Hooniverse Asks- What’s The Coolest Bike Logo?

Robert Emslie

/comment

Comments

Bike Logos

 

Billy Crystal used to do this bit on Saturday Night Live called Fernando’s Hideaway in which he would intone in an over the top Latin accent that it is better to look mah-velous than to feel mah-velous. Fernando may not have been the best celebrity interviewer, but he did know a thing or two about the importance of presentation.

Many a motorcycle maker over the decades has likewise understood that a badge with some bling could be the only thing separating them from immortality and historical irrelevance. That’s why they put almost as much effort into their logo’s creation as they did in the machines that carried them.

Like baseball, motorcycle manufacture is tradition born in the 19th Century and carried through into our current age. And over the course of all those decades there have been hundreds if not thousands of discrete makes and models, many with intriguing badges. Out of all of those, which one do you think looks the most mah-velous? 

Image source: ThatManStu

About

Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

42 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What’s The Coolest Bike Logo?”

  1. onrails Avatar
    onrails

    I've always been partial to this one…
    <img src="http://www.mototype.com/pics/4720/full/ducati_meccanica_logo.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  2. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    As a non-biker I think this one sums up most bikers:
    <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/imgspark.com/images/l/ad6495f3205dae790cbfac2b185c4463.png"width=400&gt;
    I can just imagine how cool it is to say "I ride a NUT."

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      I'm not sure I'd say that.

      Reply
      1. Number_Six Avatar
        Number_Six

        Kind of describes the seat on my Kawasaki…

        Reply
  3. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Also, BSA, because what's not to like about having a Martini-Henry rifle on your logo.
    <img src="http://m3.i.pbase.com/o6/99/476599/1/102044273.R2LqOXl9.IMG_E_5523a_resize.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      BSA stayed cool right up to the end. Their "Power & Glory" logo from the last few years of production never appeared on a bike but was used in all their US ads and promotional materials. IMHO, it captures the zeitgeist of the era perfectly. It's half Peter Fonda, half Pete Townshend. In high school I had a cloth patch with this logo on it, and I thought it was da bomb. Never sewed it on anything, though, and I have no idea what ever happened to it.
      <img src="http://tanshanomi.com/temp/bsa_logo_official.png&quot; width="500">

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        Along the same lines, I've thought a new BMW MINI needs a roof with a Union Jack, but with the blue and white replaced with gold and black. It might work in America, but I'm sure it would piss off both English and Germans.

        Reply
  4. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    The logo of the P135.
    <img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4077/4916779741_e02a0fdca5_b.jpg&quot; width="670/">

    Reply
  5. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    Ducati likes to change its logos fairly often. This is my favorite. At the moment.
    <img src="http://gasolineandadrenaline.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/ducati-meccanica.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  6. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    Not only did Rex have a really cool logo, I love the way they mirrored it for each side of the tank.
    <img src="http://tanshanomi.com/temp/rex_logo_R-L.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  7. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
    Irishzombieman☆

    I've always loved the simplicity of Norton's logo.
    <img src="http://www.mototype.com/pics/4698/full/norton_logo_1.jpg&quot; width=400>

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      Suzuki's, too, for the same reason.
      <img src="http://cdn-1.famouslogos.us/images/suzuki-logo.jpg&quot; width="400/">

      Reply
    2. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      Since my Norton logo disappeared above:
      <img src="http://goo.gl/rDaIi&quot; width=400>

      Reply
  8. Number_Six Avatar
    Number_Six

    The Benelli logo cracks me up because the lion isn't really fierce, it's more like, "hey you guys see that over there? What the hell is that thing?" Of course it's likely pointing at a Benelli bike.
    <img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSOhpMbEUD2J1yPLFc5J-Xw05ovwaHp6ZQlNoK9iY5QymFYaLVCfg&quot; />
    <img src="http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/images/mben2.jpg&quot; />

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      As opposed to the Montgomery Wards badge seen on many Benelli bikes sold in the US.
      <img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Montgomery-Wards-Cobra-Mojave-125-to-360-Badge-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$T2eC16VHJGwE9n)yTe(cBQD!!bF9YQ~~60_35.JPG"width=500>

      Reply
    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      Or "Rowr, I'm a dangerous kitty. Get back or I'll give you a mean scratch that could get infected. Rowr."

      Reply
      1. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
        BlackIce_GTS

        A cat's retractable claw pockets are marvelous environments for bacteria, a cat scratch is quite likely to get infected.

        Reply
        1. ptschett Avatar
          ptschett

          And then you get cat scratch fever.
          [youtube Zh0iDVsmLqw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh0iDVsmLqw youtube]

          Reply
  9. Garland137 Avatar
    Garland137

    <img src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/542343_143996109092176_82971037_n.jpg"&gt;
    Can't beat the classics.

    Reply
    1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      Except that's not the classic logo. That's the Hinkley Triumph logo.
      <img src="http://www.daisytaylordecals.com/ekmps/shops/vlbowers/images/2-x-old-style-triumph-logo-motorbike-tank-stickers-decals-180mm-x-55mm-1077-p.jpg"width=500&gt;

      Reply
  10. 1slowvw Avatar
    1slowvw

    Why didn't GasGas make the list? I see that Bultaco did but no GasGas…kind of makes me sad. If their logo lacks anything it's made up for by their bikes awesomeness. I'm guessing this image was put together some time ago, perhaps pre-dating some of the modern manufacturers.
    I see no KTM either, I find that there simplistic logo was very well done.

    Reply
    1. Number_Six Avatar
      Number_Six

      I think the idea is you dig them up and post them.

      Reply
      1. 1slowvw Avatar
        1slowvw

        <img src="http://www.dkbikespares.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/400px-Logo-gasgas-distrisud-com.jpg"&gt;

        Reply
  11. scroggzilla Avatar
    scroggzilla

    Also one of my favorite Cream songs.
    <img src="http://www.mototype.com/pics/4697/small/nsu_logo_1913.gif"&gt;

    Reply
  12. joshwebster84 Avatar
    joshwebster84

    Ignoring the bikes themselves, an just looking at the logos I hav to go with Honda's winged logo. Just looks badass. I think we can all agree though that we would rather see anything but HD at this point.

    Reply
  13. Impalamino Avatar
    Impalamino

    <img src= "http://www.logosdatabase.com/logoimages/85091531.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  14. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Because Quadrifoglio
    <img src="http://d1bvwu150pv3d4.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ossa-moto-logo.JPG"&gt;

    Reply
  15. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
    ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

    <img src="http://www.historia.swidnik.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/640x480f/images/350662485.jpg"&gt; You just have to understand, logos were pretty unusual in Poland and if there were any they were very plain. This flying bird was way cool for the time.

    Reply
  16. Kogashiwa Avatar
    Kogashiwa

    I think the Yamaha phoenix logo actually predates their motorcycle efforts, but I still want to put one on my FZ1.
    <img src="http://www.musicasa.tv/images/phoenix_logo.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  17. K5ING Avatar
    K5ING

    I've liked the Thor Motorcycles logo, but mainly because they were built in my hometown of Aurora, IL. It's the same company that makes Thor power tools in fact.
    <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/imgspark.com/images/l/4252441fb944474748ea14faa5072699.png&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  18. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    Bimota's is simple but stylish, though some might call it dated.
    <img src="http://www.motocykl-praha.cz/veletrh_motocykl_cz/images/resize/meteorsport/bimota-logo_600x402.jpg&quot; width="500" />

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      If you want to have one of those classic, beloved, timeless logos such as Coca-Cola, Ford, et. al., you have to maintain them long enough to survive their inevitable dated period.

      Reply
    2. gomerpig Avatar
      gomerpig

      Kinda reminds me of
      <img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQuslZ8RU_C-vGblrB2l0lCkhaBMcPkG5nOH2JkSIvbiuPi4KX-&quot; width="300">

      Reply
  19. pj134 Avatar
    pj134

    Hammarhead is very clean to me. Don't know if it counts though…
    <img src="http://hammarhead.com/img/header_logo.png&quot; width="500/">
    It's white text… shit.
    Here:
    <img src="http://theamericanclassic.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/dsc4003-13.jpg&quot; width=500>

    Reply
  20. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    <img src="http://tanshanomi.com/temp/tansha-logo-history.png"&gt;

    Reply
    1. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
      BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

      1954 and 1988 FTW

      Reply
  21. mallthus Avatar
    mallthus

    <img src="http://www.mototype.com/pics/4665/small/ural_logo_1.gif"&gt;
    (That's Ural, for those of you not used to Cyrillic scripts.)

    Reply
  22. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
    BlackIce_GTS

    Made Like a Gun: Powered by Explosions
    —
    edit: yes of course someone already mentioned Benelli. Why would I think they hadn't?

    Reply
  23. RobbyDeGraff Avatar
    RobbyDeGraff

    I've always liked Honda's, Moto Guzzi's and Indian Motorcycle's

    Reply
  24. Tauseef ahsan Avatar
    Tauseef ahsan

    Nice Logos

    Reply
  25. http://teenyweenyurl.com/CleanseCatalyst399090 Avatar
    http://teenyweenyurl.com/CleanseCatalyst399090

    This post is genuinely a pleasant one it helps new net users,
    who are wishing in favor of blogging.

    Reply
  26. Muscle building workout plan Avatar
    Muscle building workout plan

    I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of space
    . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site.
    Studying this info So i’m glad to exhibit that I’ve an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed.
    I so much certainly will make certain to don?t forget this site and provides it a glance
    on a relentless basis.

    Reply