Symmetry

[Buffalohead_imp]

My Hawk GT would qualify as intentionally anti-symmetrical with its exhaust on the right side and the single sided swingarm on the left. Back in '88 I thought it was one of the coolest bikes I had ever laid eyes on. I might be in need of counseling.

In all honesty, I can very much understand the desire for visual symmetry and the sense of calm it brings. Ironically, the rear view of the bike is the one that highlights best the most non-symmetrical things about any bike: the offset required on the drive system side.

I rode BMW's for eons. The late model bikes have no swing-arm on the left because the shaft-drive/swing-arm on the right side is the whole shabang (it's opposite on some models). The rear wheel bolts on like a car wheel with no symmetry. It's works good but I always thought it looked weird.

[Mick65_imp]

My Hawk GT would qualify as intentionally anti-symmetrical with its exhaust on the right side and the single sided swingarm on the left. Back in '88 I thought it was one of the coolest bikes I had ever laid eyes on. I might be in need of counseling.

In all honesty, I can very much understand the desire for visual symmetry and the sense of calm it brings. Ironically, the rear view of the bike is the one that highlights best the most non-symmetrical things about any bike: the offset required on the drive system side.

I rode BMW's for eons. The late model bikes have no swing-arm on the left because the shaft-drive/swing-arm on the right side is the whole shabang (it's opposite on some models). The rear wheel bolts on like a car wheel with no symmetry. It's works good but I always thought it looked weird.

I rode BMW's for eons. The late model bikes have no swing-arm on the left because the shaft-drive/swing-arm on the right side is the whole shabang (it's opposite on some models). The rear wheel bolts on like a car wheel with no symmetry. It's works good but I always thought it looked weird.
It needed to be like that because my 1150rt used to eat rear tyres and it was an easy job to take of the rear wheel.

My Hawk GT would qualify as intentionally anti-symmetrical with its exhaust on the right side and the single sided swingarm on the left. Back in '88 I thought it was one of the coolest bikes I had ever laid eyes on. I might be in need of counseling.

In all honesty, I can very much understand the desire for visual symmetry and the sense of calm it brings. Ironically, the rear view of the bike is the one that highlights best the most non-symmetrical things about any bike: the offset required on the drive system side.

I rode BMW's for eons. The late model bikes have no swing-arm on the left because the shaft-drive/swing-arm on the right side is the whole shabang (it's opposite on some models). The rear wheel bolts on like a car wheel with no symmetry. It's works good but I always thought it looked weird.

I rode BMW's for eons. The late model bikes have no swing-arm on the left because the shaft-drive/swing-arm on the right side is the whole shabang (it's opposite on some models). The rear wheel bolts on like a car wheel with no symmetry. It's works good but I always thought it looked weird.
It needed to be like that because my 1150rt used to eat rear tyres and it was an easy job to take of the rear wheel.

My Hawk GT would qualify as intentionally anti-symmetrical with its exhaust on the right side and the single sided swingarm on the left. Back in '88 I thought it was one of the coolest bikes I had ever laid eyes on. I might be in need of counseling.

In all honesty, I can very much understand the desire for visual symmetry and the sense of calm it brings. Ironically, the rear view of the bike is the one that highlights best the most non-symmetrical things about any bike: the offset required on the drive system side.

I rode BMW's for eons. The late model bikes have no swing-arm on the left because the shaft-drive/swing-arm on the right side is the whole shabang (it's opposite on some models). The rear wheel bolts on like a car wheel with no symmetry. It's works good but I always thought it looked weird.

I rode BMW's for eons. The late model bikes have no swing-arm on the left because the shaft-drive/swing-arm on the right side is the whole shabang (it's opposite on some models). The rear wheel bolts on like a car wheel with no symmetry. It's works good but I always thought it looked weird.
It needed to be like that because my 1150rt used to eat rear tyres and it was an easy job to take of the rear wheel.

[Capo]

I don't fully agree....[/quote][/php]

[HikerToo_imp]

Ferret, as others have eluded too, maybe you can put a fake chain and sprocket on the right side also, will make it look even more even.

[Red Mist_imp]

The bike is not symmetrical as Guth reports.

Symmetry is style. Those who favor style over performance like symmetry, everything neatly ordered and squared away, in its place.

High performance motorcycles are highly unsymmetrical, particularly with respect to the drivetrain and powerplant. I wonder how much weight the twin-pipe setup adds to the bike, for example, when the 4-into-1 gets the job done nicely?

A short list of asymmetrical things on the typical superbike:

-cable type clutch, hydraulic brake master cylinder, usually transparent plastic and raised well above the handlebar (the Honda has nice symmetrical hydraulic reservoirs for both clutch and front brakes).
-swingarm; all modern superbikes have a grossly asymmetrical swingarm configuration
-exhaust; all have a 4-into-1

However, the opposite is true for aircraft where perfect symmetry is highly desirable. Something tells me the average CB1100 aficionado likes the look of a B-17 or other WWII multi-engine bomber.

[The Spaceman_imp]

The VStrom 650 always had a single muffler vs. the dual on the 1000, and it did look like there was a gaping hole.

BMW seems to be into asymmetric design; the S1000RR is quite different from one side to the other. Even the other bikes like the GS have asymmetrical headlights.

It's been said that the most attractive people are that way because they have symmetrical, balanced features, especially the face. Tragically most women have one boob that's larger than the other, completely ruining their appeal.

[Mick65_imp]

[url=http://s286.photobucket.com/user/owdbugger/media/Mobile%20Uploads/P1020801.jpg.html]

I, m starting to love my none symetrical side.

[Guth_imp]

That Hurricane was one eye-catching bike.

I think moving away from the 4 into 1 system for the CB1100 Deluxe was pretty much mandatory given the design objective. And while a 4 into 4 system might have looked a bit more "period correct", I honestly prefer the 4 into 2 exhaust over a 4 into 4 system which would have added more expense and weight.


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[the Ferret]

Ferret, as others have eluded too, maybe you can put a fake chain and sprocket on the right side also, will make it look even more even.

Then there would be no place for the rear disc and caliper..which balances out the chain and sprocket on the left side.

Bikes look better with 2 rear view mirrors instead of just one on the left ( which is legal in the U.S.)

They look better with dual discs on the front instead of just on 1 side of the wheel.

They look better with either a single headlight in the center or two equal size headlights side by side, than with 2 different shaped / sized headlights side by side.

Symmetry... It calms me

[Guth_imp]

I'd also add that the CB1100 isn't really about performance and the Deluxe model embraces that fact by adding a dual exhaust and the visual symmetry that comes along with it. In real world use, I'm guessing that any difference in performance will be negligible.

I think the most notable thing about the new design is how many more "what year is it?" conversations it will start. Honda really hit the bullseye on the retro front with this one.


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