Or, the ongoing struggle between "keep it simple and make it lighter" and "OH NO, TOO BRIGHT!"
So far, if you understand my preferences at all, you know that I am quite fond of numerous unusual and old-fashioned items. This includes, perhaps above all else, scooters and odd motorcycles. Consider, as an example, the Suzuki SW1 . Or This charming, eccentric old KTM moped from the '50s .
Actually, I'm genuinely surprised that I have never written about a Zundapp Bella before since I could swear I've spotted at least one of these classic bikes at various vintage motorcycle shows over the past ten years. Surprisingly though, I haven’t done so yet. Though, come to think of it, I did mention The peculiar story of the Zundapp Citation 500 With your support returning in 2021, which surely counts for something. something .
In any case, here’s something else you might or might not be aware of: in today's motorcycle world, I have a particular fondness for naked bikes. They generally top my list of preferences. We’ve likely covered how much I adore my Street Triple and my Hawk GT 650; their shared characteristic is quite evident.
I similarly have a fondness for scooters. However, each time I remove the bodywork from mine, it becomes clear why exposed scooters aren’t typically popular. For some reason, they seem harder to present attractively.
It's as far removed from modern as can be, yet A scarce Zundapp scooter exclusive to the United States known as the Suburbanette It appears to be evidence that this idea isn’t entirely novel. Just take a look at it. It’s definitely something striking to see. I assure you, I did not literally pull my eyes from their sockets while composing this piece.
Keep It Weird
- Cycleweird: How the Yamaha Frog 750 Prototype Predicted the Future in 1985
- Cycleweird: The Honda Juno M85, Or That Instance When Honda Created a Boxer Scooter
Now, I understand your desire to strip away the bodywork from the Zundapp Bella for this particular Suburbanette conversion. The removal of the steel bodywork apparently led to an impressive reduction of 26 kilograms (more than 57 pounds). Additionally, it’s clear that performing maintenance and servicing would become significantly more straightforward without having to dismantle the body panels each time.
However, it's evident that Zundapp likely didn’t plan for all its internal engine components to be exposed in such a manner, as from an aesthetic standpoint, it appears somewhat chaotic. The design seems unintentional rather than purposeful; it clearly shows itself to be a fully enclosed motorcycle with its outer covering stripped away without apparent cause.
Keep in mind, this isn’t intended as commentary on its ride quality. I’ve never had the chance to ride one, so I can’t provide insight there. It’s somewhat odd to me that, if the U.S. was getting a version of the Bella tailored specifically for our market, this would be the configuration they chose. Clearly, the 1950s were quite distinct from today since this model doesn’t embody either the essence of "bella" or “bellissimo.”
What do you make of this, am I being overly strict with this small vehicle? Have you ever owned either a Bella or a Suburbanette? Please share your thoughts in the comments section!
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