pleasing that even the harshest of critics can’t help but admire them. Check out this list of 12 motorcycles that are sure to make anyone look twice!
When it comes to motorcycles, beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. One person’s dream design can be another person’s Worst nightmare. And when it comes to opinions, well, they’re just that – opinions. So when the question ‘What do you think are the ugliest motorcycles you can buy new today’ came up in the Facebook Group chat, it generated quite a bit of debate among us staffers.
Subjectively speaking, some motorcycles are better-looking than others. We understand that opinions on motorcycle aesthetics can vary greatly, so instead of compiling a definitive list of “ugly” motorcycles, we’re delegating the responsibility to social media users [you’re welcome!].
Buell SuperTouring 1190
We’re sorry to say it, Buell, but your brand-new Buell SuperTouring 1190 is the reason we’re doing this feature today. Revealed a few weeks ago in Daytona, it’s the second launch from your latest revival, which went live in November 2021, five years after your US firm collapsed for a second time, and 12 years on from when it was wound down by then owners Harley-Davidson.
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First, the restarted production line was the reprofiled Buell 1190 RX Hammerhead, which with its single vertical headlight and side-fairing gills. This should have given us a hint that the new owners weren’t prepared to blend in with the crowd this time. And yet, the SuperTouring 1190 – its first all-new creation – finds itself standing out for all the wrong reasons.
The SuperTouring 1190 has been pitched as a rival to the Harley-Davidson Pan America, despite not having any off-road capabilities. Its boxy, utilitarian aesthetic raises some eyebrows, as it looks like the successor to the Ulysses – a model that was similarly segment-ambiguous and not exactly a stunner.
The trouble with the bike is that it looks unfinished, as if it has married too many ideas with no refinement. For instance, we understand that the dual headlamps are inspired by the XB12R, but then why are they housed in a flimsy looking box? And the vents that are unusually very visible on the side, or the upright screen that appears as an afterthought – these details make it look like the bike wasn’t well thought out.
The render shown 12 months ago led us to believe that the new offering in the touring class would be chunky, imposing, and distinctive; however, the result has us questioning whether they were looking at the same sketch…
Harley-Davidson Pan America
The Harley-Davidson Pan America was such a runaway ‘loser’ that it almost hogs the entire top ten to itself when it comes to the number of names and shames they received on social media. Harley-Davidson is known for its cruiser motorcycles, which have a distinct silhouette that the company has refined over the decades. However, recent decisions to diversify into new segments have put Harley-Davidson’s stylists to the test, as they have had to design outside the box.
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Harley-Davidson has at least tried to do something different with the Pan America, making an adventure motorcycle that looks attractive while also taking into consideration all of the function that takes precedence over form. The result is as imposing and ‘bigger is better’ as you’d expect from the American firm. Whether or not you could stomach the Pan America rests almost entirely on whether you could lap up the unusual front-end. This is ironic because the wide, angular snout has frequently been compared to the Hammerhead Shark, which is undoubtedly the kookiest of the shark family.
We’ll admit that it looks even better in person than it does in pictures – the rest of the Pan America is a handsome motorcycle. But in such a competitive class, do you really want to be getting more attention for your bike’s design than what you’re doing on it?
Suzuki Hayabusa
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Out of all the Suzuki models, the Hayabusa seems to be the most talked about model. It was nominated a few times for inclusion here, but we’ve kindly limited this to one entry per manufacturer. It’s a sign of how differently we view the extraordinary high-speed sportsbike-tourer in 2022 than in 1999 when it was first launched. The 1999 launch generated gasps and awe, but the Hayabusa in 2022 is seen differently.
When the Hayabusa was first released, its bulbous proportions were part of what made it the fastest production motorcycle in the world. Its appearance was purposeful, much like that of an Olympic athlete. However, over time, many people have customised the Hayabusa to the point of excess, making it outlandish and, at worst, a monstrosity.
We were excited to discover that a second generation of the Hayabusa would be released in 2021, especially since the first generation model had such a long lifespan of 21 years. We had hoped that Suzuki would go for a more lithe and aggressive design, and to a certain extent they did. However, the Hayabusa remains all bumps and bulges. This wouldn’t be an issue if it wasn’t actually slower than the model it replaced. Even though much of the Suzuki range has a tendency to stick to the basics, at least this is one motorcycle that you can never, ever miss.
Yamaha MT-10
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Yamaha’s MT-10 has just gone on sale, and it’s already in second place on this list of losers. That’s a worrying indictment for a model that’s supposed to be one of Yamaha’s flagship products. Yamaha seems to be having a lot of trouble designing products that please the public. It all started with the launch of the MT-09 in 2020, with its single circular headlamp poking out of lashings of matte black fairing. Then Yamaha used a similar approach with the revised MT-07, before adapting it more aggressively for the cyclops-aping R7 sportsbike.
Yamaha has changed the headlamp arrangement on the new generation MT-10, sticking to the dual spotlight set-up of its predecessor. However, after streamlining the front-fascia, Yamaha seems to have made a misstep by adding strip-lights to arc over the spotlights. The result is a motorcycle with eyebrows akin to those you’ll see out on the town on a Friday night… or Johnny 5 from Short Circuit. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it…
BMW R 1250 GS – GS Adventure
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Some people might not like the way the BMW R 1250 GS and GS Adventure look, but they’re still two of the best-selling motorcycles in Europe. Maybe it’s because they’re so common that people have started to get sick of them, but we have to admit that there are still some weird details on the latest generation model.
The asymmetric ‘winking’ headlight arrangement is certainly quirky, but it gives the BMW some character all the same. We can accept that the chunky proportions are a touch ‘busy’ if we’re pushed, but admittedly, BMW does have form where this is concerned. The modern-day range is certainly more conservative than some of its models from yesteryear. Indeed, BMW has developed something of a reputation for getting it very wrong on the design front over the decades, with models like the bulky K1, the spider face doppelganger R1200C and sister ST, the F650 hoover on wheels and – of course – the infamous SS80 Gomez all immediately springing to mind…
Victory Vision
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The Vision looks like it could have been drawn by a student doodling in the margins of their notebook instead of paying attention in class. Its swoopy lines and bulbous dimensions make it look more like a non-functioning design of a bike, than an actual production motorcycle. It’s almost as if it was meant to be worn as opposed to ridden. The Vision first showed up as a prototype at Sturgis in 2001. It was mostly covers in plastic bodywork, more than any other Polaris vehicle including its ATV range.
The carrying capacity of the side panniers is too small for a helmet, but you can fit two in the topbox. There’s always a market for extreme bikes – the biggest engine, the most expensive, the widest tyres, the longest rake, etc. The Vision explore the extreme end of bike design, and it’s possible that there will never be another production bike that looks like this. Harley-Davidson and Indian will never go to this extreme, but that’s what makes the Vision so special.
When you sit on a Victory Vision, you’ll immediately notice that most of the bike is in front of you. The handlebars have an extreme backward sweep, so the rider can actually reach them. The 106 cubic inch engine is strong and powerful, and Polaris has been an engine builder for long enough to have got it right. It’s a heavy bike, though, which tranquilises the response from the throttle. It’s still grunty, mind you, and no owners complain about the torque and passing ability.
The Vision owner is constantly uncertain whether the crowds the bike attracts are laughing WITH them or AT them…
MV Agusta F4Z Zagato
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In the same way, we have higher design expectations from Italian company MV Agusta because they have had trouble in the past with reliability. The F4 is considered by many to be the most beautiful bike ever built. I agree. So it’s a huge disappointment that MV would prostitute themselves for a rich Japanese businessman and produce this one-off Zagato F4 monstrosity. Some may love it, but I just can’t look at it without feeling betrayed.
The Ferrari F4X+Z by Zagato looks like it has a lot of odd features that seem like they were added as an afterthought rather than being integrated into the overall design. The small screen and headlight stand out, but the bulbous seat is just wrong, especially since it’s a different shade of red than the fairing. While Zagato was known for producing light and aerodynamic bodies for companies like FIAT, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, and others, the F4X+Z just looks heavy and well, wrong!
JOHAMMER J1
This one looks very daring…I mean seriously???
The rise of electric motorcycles has allowed for a more creative design language, without the restrictions of having to package traditional motorcycle components such as engines, exhausts, or gas tanks. This is generally a good thing, as it allows designers to be more innovative. However, it also means that there are some designers who produce products that are so poorly designed, they make people nauseous.
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When it comes to design, General Motors learned back in the 1930s that if you push the boundaries too much too quickly, the public will become disoriented and sales will suffer. Somebody needs to tell that to the designers of the Johammer J1. Yes, there’s a lot of potentials for motorcycle design to evolve now that electric power is becoming more common, but it’s still possible to go too far. The J1 might not be so bad if it had the same kind of performance as its futuristic styling suggests, but unfortunately it’s only got a top speed of 74mph. And if that wasn’t enough of a barrier, the price tag is a whooping $35,000. That used to buy you a lot of beauty, but not anymore.
Honda Rune
The Honda Rune looks like something Batman would ride. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing! This 2004 cut-down Goldwing was a good idea that Honda later got right with the F6B and F6C. But this first limited-edition model was like a big plastic Batman toy.
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Ducati Multistrada
Sometimes, it’s not about the destination, but the journey. And if you’re planning on making the journey on a Multistrada, we have some news for you. For a long time, this motorcycle was called the “Uglystrada.” Ducati usually hits the mark when it comes to styling and engineering, but they missed it big time with the Multistrada. The front headlights make it look more like a vacuum cleaner than a sports bike.
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Kawasaki H2
Kawasaki has gotten a lot of value out of its so-called Sugomi styling direction over the years, though the success of its application has been occasionally a touch miss rather than hit. What it isn’t though is subtle and none more so than on the bombastic H2 sportsbike which successfully applies the madness of its 999cc supercharged 210hp four-cylinder engine into a look that screams attention this way, please!
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Lightning LS-218
The Lightning LS-218 may not seem like the best looking motorcycle at first, but you’ll soon fall in love with it once you ride it. It’s one of the most unique motorcycles out there – it’s electric but doesn’t perform like your typical electric motorcycle. In other words, it’s incredibly fast. If you’re looking for an extraordinary motorcycle that will turn heads, the LS-218 is the one for you.
