[Mike]

I’ve been reviewing a lot of bikes lately and noticed that it’s a “con” to look like the 80s. (Like the Ninjas were). I happen to like the 80s style very much So, why is it a con?

[Matt]

Because people are slaves to fashion.

But don’t worry about it, the 80s are cool again. Right now 70s retro designs are the thing (Ducati GT, Triumph Bonneville), very soon that’ll move to the 80s. Then it’ll be uncool to look like the 90s.

I still say the 80s sport bikes are some of the best looking sport bikes – the modern “killer bug” look can go take a hike

In the end, be proud of what you ride, because no one else actually cares what your bike looks like.

[DK]

I think the only point to that is the fact that a major manufacturer should take the time to do a little body styling more than once every 20 years to a model. Other than that it would be personal preference.

[Clay Dowling]

Applies not only to the way you ride but what you ride. If your friends won’t hang with you because they don’t like your ride, what you need is new friends, not a new bike. I’d rather ride with guys I liked on ugly bikes than guys I don’t like on pretty bikes.

[briderdt]

They make a great base for a bobber…

[eon]

Say no more.

[Matt]

Eon, you are a bad bad man.

I thought scooter riders where supposed to be nice people.

[SantaCruzRider]

This is why I try not to hang with the scooter crowd. They seem nice enough at first, but they are obviously a little twisted.

[Munch]

Wow…. you seriously went with the Jovi do?

[Clay Dowling]

Not so good. You’ll need to be a good mechanic. 80s look, fine if you’re into that kind of thing. I hear 80s look and I think about the 80s Nighthawks. I don’t care for the look of them, but a co-worker rides an ’83 400cc Nighthawk and it’s a good dependable ride with a lot of nice comfort features. But it looks dowdy next to the two Magnas.

[Loki]

Im not an fan of the 80’s but i was also born in 90 so its understandable. I dont hate teh bikes just that i wouldnt ride one untill i get older but i would like to own one (for collection). I would love to ride with someone with an 80s bike, show people how different the era’s are. Dont let anyone say your bike is ugly. Punch them in the mouth!

[SantaCruzRider]

Personally, I love the look of some ’80s bike. Not that I have the spare time or resources needed to ride/maintain one, but I like the muscular, spare, no-frills but lots-of-options look of the ’80s bikes.
My bike is a mid-90s, but the design is little changed from it’s introduction in the 1986.

I suspect that Elwood and Clay’s issues with the ’80s-look is because the only glimpse they get is a brief shot at the tail as this 80s bike pulls a horizon-job on them — LOL.

[Clay Dowling]

Interesting looking bike, kind of like a sport-tourer and a silverwing had a wild night.

Pulling a horizon job on a Magna is a challenge, BTW. The bike looks like a cruiser, but it has plenty of speed. Turning into a little dot in the distance is easy against this rider though. I don’t have the saddle time to go that fast in any kind of comfort or safety. I keep it under 80, which is better than I do in my car.

[SantaCruzRider]

It’s a Kawi Concours 1000, classified as a sport-tourer.
I’ve ridden the Magna before and like it a lot. I came very close to buying one when they first came out in ’94 and then again more recently on the used market. Great looking bike with more than enough power.
Just teasing about the horizon job. The bike’s capable, but I’m too lazy. I tend to ride in the lower RPMs most of the time and rarely get too far north of 80 (which is usually keeping up with traffic).

[Clay Dowling]

The V-4 on a Magna is good at leaving V-Twins in the dust. Had a back wreck here a few years back when somebody on a VTX 1800 tried to keep up with my coworker’s Magna. Inline fours are well known for putting out a lot of power though.

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