Way to go...

Ok, but, remember, don't try out anything country specific. Keep trying for killer looks which is also technically feasible. Reason being that, you can have a beautiful radiator that takes the shape of leaf or heart, but, practically those would be extremely difficult to take in shape.

First select the segment where you're offering, cruiser, retro, modern steet, dirt, naked, semi/full fairing & then try the cross over.

Oh!!! And yes, do not forget the RVM's

^^+1
Mojo looks more like TVS ISOTOPE 200, so my wish to buy one n alter like the Best bike design 2006 awarded "ISOTOPE" but is that possible

^Thanks.

@smashing: Nice renders!

I will explain a fundamental fact of design.
The designers find a solution to a problem. Now the problem is not like weak links or faulty parts. It is a design brief given to them.

For eg: say the engineering team can only make a bike with certain frame and certain engine, the designer then must figure out how to make it look new. It must not be resembling other brands bikes. So this is the problem he must solve.
Design also progresses at certain pace. Some lines and proportions look old. The real tough job to do is that the lines must not look old 5 years down the line. for example the round headlamp looks old and we say it is a retro styled bike. But the Yamaha MT01 has a different version of round lamp. Yet it looks new.
Then the old CBR had big boxy tailpiece. But the new version has smallest yet. So what makes the designs look old?

More on that later.


Cheers!

I hope i have helped you all know more about bikes.

Couldn't understand here; what's the problem?

Sorry to disagree here, but this not the case. In today's world, everyone's is a copy cat; this means, if some manufacturer makes a design successful, everyone WILL copy it by making some tweak here & there. Japs being tech savvy's, they too copy but start offering additional things such as technology, value, luxury & what not? An exception would be BMW motorcycles.

Example - Triumph Bonneville & Kawasaki W800; Kawasaki ER6-n & Yamaha FZ6; Almost all the cruisers & Sports motorcycles.

Very true

May be the receiving perspective from customers? Not sure.

Couldn't understand here; what's the problem?

The design brief is a problem in the design language. Not a literal problem.


Sorry to disagree here, but this not the case. In today's world, everyone's is a copy cat; this means, if some manufacturer makes a design successful, everyone WILL copy it by making some tweak here & there. Japs being tech savvy's, they too copy but start offering additional things such as technology, value, luxury & what not? An exception would be BMW motorcycles.

It seems so. Say a manufacturer comes up with a new feature of a design. And if it is well received, others also adopt it. Say Kawasaki z1000 resurrected the tank scoop style again. Yamaha brought it in XJ6 and now Suzuki in GSR750;

Example - Triumph Bonneville & Kawasaki W800; Kawasaki ER6-n & Yamaha FZ6; Almost all the cruisers & Sports motorcycles.

Yes.

May be the receiving perspective from customers? Not sure.

Some designs get old. You don't want to see same edges and curves for years on. But neither you want to invest in a new tech. So rather increase the power a little and put some new loking panels and voila! you have a new version!



Now Honda has a really good motorcycle by the name of CBR600F. It is based on a race bike (which means with a fairing) and the seating is made for the city riding. A very good combo. It is the perfect bike for India as per me. It will be a success if it comes to India.
Check the images to see difference between RR and street based F version.





Suzuki's GSXR and GSXF are also a good example.

Next: Headlight designs explained. How they convey emotions.

^^@Nitro: Good Explanation there!

The lines along with the visual representation/comparison of the "seat-handlebar-foot peg' relationship clears a lot of things.

Good stuff.

Ah! nice updates....

Waiting to see age proof yet evolution of the MV design!

^Thanks guys!

HEADLIGHTS AND EMOTIONS-
PART1 - EYEBROWS:
This is not at all a complex science or such. Headlights by many people are seen as eyes of a vehicle. It can convey a distinct emotion. The emotion to be portrayed by the bike should be decided before developing the bike. Depending on the manufacturer,the emotion of the bike varies.
As told before, aggression in a motorcycle's front end or 'face' is determined by split or stacked headlights. Split headlight design can convey aggression better. And the stacked headlight design has some limits to it. And also as told before, the angle of lines decides the aggression. The more inclined the lines, the more aggressive the bike looks. But you can't go on turning the lines until they become vertical and loose all aggression. Lets call them eyebrows for our sake of convenience.

I will try to explain the fact by taking Ducati's case. Ducati learnt this the hard way.
The 916,748,996,998 design was based on the same platform. Designer Massimo Tamburini is a master in the emotion of sophistication. I call his emotion as controlled aggression. Being stylish like a blazer clad gentleman and showing a bit hint of agression. Just look how it shows a hint of aggression. Very tight lines.


Neutral styling-Then came designer Pierre Terblanche. He has a style of sudued aggression. Very neutral lines. Trying to create a sophistication out of being neutral. His design,the 999 did not have any aggressive lines as such. The side air vents were very vertical to be called as aggressive. No eyebrows also. As a result,it received a lot of criticism. And sales took a major hit. Other bikes by Terblanche include Hypermotard(surprisingly aggressive) and Multistrada(not aggressive at all).


Aggressive styling-The latest Ducati 848,1098,1198 iteration are by far the most aggressive Ducatis ever. Designer Giandrea Fabbro had a mammoth task of reviving sales of Ducati's flagship bike. And he did do a spectacular job. Just check out the eyebrows on the face of the bike. Very sharp and aggressive. And a looker nonetheless!


As per me, there is a virtual graph with soothing (sweet) curves on one end and sharp angry aggressive curves on other end. Sweet curves would sipmly be a Vespa. No sharp jagged lines. And on the other aggressive end are the Japanese litre bikes. Each trying to outdo each other by sharpening lines in each iteration. The European bikes would be in middle. Trying to stay towards neutral lines. BMW's S1000RR tries both!

Great read, as always..

by the way the headlamps of the S1000RR to me appears like "winking eyes"

What's the relation between aggressive styling & comfort? I'd like to ride the most comfortable motorcycle; yes, looks are important, but still not at the cost of comfort.

Any idea why didn't Ducati didn't adopt the agressive styling early? I'm under the impression that the Italians (Ducs ofcourse) were the ones who bought the aggressive styling, or is it just an assumption?

Would be good to know who started it first.

Thanks!
Infact they do! But they can afford to do so because there are a lot of split and stacked headlight designs around. Must not try the same in India. We Indians need to be filled on our quota of aggressive designs yet.

Depends on the manufacturer. And the role of the motorcycle. Whether its a supersports or a tourer. And of course the consumer trends!

Because they thought the soothing lines will be preferred by all. But the Japanese started overtaking them in sales. Japanese anime,manga type of cartoons have a very big impact on their designs. It has a very big influence in Japan. And so Ducati went the Japanese way of aggressive designs and it is working! They are selling more now!

As far as I remember, the first bike with aggressive split headlights was Yamaha FZR1000. It had what was called fox-eye headlights.


Before that every big sportsbike had round headlights.

Hmmm...I'm getting the big picture gradually.

Wonderful; my respects to you

But again, why're motorcycles selling when they look aggressive. Right from HD days of 50's & 60's motorcycles are associated with gangs, fight, & aggressiveness. Why so? Why not peace or softness? No one likes to be soft is it

Even HD's (former) Buell was styled aggressively isn't it? MV Agusta was the worst of all; looks scary.

Lots of good stuff coming from you there Nitro. Great.

Aargee: Its because performance motorcycles are about speed, precision and control. Three dynamics that are as integral a part of chase and predation as is breath for life. Even Nature designs aggressively when the above three predominate its design brief. Can you imagine a bird of prey looking like a Dove? A Panther that looks akin to a Deer?

Motorcycling is about a constant dynamic choice between life and death through each moment that you ride it. Fending off death needs precision, control and purpose. And all the more so when you go faster. Aggression is an intrinsic part of swift decisiveness.

Perfect, perfect, perfect examples; I got what you're trying to say. Makes a well valid point.

Then my next question is, why doesn't a street motorcycle designed to look aggressive? Why along sports motorcycles?