What Makes a Motorcycle "Cool"?

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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:01 Normie Standard "Cool" Bikes
1:57 Coolness is a matter of taste
2:42 Cool motorcycles have cool stories behind them
3:38 Functionality = Cool
5:16 Your Tastes Will Change
6:32 Cooler Over Time
7:15 Styles Will Change
8:23 Color is a Factor
9:14 What makes a bike uncool?

[@cocky_potato]

Personally, I live by the standard of "if you park it and you don't turn your head to look at it as you walk away, it's not the right bike".

[@jftalarico]

So true. I find myself doing that with my new bike, but never really did that with the last one.

[@warrenarnold]

Basically a cruiser bike 🥵

[@izzojoseph2]

Yup!

[@budmatto9205]

I am probably the epitome of being uncool as I ride around town on my little TW200. However, I look back at it all the time and take pics of it when I am out running around on it. It's cool to me and that's what is most important. I love the look, the feel and the way that takes me back to when I started riding my TC90 as a teenager in the mid 70's.

[@izzojoseph2]

@ it’s a bike. You’re cool 😎 🤙

[@jonmartin88]

I agree with your last point, “All motorcycles are cool.”

[@Phunker1]

I have a bunch of supermoto guys that hang out a mile from my house. Sometimes, I go to that place with my old KTM Duke. For them, it's an old Duke. Not very cool. What they don't know is that this very bike is the oldest KTM Duke in existence. It's a 93 factory prototype of the Duke first edition, and it's blue. A color that was never offered. I know how fucking cool this is. They have no clue. That's it with bikes. Your taste in bikes changes with what you know about them.

[@MussbacherIndustries]

As a proud owner of the 1973 CB750K3, returned to daily riding, late last year, after being parked for over 41 yrs, thank you for the shout out.

[@donfry7034]

Great bike. I rode a 74 from 1986 to 2017 when I traded it for a 83 Goldwing Aspencade. Plus I have a 79 KZ-750 twin and a 82 Kawasaki Spectre 750.

[@kevindowell6003]

So adorable Yammie is growing up. What makes a bike cool…being a bike and not being a cliche.

[@jaychristensen8231]

I have 69 trail 70 that is mod'd to 108. All pimped out with chrome. It is way cooler than it was back when i got it in 1976. Puts a smile on my face every time i start it up!

[@Lazyfish66]

I think what makes a moto cool are ones that you don't see around much because of age and where the owner is keeping it original and clean. Respect!

[@mattborkowski9353]

Me, the guy riding it. 🤣

[@nathanhyder3377]

BAM 😂

[@我就爛-l1h]

love your confidence and wish I can have it someday

[@geekvinos]

I spent a few years in Asia. Some places where it's warm and everyone rides you'll see some wild sights, like a family of four (mom/Dad/kid/baby) and a 55" flat screen tv on top of a 125cc bike. I use my KLR in a similar fashion. I've managed to haul a 40 gallon aquarium on the back of mine using foam pads, Paracord, and bungee straps. Feels like I own a farm animal, haha. Also rode across the country with my dog, camping gear, and my OneWheel skateboard onboard the bike. It's a pack mule.

[@Mus.Anonymouse]

Any bike you can control for at least 95%, and lets you enjoy the rides you like or need to ride, is cool in my perspective. It can be a K100, a CB450F, an F1350, a BSA, a Norton, a Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, KTM, Indian, Harley whatever. If it makes you happy and safe, it is cool. (Just wear gear please) All except the Geiko bike BTW. 😂

[@The330racing]

I think a bike is cool if you pay cash for it and dont put yourself into huge debt for it

[@mikeythehat6693]

damn straight.

[@zebrakadaver626]

As long as you worked for it and it's yours, its cool 😎 God bless you

[@BobTaylorCruising]

I came pretty close. I got a loan for half the outlay at 2.4% using a Kawasaki dealer program. I have extremely good credit and make professional wages (aerospace). It's a three year loan at about $125 a month. Details matter. I take very good care of my bike considering my not having a garage. Could have paid cash but I wanted to put more away as saving having sold a condo then. I did until the heat pump in the new place died. Glad I had most of that for that purpose. It's not like paying cash but it's close to paid for and I avoided a loan for other stuff. My wife, daughters and cats love the new place. I don't care. I'll work until I can't any more. It took a long time to get here.

[@wadeteach]

After not riding for over 20 years, I was all about getting an SV 650. Then I saw the yellow and black GSX-8R (which is my new 2nd bike).

[@gabrielegrimaldi66]

The Ducati 999 and 749 are a clear example of bikes that were j cool and then became very cool. I love them.

[@alex81sg90]

Where I live, it’s pretty much 90% Harleys. I have a Ninja 500 and just the fact that it isn’t a Harley makes it cool to me 🤣🤣

[@stevek4449]

To me, versatility is cool. Can I take my bike around town or around the world? Yes. To the track? Yes. Camping? Yes. As much luggage vs a gold wing? Yes. Buttery smooth gentle handling? Yes. Enough power for on and off road riding? Yes. 32 inch inseam and able to flatfoot both feet? Yes. Does ALL OF THE ABOVE? Yes. My answer, my2024 Africa Twin Adventure Sport ES with DCT. A great all rounder so I have no need for having more than one bike.😂

[@jasonking9401]

🤤

[@noahknight4039]

The more powerful bikes look the coolest, that’s just a reality. Pretty much the same with cars, the fastest Mustang sold on the lot is also the coolest looking Mustang.

[@_insomniack]

I love those simple riding and yapping type of video, and yeah, i do agree, all bike are cools, but coolness is subjective, and the best one is always mine x)

[@teslageek9257]

Function, looks, riding experience. These blur together, riding experience is the most important. Riding experience incorporates the function, does the bike do what I want? Looks don’t hurt. Beauty in the eye of the owner. My current coolest bike is a ‘22 Suzuki DR 650. Most of my riding is 2 to 3 hours in the mountains of western NC. Twisties and gravel roads. The DR is perfect for this. It’s simplicity and all of the above, yeah very cool.

[@jsinclair39]

Looks, purpose, capability and uniqueness makes bikes cool in my opinion. I've got an RSV4 and a Ural. Only one of those has strangers talking to each other taking pictures of it while I watch through a shop window.

[@nonyabusiness4151]

The Ural 😂

[@J.O..]

Cool is in the eye of the beholder. For me, it's the sleek, fast , racetrack inspired look of a sport bike. I can't get away from the sport look, so when I got old, I got a sport touring bike

[@hilalhaqiqi8481]

Agree with yams, suzuki slabslide is Very cool indeed.

[@我就爛-l1h]

if you love your bike and enjoy being on it, it is cool

[@我就爛-l1h]

and btw, some retro and classic looks are always cool imo like Z900RS, triumph bonneville and CB1100

[@derrickdennis6383]

I like the milestone bikes like the first bike to have a mono shock, or like the first 2 stroke street bike, or the the first fuel injected bike like to see the manufacturers put out new and innovative stuff is cool to me

[@73jbirch]

I'm getting into motorcycling again at 51. I have always liked muscle cruisers but not been a Harley-Davidson guy. The last bike that I had was a Yamaha Fazer 700 and it flew. I think the specs would hold up even nowadays. You can pull out with someone on the back in 5th gear lol. I just picked up a 99 Honda Magna and shaved off the turn signals and got a tail tidy kit. It looks really clean and has reasonable horsepower considering it's my first bike in 25 + years. Thnx and also a first time comment old guy

[@captianawesome9240]

53 here. Took 25 years off riding to raise my kids. Returned in 2023 with a Virago 250 or 6 months to get comfortable again. Upgraded to a 1200 sportster for 6 months. Yamaha was obviously underpoweded. Sporster was cool but kind of uncomfortable. I found a "cool for me" middle ground and bought a new 2024 Royal Enfield Continental GT 650.

[@mikemet1744]

I don't know if my bikes are cool but I love them all. I have a Honda 919, Kawi ZRX1200R, and a Suzuki BKing. Have fun.

[@leoveroude4492]

Nice!!

[@Dolan1492]

for sure cool. A BKing!? and you're still among the living? I woulda yeeted myself to the great beyond by now.

[@4940markhutchins]

My black 1962 BMW R27 I rode to school and the beach is the coolest bike ever. All 18 horses of it!

[@ToddSloanIAAN]

I agree so much that 3:21 the idea of cool is the rider doing something worth watching.

[@shawnwarner2609]

I’m 64 years old and have owned close to 80 motorcycles in my life…I no longer seek a particular brand or model, but let the bike find me…that’s how I am currently restoring a 1970 Bultaco Lobito Mk4. This all said, I’ve learned ALL bikes are cool. It may not be for you or me, but to that guy…it's cool. I try to always respect that...

[@4940markhutchins]

A grey 1981 Honda CBX is one seriously cool motorcycle!

[@serigala5792]

Cool is in the eye of the beholder

[@pauly1k]

I have a 25th anniversary Busa. The color is part of the reason I like it so much. Orange was my favorite color as a kid and I still find myself preferring orange flavored candies, drinks, etc. I wouldn’t like the bike as much if it was a boring silver color.

[@backcountry_guns5286]

I think the yamaha fjr1300 is hideous but, looks aside. That thing is sick! It's got power, confort, storage, wind protection, it's got it all. Butttt I can't make myself get one just yet. Maybe in a few years I'll swap my z900 for it but not today lol

[@jeepman1976]

I love all bikes. When I was in my 20s, I was all about the sport bikes and dual sports. Now that I'm almost 50, it's the Goldwings and the Honda PC800...

[@scottmurrish52]

Totally on the same page! Have had 20+ bikes in the last 20 years. Currently have a gl1200, pc800 & k100 in the family.

[@jamesbalsley6135]

@@scottmurrish52 1984 gl1200 is 🔥ive got two, one chopped and stripped into a firefighter themed speed machine. the other fully stock and loaded ready to go cross country. what make a motorcycle cool is riding it and not being afraid to damage it cause your deep in debt payments

[@KuroLurker]

For me "Cool Motorcycle" and how I felt in love with motorcycles was with the Honda RC30. Now I have appreciation for the Royal Endfield Classic 500, Triumph Trident 660, Harley-Davidson Iron 883, Any Yamaha MT series, Any Yamaha XSR series, Honda CB650R and CB1000R, Ducati Monster, Kawasaki Z400 and Z800. For me the CF Moto Papio and the SR500 Voom are just a beautiful blend between old and new.

[@MonkeywoodGarage]

Sound and appearance for me... and I love old skool twin round headlights build into the fairings!

[@al_in_philly5832]

"Cool" is heavily dependent on perceived uniqueness, for motorcycles or anything else. To be cool is not to follow the crowd, it is being one who is beyond the crowd. For those who don't ride a motorcycle (but don't hate them outright) almost any motorcycle is cool because, at least in the North America, so few people ride them. Amongst motorcyclists, usually a bike which you see everywhere has limited "coolness." That's a big part of why people customize their bikes; and those who do something custom which is new, or rare, make their bikes even cooler.

[@stephenp7708]

Coolest bike I ever owned was a 1960s Honda Win which had been travelling up and down Vietnam for 5 decades. Bought for $200, gave it to a local at the other end. Hope it's still having fun.

[@karlbishop7481]

The new 2025 Guzzi Sport would be cool in your eyes, I think. It is kind of yellow but a very cool color.

[@unionrdr]

Cool, like beauty, is subjective. I like the cafe racer/super bikes. Sexy road racin' beasties. Like my fav, Kenny Roberts. But I also love my Star 250 Lowrider Custom Cruiser in Raven Black Metallic. Studded black leather tail & saddlebags, more chrome, etc. And it likes leanin', so that's cool too.

[@lstavenhagen]

Cool is mostly in the eye of the beholder, but my '22 Honda Super Cub is objectively, demonstrably the coolest motorcycle ever. If it weren't for all those angry SUVs always trying to kill me on it, it would be my main bike for everything (including long distance touring). I love my piaggio scooter and Africa Twin but the Super Cub has no match in the bike cool Hall of Fame.

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

The thumbnail caught me eye, i had a 750Katana and it was red...and very cool 👍

[@WinterSkyyy]

Britten V1000 is definitely *the coolest* motorcycle of all time!

[@AgentJayZ]

A street triple with three round headlights in a horizontal row would be cool. My old SV650 was cool because of its personality.

[@jpapss]

The 1985 gsxr750 had twin round headlights. Not a single square light.

[@francescoporcari8597]

For some markets (like Switzerland) it was prohibited to have double/twin headlights. So that may be a model for onw of those marketing.

[@twotoned_echos]

It all boils down to preference tbh Take the NM4 for example, some people think it's cool, others think it's ugly as sin (I'm somewhere in the middle)

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

I had a friend named Dave who 89 Gixer 1000 . He was fairly cool so we called him David Suzuki.

[@brandonnickerson8934]

Just turned 49. 6’4” 360lb. I’m sure I look like a gorilla on a bicycle. I adore my 2009 Candy Wineberry Honda Silver Wing 650cc scooter. It’s my halfabusa. Mirror extensions and removed lumbar pad. $15 in mods. Great vid yam

[@IsoarashiMitsu]

Honestly I really love sport bikes my dream bikes being either a Aprilia RSV4 or a Kawasaki ZX10RR , but you might be right about my tastes changing when I get older. I just bought my first bike a Aprilia RS125. But I also really like the ascetics of a naked bike Like the Kawasaki Z900 or a KTM duke. I really want to build up to the high end sport bikes when I finally get to my full A licence but, maybe my mind will change once my back starts to complain.

[@BobTaylorCruising]

A coworker has an R1. He loves the power. He lives too far away to really commute the thing to work and, instead, rides to the beach on it on summer days. I bought a cruiser for comfort and am close enough to commute to work. Th R1 is a bit too much of a rack for that sort of use for me. The Triumph triples make more sense for both flexible use and power to me. Race bikes and traffic don't get along very well.

[@badulai4329]

For me as a 24 year old there is no cooler motorcycle than my 93 white/pink/purple Honda SC28 with twin headlights. But who knows what it will look like in a few years. A 750 Four or GT750 is also interesting :).

[@adrianberoiz2175]

For me if Its fun is cool, enduro bikes, sportbikes, a god damn GROM, that type of stuff

[@Genod3500]

For me its the personality of them. For example. My 02' drz, is covered in cracked plastics, wierd oil stains, scratches, caked in mud, and lil power mods. Its cool because the bike is used and clearly loved enough to ride everywhere. My Harley is a 180. Paint that is a mirror, white walls, after market everything, and 70k on the clock from daily use at one point and cross country.

[@MotoRide.]

Double exhausts on my Z1000SX are the epitome of cool.

[@joeromano5128]

Don’t care what people think I’ve had many bikes come and go but my high school sweetheart 1983 gs 1100e i bought new my senior year is cool to me .

[@robhayes8295]

I have 2 bikes - a 21' 650 Versys (I love it but it's not 'cool') and 07' Z1000 (now that's a cool bike). I love them both for different reasons.

[@TheHiszpanTV]

I've owned many sport bikes, from zx6s, r6s, RS660, F3RR, F3RC and only a handful of naked bikes like the gsx8s and vitpilen 401, I currently only have the gsx8s - but god I'd trade that for an MV Agusta F3 without any hesitation, sport bikes are the ultimate bikes, they are the coolest and most beautiful bikes without a doubt.

[@BartoszNowak66]

Most of my friends ride bikes like StreetTriple 675, Z800, Tiger 660. I'm a kind of old soul for my age, I always loved rumbling V2s, but also looked for a "cool" factor and muscular build in a bike. That's why I went towards Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog. The bike is far from powerful with 65hp on board but it is massive, has proper torque, is driven by a shaft instead a chain and... well... is quite rare compared to most bikes of this type. Although I know Monster offers more power and performance-driven experience, I love how the Bulldog sounds, how it looks and how comfortable it is. Also, how many Yamahas designed and manufactured by the Italians, are there? :D Cool factor definitely is present.

[@IceBoNeZ]

80s & 90s iconic bikes are "cool".

[@akiuliano]

I like all the Italians. Aprilia, Guzzi, Ducati are all gorgeous bikes.

[@teagan73191]

Gold wing with communication headsets and hi vis rain suits are def the coolest tho

[@BrhatLee]

Personally I'm more into the 80's inline sport bikes, SECA 750, CBX inline-6 and the KZ1000. They all had a certain classy flare for the day that still turns heads.

[@dhc8guru]

When I was 17, I wanted an 1986 GSXR 750G. Probably if I road one today, it would feel like a fast death trap. But, it would be awesome to look at.

[@mattis117]

naked bikes vibe with me for some reason. but god damn the africa twin looks awesome. the 2010 s1000rr looks sexy as hell with that lazy eye look. but for me the new CB650R in red just speaks to me on an ethereal level. it is the bike of my dreams

[@1noetic]

Trellis frames, desmo valves and aircooled.

[@mikeythehat6693]

What makes a motorcycle cool? Being a Triumph Bonneville Bobber. That's all you need to know. I mean, all bikes are cool, that is true, but from time to time, one comes along that has a cool factor that nobody can deny.

[@jftalarico]

For me, it's a first-impression thing. If the shape/color/vibe strike me as pleasing, it's cool. A lot goes into that, like what kind of feel it gives off and how that matches with my personal aesthetic (retro, aggressive, classic, etc.). Then other factors pile on... - color (yes, yellow is usually a winner...except in the case of a Honda Fury - yuck) - history (bike model, mfr, and so on - think Triumph Bonneville or Ducati Monster, or even a Vespa) - uniqueness (are there 1000 within a mile, or is it a unicorn)

[@DedekMartin]

Even though I’m a big fan of MotoGP for many many years I never considered buying supersport. To me Supermotos are the coolest bikes. The name says it all!

[@wasawasablingbling]

The Buell Blast 500 has the ugliest foot peg hangers ever but I think that little single cylinder Harley engine is cool

[@leoveroude4492]

I agree, a cool little thing from Harley, er, Buell.

[@jonlee3081]

Hey, kid, the SV650 was very cool when it came out - everyone loved it. If you're trying to be cool - you're not cool...

[@leoveroude4492]

Yes!!!

[@fawkesandhound]

For me it’s about proportion and stance. With that, small is often better. Like I think a CB400-four turned into a cafe racer is the coolest thing. And yeah scooters are just gorgeous like the Vespa 125 Primavera was a work of art.

[@basithph8958]

To me it’s all about those graphics on the side

[@IceBoNeZ]

Eg. 90s sport bikes..

[@whatevermightwork]

I think it’s entirely subjective. To my mind, not much measures up to bikes like the Triumph Bonneville or Indian Scout. I’ll probably never ride a sport bike, I just don’t have enough desire, but a great paint job and a 70 degree lean into a corner makes for a really cool scene.

[@LordMcKrakenVonLittleBits]

Do you feel better after a ride than when you started, and does it give you that look back factor.

[@der_herm]

Obviously the Kawasaki Versys 650 is the coolest bike there is

[@GL4SS_20]

Yam, you should’ve waited for the new Triumph Tiger Sport 800..I feel like that is the perfect bike for you. I’m especially excited for the inevitable upcoming Trident 800! 🎉

[@izzojoseph2]

“What makes a motorcycle cool?” Proceeds to name every motorcycle… and I agree

[@ram.thiefer]

Currently trying to buy a 1991 Honda CBR250RR to fix up and use. 250cc 4cyl 45HP at 20,000RPM. They also sounds so cool above 10k rpm

[@anuworldorder]

All bikes are cool .... but it's the rider that makes it totally tubular 🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@Bybert-9ky]

At my age I may be at the end stage of taste evolution, but I love the Triumph Rocket 3 and the BMW R18 classic.

[@MastaKeahi]

Suzuki Katana my beloved. I wish I could get one in the US.

[@prototype9904]

My Suzuki TL1000S to \m/

[@ThisOldGuy3]

Certain Ducati's become ultimately even more cooler if they are in Tricolore paint scheme.🤘😎🏍

[@BUGBYTE_]

When I turn 50 I still don't think I would get a Harley. Maybe a Goldwing but not a Harley. I still miss my 94 katana 750 I had in college. The purple and black was hot. 💜 🖤

[@dannikerr5284]

i just got humble bandit but I love looking at it

[@D1XA]

5:15 I'm 35 and I still believe the coolest bike ever is the Ducati monster s4rs

[@anvilanvil1400]

I liked the look of the red 2024 CBR500R. The angles, color, and look of the bike sucked me in. I rode the bike at a dealership and felt good on it. I was hooked. People keep asking me when I'm going to upgrade. Right now, I don't know. It does everything I need and, hopefully just like my old Honda 6-speed manual car, reliably.

[@roberttee9790]

Any bike photographed with Steve McQueen is forever deemed "Cool"

[@AhmadAhmad-vm1xy]

Reliability and usability is the coolest thing abt most bikes

[@shadesXL1220]

You know it's funny, you can rattle off a hundred different reasons for what makes a bike cool but the only thing that makes the bike cool is the enthusiast and crowd that's looking at it. It just reminds me of the meme with a bike parked in the driveway that says, "we spend all this time and money and effort to make our motorcycles look cool too impress other guys." When I had my Honda Shadow, I couldn't be any more vanilla and blend into the background. Now that I have an interceptor 650, I get way more old dudes asking about my bike.hahaha

[@take5th]

I like a lean, flat-track looking bike, looks-wise. They attract my eye. the Indian FTR is an example. Another is the 1998 Harley XL1200S, which I bought new in 1998. Horrible to ride, wonderful to look at.

[@patricksandeberg8184]

Yammie in his 30’s. -I think all bikes are cool! Yammie in his early 20’s. -All sport bikes are cool! Unless it’s a Ninja 650!

[@TheOriginalJadolph]

Nah most fully faired harley style bikes are almost always lame, the minivans of motorcycles.

[@teagan73191]

Bikes that are fun to ride, and look intriguing/sexy/interesting and sound bad ass are cool -- coolest bikes IMO Ducati Scrambler Nightshift, MT-09 cyan/gray, Ducati Monster (many submodels), svartpilen 401, early 2000s Zx-6r in Kawi green

[@RichardWarsinske]

Your wrong Yam! SV650 was very cool in 1999 and still is in 2025.

[@user-pf4db4gf2s]

The now mothballed brand Star brand cruiser bikes from Yamaha are cool and can be found in great shape on the cheaps

[@Schlabbeflicker]

Cool factor case-in-point: the Hayabusa Dirt Bike build.

[@Jim_The_Country_Boy]

I love my 22 klr 650 adventure with the night camo I think it's a cool but also my 150 cc scooter is cool also just in different ways it's the character and the personality of the bike

[@Kingjames313]

Design, sound, makes girls wanna hop on back.

[@bluefrog8670]

As a KLR650 rider I love that it's the example of uncool. 😂

[@darkmxhishot7475]

The Zx-4RR as a major cool factor simply because of a small bore inline four

[@vincentcarri5962]

Hey Yam can you make a video about the new R3? It's looking way better and you yourself said it needed a desperate update.

[@camacdav000]

It’s hard for me watching yammie talk as he rides on a ADV bike😂