Even we had to read the press release twice, where it stated that the one-off MV Agusta F4Z was the first motorcycle ever styled by Zagato. “Huh? The first?” Seeing this bike’s curves made us wonder something else: if this isn’t the world’s prettiest motorcycle, what is?
The details of this creation aren’t well-known at this point, beyond a few items: it’s one-off, and styled for a “Japanese entrepreneur, collector of Zagato cars as well as Italian motorbikes”—someone we’ll happily buy a drink for, naturally. The finished motorcycle relies upon aluminum and carbon fibre materials for its bodywork, arranged using, “a limited number of relatively large panels: this is the characteristic that, in the motorcar world, sets apart collectibles from mass produced automobiles,” said Zagato in a release.
Based on the production F4, it sports completely unique intake manifolds, exhaust, fuel tank, and battery, because Zagato began with “the notion that a motorbike expresses its owner’s lifestyle a lot more than a car. Therefore, it was essential to know and understand the character, passions and wishes of the person to whom the bike was destined”. As a result, you’re looking at what “a young Japanese businessman, president of a holding with interests in the fashion and publishing sectors” wanted in a bike.
For what it’s worth, we think he’s got great taste. Surely, many of you disagree—so let’s get back to the question of truly beautiful motorcycle.
1970s Ducatis must be among the contenders for such an award, as are simple-in-form faired-in ‘dustbin’ streamliners…until a BMW R60 thumps by, its mix of visible mechanical components and the occasional flourish as a great example of timeless design.
With tens of millions of customized motorcycles running around, it’s clearly a subjective topic…but one we’re asking anyway. Who designed the most beautiful motorcycle?
Images via: Ted Gushue, Jose Gallina, flickr.com, bikeexif.com, catalog-moto.com
