Taken from an article written by Andrea Kuszewski entitled, The Science of Pleasure: Part One - The Allure of Asymmetry:
"From an evolutionary standpoint, symmetry implies fitness to reproduce. Animals and organic objects with a great deal of symmetry are generally without genetic flaws, and thus more likely to reproduce and have viable offspring. It would make sense that these are preferred for purely mating purposes.
However, when it comes to what we are drawn to for the sake of pleasure or romance, we tend to prefer complex, interesting, not-always-perfectly-symmetrical patterns. Several studies have been done on facial symmetry (here's a summary)- babies prefer looking at symmetrical faces, and adults rate symmetrical faces as more attractive. Interestingly, while we may judge symmetrical faces as more attractive, those aren't always the ones we are most drawn to sexually or romantically. How many times have you felt mesmerized by someone's looks, and you can't quite explain why? We tend to go for the people with more interesting or exotic features, slightly asymmetrical- still beautiful, but not too perfect."
So, sure, your perfect DLXs with their perfect 4-into-2 pipes and perfect balance may be pleasing to look at but it's our standard 4-into-1s that evoke passion and yearning!
And consider these excerpts from an article by Stephanie Shapiro of the Baltimore Sun:
"Increasingly, asymmetry is the objective of designers who are guided, as industrial designer Muren is, by the ethos of sustainable living. Also influential are the principles of imperfection revered in Japanese culture and the rededication to modern form found in contemporary architecture and industrial design."
"Tony Kawanari, a professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Design, teaches a furniture class according to the Japanese principles of resourcefulness, compactness, simplicity and asymmetry. Symmetry, he says, is "boring as hell.""
Hmmm, Japanese principle of asymmetry...you don't say. Haha.
So, yes, your DLXs are attractive, well-balanced, even beautiful machines. But our standards evoke an almost indescribable passion and emotion and adhere to a traditional Japanese aesthetic in keeping with a culture that finds beauty in the imperfections that make up our natural world and translate perfectly into motorcycle design.
How's that for trying to convince myself that it's okay that my bike is lopsided?
