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Bucketloads of dough are poured into designing cars, trucks, and motorcycles annually. In marrying such lofty elements as “design language,” brand heritage, buyer motives, production practicalities, manufacturing costs, and other factors, the products’ final form is always a balancing act by the time it reaches the showroom floor. After the evolution from cocktail-napkin sketch to on-sale-in-your-dealership, some products succeed—maybe due to their purity of mission and lucky timing—while others, perhaps sad and confused “committee” designs, turn out homely or miss the mark entirely. No varnish here: This article shares our worldview about the best-looking bikes in key market segments. Love them or hate them, but here are our opinions. By all means let us know if you agree…and also if you don’t! We love abuse.

NAKED/STANDARD

2020 Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

Retro is all about honoring a past point in time. And to do that, one should be a student of motorcycle history. With its lithe English Harris-designed frame and British Rockers-era styling cues, Royal Enfield’s Continental GT 650 gets it done. A lovely overall look has much to do with tidy, balanced proportions, and this café racer got them right. The bread-loaf fuel tank, trim bum-stop saddle, and air-cooled parallel-twin engine offer approximately equal “visual mass” (our term) tied nicely together with the lightweight frame, conventional fork and twin shocks, and spoked wheels. Altogether, the look is balanced, retro, sporty, kinetic, and authentic.

One of Royal Enfield’s two new parallel twins, the Continental GT 650 is balanced, retro, sporty, kinetic, and authentic.
One of Royal Enfield’s two new parallel twins, the Continental GT 650 is balanced, retro, sporty, kinetic, and authentic. (Royal Enfield/)

SPORTBIKE

2020 Ducati Panigale V4 S

General Motors’ late design chief Bill Mitchell famously used a mako shark as the design inspiration for the third-generation Corvette. As a bike guy, he’d be thrilled to imagine Ducati’s Panigale V4 S, a shark among motorcycles. Stretched tightly around the alloy perimeter frame, the bodywork is simultaneously muscular and voluptuous, with sharp character lines and gentle curves flowing from the beak of its fairing through the body sides with its gill-like radiator vents. Here the body pauses to allow an unfettered cockpit for the pilot, and then finishes with a sharp flourish in back—like the flick of a shark’s speedy caudal fin.

Stylistically, Ducati’s shark-like Panigale V4 S integrates sharp edges and flowing body sides for a strong, highly integrated look. Even the “gills” are functional.
Stylistically, Ducati’s shark-like Panigale V4 S integrates sharp edges and flowing body sides for a strong, highly integrated look. Even the “gills” are functional. (Ducati Motor Holding/)

ADVENTURE

2020 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES

Honda’s third-generation Africa Twin has a powerful visual presence. We admit, some of this is due to the blue, white, and red paint scheme, which is reminiscent of the Rothmans-sponsored Paris-Dakar NXR750s of the late 1980s. That said, the Africa Twin excels and its design, to warp Jay Leno’s Leading with my Chin book title, well, the Africa Twin leads with its big 21-inch spoked front wheel instead. When fitted with a DOT-legal knobby tire, it sets the tone for the bike’s real purpose…mastering long stretches of primitive roads at high speed. Big and bulky, but beautifully effective when you don’t know what’s coming next.

Evoking the purposeful style and stance of the Dakar Rally bikes, Honda’s Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES leads visually with its big 21-inch front wheel and tall fairing and windshield.
Evoking the purposeful style and stance of the Dakar Rally bikes, Honda’s Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES leads visually with its big 21-inch front wheel and tall fairing and windshield. (Honda Motor Corp./)

DUAL SPORT/OFF-ROAD

2020 KTM 500

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By: John L. Stein
Title: Best-Looking Motorcycles Of 2020
Sourced From: www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/news/best-looking-motorcycles-2020/
Published Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2022 06:01:13 +0000

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BEYOND THE STRIP: Discover the Cultural Gems of Las Vegas

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BEYOND THE STRIP: Discover the Cultural Gems of Las Vegas

Written by Barbara Toombs

Fremont Street in the heart of downtown Las Vegas.

Millions of visitors are understandably attracted to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas’ renowned Strip each year, where world-class resorts, casinos, shows and incredible dining options are the name of the game.

What many don’t realize is that there’s another fascinating side to the Entertainment Capital of the World, headlined by two cultural districts known simply as Downtown and Chinatown.

Downtown Las Vegas (also known as DTLV) is really where this unique desert city got its start. In 1931, construction began on what is now known as the Hoover Dam, attracting thousands of workers to a site just east of the city. To capitalize on this growing workforce, savvy businessmen began building casinos and showgirl venues along Las Vegas’ only paved road at the time: Fremont Street.

Today, DTLV is comprised of three distinct districts. Many visitors to the city are already familiar with one of them: the Fremont Street Casino District, which contains museums, restaurants and bars, as well as the original Las Vegas casinos, including El Cortez, Golden Nugget and Golden Gate. Here you’ll also find the renowned Fremont Street Experience, which debuted in 1995. This pedestrian-only thoroughfare is covered by a canopy of more than two million LED lights and a state-of-the-art sound system that comes to life every night for a spectacular sound and light show called “Viva Vision.”

The Arts District

A popular attraction in this district is The Mob Museum (the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement), which showcases intriguing tales and the age-old dichotomy of good guys versus bad guys. Explore at your own pace, go on a guided tour or uncover museum surprises as part of a group scavenger hunt. Want a literal “taste” of old-school Las Vegas? Plan to dine at Top of Binion’s Steakhouse, perched on the 24th floor of Binion’s Gambling Hall. The restaurant dates back to 1965 when it was known as Top of the Mint, the signature dining spot at The Mint hotel tower. The interior design (and menu – think steak, prime rib, lobster and even Baked Alaska) is a throwback to an earlier era when the mob ran much of Las Vegas, but the real draw is the spectacular view through dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows.

Built in 2002, the Fremont East Entertainment District (FEED) is a six-block area that stretches from Las Vegas Boulevard East to 8th Street and from Ogden Street South to Carson. FEED is pedestrian-friendly, offering diverse street life and many eateries, cafes, bars and lounges, as well as ample shopping opportunities and lively entertainment. A must-see attraction in this district is the Downtown Container Park – a dining, shopping and live music venue made of 45 colorful repurposed shipping containers, all fronted by a two-story, fire-breathing praying mantis who made its original debut at Burning Man. Nearby is the popular Bin 702 – one of many great dining choices in the area – featuring a great selection of beer and wine, as well as a tantalizing choice of charcuterie and cheese, sandwiches and small plates for sharing.

18b sign in The Arts District.

In recent years, The Arts District – or the 18b as it’s also known (a reference to it occupying 18 blocks of Downtown Las Vegas, loosely outlined by Commerce Street, Colorado Ave, Fourth Street and Hoover Avenue) – has been growing in popularity. Its monthly “First Friday” block party and art walk features food trucks and live music, serving as a backdrop for artists showing their works off at a variety of open-air and indoor galleries. These include The Arts Factory, home to over 30 artists and art galleries, and ArtSquare, a hip establishment that houses design stores, designer’s studios, wellness spots, and food and drink outlets. Behind The Arts Factory sits one of many great dining choices in The Arts District: Taverna Costera, serving up delicious Coastal Mediterranean fusion that draws inspiration from coastal Spanish, French, Italian and Greek cuisines and beyond.

Just a couple of miles east of the Strip, along Spring Mountain Road (roughly between Rainbow Boulevard and Interstate 15), lies the city’s amazing Chinatown, which has grown in leaps and bounds over the past two decades. Here you’ll find the largest collection of Asian businesses in Southern Nevada, including a multitude of authentic Asian restaurants, gift shops, a hair stylist, a reflexologist, home decor, an Asian supermarket and the only Chinese bookstore in Nevada.

At Chinatown’s heart is the enormous and ornate Chinatown Plaza, featuring a colorful, dragon-adorned, Tang Dynasty-inspired gate and gleaming

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By: Barrett-Jackson
Title: BEYOND THE STRIP: Discover the Cultural Gems of Las Vegas
Sourced From: www.barrett-jackson.com/Media/Home/Reader/beyond-the-strip-discover-the-cultural-gems-of-las-vegas-2023/
Published Date: Fri, 19 May 2023 18:07:14 +0000

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2024 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe – No Reserve

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2024 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe – No Reserve

This red 1967 Corvette custom coupe received a complete custom restoration at Springfield Motorsports in Peachland BC, Canada. The build consists of a completely new jig-mounted tube chassis with C4 corvette front upper and lower control arms riding on coilover shocks and power rack & pinion steering. The rear differential is a custom narrowed 9-inch Ford with aluminum Dale Gerry center section with Wilwood disc brakes on all 4 corners. Filling out the wheel wells are custom offset Fikse wheels.

K&S machine in Kelowna, British Columbia took the 454ci engine and machined it to 496ci it is equipped with Comp Thumper camshaft and 800cfm carburetor and it creates a true hot rod sound through the ceramic-coated exhaust. Lee Baxter upholstery created the one-off hand-stitched red leather interior with a rear storage area. It features Vintage Air, Digital gauges, power windows and a leather-wrapped vintage-style steering wheel.

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By: Barrett-Jackson
Title: 2024 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe – No Reserve
Sourced From: www.barrett-jackson.com/Media/Home/Reader/2024-scottsdale-auction-1967-chevrolet-corvette-custom-coupe-no-reserve/
Published Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:52:01 +0000

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From Hamamatsu to Lisbon: A Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik Edition

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Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik Edition
The Honda CBX 1000 was only in production for four years, but that was enough time for it to leave a lasting impression on the motorcycle industry. First released it in 1978 as a screaming six-cylinder naked superbike, it later faced stiff competition from its stablemate—the equally iconic CB900F. So the Japanese marque redesigned it as a sport tourer, halfway through its tenure.

The updated ‘CBX-B’ had a touring fairing, optional panniers, and Honda’s new-at-the-time Pro-Link mono-shock setup. It was a hair less powerful than before, but that didn’t stop it from becoming a legend in its own right. If you park a CBX and CBX-B next to each other, you could argue that the latter has more presence.

Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik Edition

It’s that mystique that prompted the owner of this 1982 Honda CBX 1000 Pro-Link to buy it. Enamored with the fusion of modern technology and ancient traditions found in Japanese cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, he was on the hunt for a classic motorcycle that embodied that philosophy. When he found the CBX, the sheer brutalism of its six-cylinder engine was impossible to ignore.

“In the eyes of this enthusiast, the engine wasn’t just a mechanical marvel; it was the soul of the motorcycle, much like the heart in a human body,” says Tiago Gonçalves, founder of the Portuguese custom shop, Unik Edition. “This revelation laid the foundation for a transformative project, one that would honor the motorcycle’s origins while infusing it with a new identity.”

Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik EditionRead More

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By: Wesley Reyneke
Title: From Hamamatsu to Lisbon: A Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik Edition
Sourced From: www.bikeexif.com/honda-cbx-1000-restomod
Published Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2023 16:34:54 +0000

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