TOP 10 motorcycle and scooter designs of 2019

whilst electrification took charge in 2018, highly dramatic, sculptural shapes formed our image of motorcycles in 2019. electrical powertrains and digitialization took the pillion seat so to say, enhancing their designs and experiences in the background while beautiful forms took center stage – just look at BMW’s heritage-inspired R18 for example. these projects ranged from custom builds and large-scale production models to conceptual ideas. as our list shows, motorcycles in 2019 highlighted how the trend of electrification does not mean boring, slow and ugly at all…

continuing our yearly reviews, we look back at the TOP 10 motorcycle and scooter designs of 2019 that grabbed our and, most importantly, designboom readers’ attention over the past 12 months.

1 – krautmotors unveils bauhaus-inspired BMW motorrad F 850 GS custom bike

inspired by the bauhaus centennial, the BMW motorrad F 850 GS custom bike is krautmotor’s latest conversion, dubbed the ‘bauhaus 100‘. the motorcycle bursts with creativity as it combines retro vibes with distinctive modern elements, such as a modified R60/6 frame that was stretched and widened to reference the model B3 chair (also known as the wassily chair) by marcel breuer. these minimalistic yet striking features result in an artistic reinterpretation of the legendary /5 classic of 1969.

2 – aston martin’s first motorcycle is ‘automotive art for the motorbike connoisseur’

british sports car manufacturer aston martin has unveiled its first motorcycle — the AMB 001. developed in collaboration with brough superior, the limited edition vehicle boasts exclusive technical features, including a chassis configuration with a double wishbone front fork and structural carbon fiber body. intended for track use only, the bike is presented in the traditional aston martin racing colors of stirling green and lime essence with matte black wheels, forks, and brake assemblies. the design debuted at EICMA 2019 in milan.

3 – curtiss motorcycles unleashes striking hades model that looks like a pistol

4 – BMW motorrad concept R18 is ‘an analogue statement in a digital age’

against the backdrop of a bustling mix of the traditional and the modern on show at the concorso d’eleganza villa d’este, BMW motorrad presents an engaging alternative. conceived as a return to the brand’s core but with a modern twist, the BMW motorrad concept R18 focuses on maximizing a bike’s most fundamental components. the boxer engine, cradle frame, exposed universal shaft and drop-shaped fuel tank with its black paintwork and hand-applied contrast lines interpret typical design icons of BMW motorrad classics.

5 – death machines of london dresses kenzo motorcycle in samurai armor

death machines of london reimagined a 1977 honda gold wing to create its ‘most radical machine to date’. inspired by the overlaps of early samurai armor, the body of the motorcycle utilizes mixed media panels that have been meticulously finished with slow, smooth curves. they meet with razor-sharp folds, while the insert grill was made possible with 3D printing. to the rear, a radical twin-shock cantilever system achieves a more visually balanced back-end that allows the redesigned swingarm to be clearly viewed.

6 – the BMW motorrad vision DC roadster is an emotional naked bike with electric drive

BMW motorrad turns electric as heritage meets an exciting new type of riding pleasure. the BMW motorrad vision DC roadster sees the 2-cylinder boxer engine – a key element of the motorrad identity for more than 90 years – replaced with a battery while retaining its iconic appearance. fitted vertically and oriented longitudinally, the battery is positioned at the center of a frame milled from aluminum. to mark the occasion, a fluorescent play of light has been incorporated into the bike’s design.

7 – CAKE’s ösa electric motorcycle doubles as a customizable workbench on wheels

CAKE has launched a new electric motorcycle platform that doubles up as a mobile power station and customizable worktop. known as the cake ‘ösa’, the modular design comes with over 1,000 possible combinations to power various on- and off-grid pursuits. it comes in two different builds with higher and lower speed/power options. this includes two battery options: either a lean 1.5kwh or a 2.6kwh, the latter offering a range of up to 63 miles (100 km).

8 – an original volkswagen beetle was taken apart to create these mini bikes

custom build specialist brent walter has taken apart an original volkswagen beetle to create two retro-styled mini bikes. called the ‘volkspod’, walter repurposes the fenders from a type 1 model, melding them together to create a custom frame. shaped to include a head and tail-light system, a 79cc volkswagen engine (a 212cc for the blue) sits beneath the body.

9 – curtiss zeus releases jet-black, futuristic, electric bobber motorcycle

hot on the heels of its ‘hera’ release, curtiss zeus has revealed a jet-black electric motorcycle that’s strikingly futuristic. built with an aluminum frame, the modular-looking ‘bobber’ features sleek curves, a glossy black finish, and solid carbon wheels. the electric bike is super light, weighing in at just 475 pounds. with the capability of going 0-100 in 2.1 seconds, it packs a lithium-ion battery which can push the vehicle up to 280 miles.

10 – pierre terblanche designs futuristic ‘BST hyperTEK’ electric motorcycle

image by berry white photography

south africa-based carbon fiber wheel manufacturer blackstone (BST) revealed the product of its collaboration with pierre terblanche, former director of design for ducati, on its first in-house electric motorcycle — the BST hyperTEK. the futuristic bike showcases a handful of impressive features that are set to pave a new path in the electric motorcycle industry. it comes with a DHX hawk motor, allowing up to 107 horsepower and 88 ft-lb of torque. fully electric, the motorcycle can travel up to 186 miles fully charged, and only requires 30 minutes to charge, using the DC fast charger.