Top 10 Hipster Motorcycles

What all the cool kids are riding

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February 21, 2013 56

#10 – Grandpa’s Old Wing

Honda Goldwing Wheelie

For the record, Editor Duke does have a full-time job. And this is it.

Hipsters love anything vintage. If someone’s grandpa wore it, read it, used it or rode it, a hipster’s gotta have it. For that fact alone, Honda’s venerable Gold Wing, and even the original, pre-scootered GL500 Silver Wing, are faves in downtown Hipsterville. They’re fairly easy to work on, look great stripped as seen here on Pipeburn, and it’s no secret that a properly maintained Wing should hum forever. It takes a seasoned rider to handle a bike so hefty, though, and it’s about as hard to find a hipster who’s a seasoned rider as it is to find one who has a full-time job.

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  • Bill Laudeman

    Whew! I was afraid I’d see my Helix in that list, but thankfully hipsters haven’t discovered that best-of-all-scooter with its highway comfort and urban performance.

    Oh — and they don’t give me “the wave” either!

  • Tony

    They look like real douches…

  • Huddy

    To the sad old man that wrote this article: just because you don’t have an interesting life doesn’t mean you need to put other people down for enjoying their lives.

  • jon

    The bicycle with the little engine in the photo is made by Derringer Cycles. They are currently using four stroke engines. How about you test one? They are made to look like old board track racers. I think, correct me if I’m wrong, the Vespa scooter is one of the newer models? Maybe an S150? Love the old Honda four cylinder cafe bike. I bought a new 1976 Honda CB750K model that year. Rode a Honda Ruckus for a few years. Cool little scooter, but slow as a slug. Like 20 mph uphill? But the 95 mpg was good. Owned a 2007 Royal Enfield Bullet Classic. Fun bike to ride, but cruising over 50 mph wasn’t advisable (unlike the newer ones that can do US freeways). I never got the attention, in over 50 years of riding and owning some 25 motorcycles, that I got when riding the Enfield. Stopped at a Starbucks and three unrelated people walked up to me to check the bike. Guys would run across 6 lanes of city streets to check out the bike. 85 mpg was nice too.

  • Ryan

    Ouch… Maybe I need to find a different Motorcycle blog to read everyday.

  • Ryan

    I mean, this makes you sound like an old man sitting on his porch yelling at kids to get off your lawn. And, directly underneath this story under “related posts” is an article on how great the new Thruxton is. Can’t have it both ways.

  • Colin

    I Googled “Triumph Hipsters”…not what I was expecting.

  • http://www.motorcycle.com Jon Langston

    Ha! Just having a bit of fun, Ryan…. and Colin, you’re welcome ;)

  • EP Sato

    Whoever wrote this article posted a photo of a so called “modern Vespa” and not a “vintage Vespa.” If you’re going to make fun of the ride, at least make sure the photo is accurate.

    A vintage Vespa would be something like a Vespa P200, a Vespa VBB, a Vespa GS, etc. Basically, a Vespa with a 4 speed manual shifter. The POS in the photo is a Vespa ET, which is a “twist and go.” No hipster who rides vintage would be caught dead riding one of those.

  • Black visor

    They ride SR400 cafe racers, without realising that the “race” bit os more important thna the “Cafe” bit, so they don’t go fast, and just park at cafes. So “decaf soy latte racer” is a more appropriate term for their bikes.
    They worship bike-exif website so they all fit “Die-Yung” f***stone tyres cos they look cool but don’t grip, they take off front mudguards because they don’t have the skill to fit anything, just take it off, they wrap their exhaust downpipes in bandage, they fit clip ons but never rearsets (too hard) so their riding position looks like a constipated frog, and daftest of all, they try to customise the ugliest 80′s bikes ever. CX500 cafe racer? Superdream bobber? Yep, seen them all in Melbourne, Australia

  • mkv

    This new format rocks!!!

  • http://www.motorcycle.com Jon Langston

    EP – that Vespa pic is from the Paste Magazine feature “The Evolution of the Hipster” that the blurb refers to …

  • Kevin

    Yup, they’re all about motorcycles here in SF. Much like they did with nice bicycles I’m sure they’ll douche motorcycle up too.

    It would be a big deal if they respected the hobbies they ran to like rats, but they don’t. Motorcycles are just another way to be ironic.

    Silly rabbits

  • Doc

    Hey, what about Sportsters? Glaring omission.

  • free

    The writer got called an old Man! Hahahaha
    What music do moped riding cHipsters listen to while on their Puche? Cheap Trick…. bwhaaha
    Whats the difference between a Hipster and a swaggart. ? Hipsters use purses, swaggarts have swag hags carry their stuff for them.

  • Rufi000000

    Glad I’m not the first person to be put off by the tone of this whole thing. When writing a piece about motorcycles that are popular with hipsters it seems you should maybe think about the possibility of some of them reading it.

  • Adam

    I have an old moped. I love riding it, and really love working on it.
    I also have a motorized bicycle.
    I’m definitely not a hipster. I just really enjoy riding.

    And pretension is usually irritating, whether its from hipsters, or bitter online magazine columnists.

  • Brad

    Can’t wait to see your top 10 redneck/douchebag/thug motorcycles post.

  • wow

    I really hope the author wasn’t paid for this trash. Its a rehash of every complaint the old, irrelevant or insecure writers of the past 6 years have against the generation behind them or the peers they are envious of. I’ve read the same garbage in food, motorcycle, and news publications. Just replace motorcycles with clothes, restaurants or beer. How about some real content?

  • hipster

    Drippin’ Stains. Splittin’ Lanes…… sorry gramps. and yeah, poorly written.

  • Alan

    Oooh, big man taking a swing at “hipsters,” aka ‘hitting a volleyball off a tee-ball stand.’

    God forbid anyone under 35 do anything these days for fear of “ruining it” for the Boomers – I mean, motorcycling should definitely not be about self-expression, camaraderie, and shit, even fun – everyone should ride the same Harley fatboy and/or $20k BMW touring with a SERIOUS DEMEANOR.

    And while my short beard and ‘urban lifestyle’ might belie my denial of hipsterdom, my FZR 600 sadly did not make the list. I do however look forward to the article in two years when you catch up to actual trends telling me that I’m a total twat for ruining 1980′s RR’s for the aged among us.

    But hey, I read it, so you got your rise. Enjoy your relaxed-fit dad jeans and irrelevancy.

  • Shawn

    Look, people, you need to learn to relax a bit. It was a piece written from a sarcastic tone about hipsters. Yes, he played on what he thought the general opinion of his demographic is. It would seem that they think that a good chunk of the readers of this site agree with the opinions about hipsters. Or, maybe they just thought hipsters would have a sense of humor. I like a lot of the bikes shown here. I LOOOVE cafe racers, even though most of the bikes used to make them were created before I was born. I love scooters, nothing more fun playing around in the neighborhoods. I also love modern bikes. One thing I don’t: cruisers. But I do know plenty of cruiser riders, I give everyone I pass on two wheels the wave (scooter, dirtbike, street bike, POS cruiser ;) doesn’t matter to me. Am I a hipster? According to this article, yes. Luckily, I don’t define myself based on what some guy on the other side of the country writes in his motorcycle blog. I like what I like because I like it. And I liked this article. I found it entertaining that it was written from the perspective of a jaded rider from a few generations ago. Stereotypes are funny, remember? Please don’t bitch and moan on here so much that we end up with tired, generic, emotionless reporting. Otherwise you’ll just be proving that you’re a pussy the way that this article might imply ;-) Jon Langston: thank you sir, may I have another?

  • Shawn

    Oh, and it looks like the author (or the editor at least) just *MAY* be a hipster himself. Do I detect a little sarcasm here, Mr Langston? Look, he’s even riding a Bonne! http://blog.motorcycle.com/2012/11/05/industry-news/motorcycle-com-adds-a-new-editor/ Moral of the story: Wash the sand out of your vaginas and read the freakin article. Sheesh!

  • Dean

    the author of the article must be chuckling at the obvious ‘hipster’ commentary. sure hit a nerve! part of the definiton of hipster is taking oneself a little too seriously isn’t it? the american hipster is clearly not known for its sense of irony, bwahaahaa :) greetings from down under

  • Poolian

    As much as it bugs me to see dummies throw some clipons on a cb750 and then ride like a turd, what I love to see is people supporting hard working bike shops and custom builders, which is what these “hipsters” do. Also i love to see many of my “hipster” friends riding and building new unique amazing bikes. Dont forget that its possible to be fun, good looking, AND able to weld, tune, fabricate, ride intelligently, even race, all at the same time. Oh also a great way to instantly turn off hot tatooed babes is to use the word hpster like its going out of style. Of course i am sure the author only fancies the finest juggalo trash wives anyhow. Now theres a top ten list: “10 bikes that go great with Faygo and Jncos”

    By the way if you even tried to learn about the group before trash talking, you would know we traded in our CB550s for KLRs a long time ago. Get with the program you old grumpy fart.

  • Prentice

    Replace the Sportster “Seventy-Two” with Ironheads and this list is completely accurate.

  • Justin Cole

    Wow. John Langston. You’re kind of a dick.

    More people on motorcycles is a good thing. Even the ones I don’t want to hangout with. Like: Suburban kids with helmet mowhawks; dentists with chromed out baggers polished to perfection sitting in the Starbuck’s parking lot; bank and tech execs with the newest most powerful Italian superbike doing a buck eighty down the front straight only to stand it up in the corner; if some of these people hangout long enough they might actually get it. They might learn to ride and wrench and wear appropriate gear.

    I really hope someone didn’t actually pay you to compose this trite piece of shit.

  • Stuped

    just the act of writing this makes the author a hipster, themselves.

  • mvz

    Ha, lotsa panties in a wad here. Writer did a good job of poking fun at all u douchey hipsters. What a fun read!

  • Space chip

    You’re a jackass, you missed honda mb5, also vintage Vespa doesn’t mean scooter it means a ciao or a bravo. Don’t be a dick to someone having a good time, at least they care about old shitty mopeds and motorcycles that would get trashed otherwise. Jackasses like you who have work done at a shop and cant wrench on theyre on bikes raise the costs of these bikes for us that actually care about them.

  • Bike EXIF

    What about the Yamaha SR series and XS650, and the Moto Guzzi Le Mans? No collection of hipster bikes is complete without those perennials, especially if they’re also sporting pipewrap and vintage Firestone rubber.

  • Bikeguy Joe

    Funny how the hipsters seem to be the only ones offended, and ironically, the only ones who miss the irony of the article.

  • dm

    Wow, having ridden a 1973 Honda CB 350 during the late 80′s, I was a pre-hipster. But seriously, that bike was so much fun, what great memories.

  • kevin

    most of that stuff is junk only good stuff is the boonie, cb750 and maybe the hd, wheres the kaw 3 cyl bikes for the real men out there!

  • 2 strokelife

    Wow douche, going after mopeds, moped gangs AND moped army? Hmm. I have an idea. How about you bring whatever shit bike you buy parts for to the next rally (they are practically every weekend all over the country)And identify yourself as the blowjob who wrote this crap? My guess is you won’t because we would kick your fucking teeth in.

  • Moped

    Come to a rally douche and identify yourself. I shove my (hipster) moped through your dentures.

  • James Kemp

    Soon they’ll start ruining your RVing, too.

  • Hardly Everrun

    Soon, they’ll start playing golf, and RV’ing. Is there any fun left to wring out of those things before they get their hands on them?

  • http://www.motorcycle.com Jon Langston

    You guys are crackin’ me up…. ;)

  • Cole Doubt

    ahahaha what’s a hipster?
    GOLDWINGS. REALLY.
    Hey you forgot a few? What about stretched out busas, go-peds, electric lawnmowers and tricycles?
    Shit, I used to be a hipster before it was cool.
    damn hipsters going around trying to be trendy and doing the things I like to do, but for all the wrong reasons!
    Time to find a new hobby.
    Guess i’ll go check out the blogs on pogosticks.com

  • Marco

    So basically hipsters like all the same bikes that everyone else does? Good job grandpa.

  • Ducatiotter

    Quite amused at the haters of this article. You take yourselves way to seriously. I could care less what you ride, only how you ride as that reflects on me. If you ride like an Asshat at least stay on campus so the rest of us riding to “Work” aren’t grouped in with you.

  • Bankerdanny

    Crap, I have two, a ’77 CB550 (my second in 3 years, although the current one is a basket case) and a ’77 Goldwing. I had a Royal Enfield, but I sold it in 2006 (wish I had it back though).

    Thank goodness I’m almost 48, have no tatoos, and wear comfortable jeans. Otherwise I could lose my life long geek status.

  • Dan Palmer

    Oh, and like Jon, the 4th commenter, my Enfield (2002 Bullet 500ES) got more attention and compliments than any bike I have owned. Even the hard core tatted and bearded Harley guys loved it.

  • Triton Caferacer

    Every time I kick start my Triton, another hipster dies.

  • ed

    I was wondering why im seeing all the old honda CBs’
    for insane money, more than triumphs, all these Hipsters
    are driving up the prices of these 30 year old Hondas.

  • Barfbag

    “Moped Amy” lol! “I’ll ride to your house…real slow on my moped and then I’ll get out a can of asswhip and use it on you!!! I imagine the voice of Cartman when younguys bitch.

  • ron bucholtz

    Being the owner of most of these bikes from a reiley moped to enfield 350 ,hond cb 750 ,kw 3cyl 500,hond gold wing 1ooo ,xlch 883 ,also gorgie scooter ,bmw r75-5 ,bsa 650 ,triumph 650 norton 750 ,etc etc they where all fun to own and ride i always give the biker wave to every type of biker we are all bikers at heart even hells angels just have fun enjoy your ride with the wind in your hair and bugs in out teeth have fun be safe and quit bitchen !

  • Jaymie

    You guys mentioned the unreliability of Royal Enfield, but not that of the Ural?

  • http://www.motorcycle.com Jon Langston

    “People who legitimately enjoy all the trappings on hipsterhood — the authors mention Pabst Blue Ribbon, Puma, and the trucker hat — must psychologically distance themselves from the demographic group of which they are so clearly a part. And so their subconscious brains have to work double time so that they can convince themselves that the things they buy do not reflect on their true character.”
    The Sad Science of Hipsterism
    The Psychology of Indie Bands, PBR and Weird Facial Hair
    Psycholoigy Today, Sept 8, 2010
    http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201304/the-power-loners/hipsters-why-feigning-out-group-status-is-in

  • Will

    …I have yet to see a Hipster on anything OTHER then a moped of some sort…

  • yodathesith

    Jon you set the tone (and intent) of this article using words such as annoying, entitled, oblivious and indifferent to describe Hipsters. You shouldn’t be “cracked up” by the reaction, it should make you wince. You had the opportunity to write something creative, light and socially relevant. Instead your publication has the dubious honour of sponsoring something lowbrow and base. Shake it off, stand straight and throw your shoulders back – and those knuckles shall certainly leave the ground.

  • DannyCB

    I’m guessing that a few years ago Mr. Angry Author was railing against the loathesome “metro-sexuals” that hardly even existed as well. The term “hipster” is a largely empty term that will mostly be forgotten a few years hence. One can only hope that the author grants the same level of derision to the weekend warrior tough guy crowd of Harley riders who have helped revive the motorcycle industry when they aren’t selling people insurance or fixing other’s teeth. The only thing I find more disheartening than these young tattooed “whipper-snappers” is a bitter old man who thinks he owns the sport of motorcycling. Get to the back of the pack Pops. You don’t own motorcycling and no one ever has.

  • Nicholas

    This article oozes with loathing and impotence. A motorcycle publication writer should welcome more enthusiasts into the family, yet here you are deriding new entrants for flimsy superficial reasons. When is it going to stop being fashionable to bash hipsters (a group that people cant even define anymore)?

  • Josh

    This article is spot on…except you totally omitted sportsters—any and all (affordable) sportster years and models. Sportsers with ammo box saddlebags and hardtail kits, sawed off struts, upside down mirrors and no blinkers.Anyone who does not understand this article is simply ignorant of the hipster culture. They simply do not understand that hipsters hate all of you who stand up for them more than the haters themselves, because even they know you don’t get it.

  • http://www.motorcycle.com Jon Langston

    FINALLY someone gets it. Thanks Josh.