Ok, so I am partial to my 2001 M900, which was at the tail end of the first generation of styling (actually, I think it was 1.5 generation, but whatever). As a comparison, here are the two:
What I like about the 2001 is that:
- The tank shape flows more. The new tank looks like the designer stopped for a coffee break and never bother to finish smoothing the lines.
- Also notice that the seat and tank seem to be one long sweep, whereas in the new version they appear more like a block out of which a large bite was taken to accommodate the rider's ass.
- The trestle frame is more rigid and symmetrical. The new one looks like a kid that couldn't draw very well tried to copy the old one. I get that the frame is not simply a styling element and serves a functional aspect, but the new one looks incomplete or designed by a committee.
- The front fender follows the shape of the wheel and, being black (or "carbon fibre color") it blends in with the tire and is more inconspicuous. The new one doesn't flow:see how is kinda bends back up when it crosses the fork? Also, the white pops against the tire and draws attention, whereas on the old one as I mentioned it blends with the tire, so the attention is drawn to the tank and frame, which really is the prettiest part of the original monster design.
- The chicken wing rear sets are ugly, I grant that error. The new bike wins out here.
- One of the nices and most subtle things (which I enhanced by painting both parts black) is that the belt cover and the swing arm are in line with each other, making for a nice flow of concept. It's as if one were the continuation of the other. This is what good design is all about: lines that curve and sweep only to disappear and reappear as if they were connected. The new monsters have lost that and that is my biggest style complaint.
Ok, I get that I'm nitpicking, but it's raining here so I've got a lot of free time today...
