The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire

Britten V1000 1994 / Private Collection, New Zealand / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA

Britten V1000 1994 / Private Collection, New Zealand / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA / View full image

‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ exhibition presented across the Gallery of Modern Art’s (GOMA) entire ground floor featured 100 exceptional motorcycles from the 1870s to the present celebrating 150 years of motorcycle history — pioneering motorcycles and classic commuters, off-road bikes and speed machines, as well as custom creations and numerous electric bikes heralding the future — bikes ranging from the steam–powered 1871 Perreaux Vélocipède, the world’s first motorcycle designed by Louis-Guillame Perreaux, to the electric-powered 2020 Savic C-Series Alpha, from Australian automotive designer Dennis Savic.

‘The Motorcycle’ exhibition was in Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 until 26 April 2021.

DELVE DEEPER: Browse the FULL LIST OF MOTORCYCLES

RELATED: Read more about the bikes on display

A drawing from Louis-Guillaume Perreaux’s 1871 patent

A drawing from Louis-Guillaume Perreaux’s 1871 patent / View full image

Perreaux Steam Velocipede 1871

Perreaux Steam Velocipede 1871 / Collection: Department of Hauts-de-Seine / Museum of the Departmental Domain of Sceaux / Photograph: Olivier Ravoire

Perreaux Steam Velocipede 1871 / Collection: Department of Hauts-de-Seine / Museum of the Departmental Domain of Sceaux / Photograph: Olivier Ravoire / View full image

Savic C-Series 2020

Savic C-Series 2020 / Courtesy: Savic Motorcycles / Photograph: Jason Lau

Savic C-Series 2020 / Courtesy: Savic Motorcycles / Photograph: Jason Lau / View full image

‘The Motorcycle’ encompasses the span of motorcycle history, design and capability, from steam power, through internal combustion engines, and into the future with electric motors. Among the highlights are the Brisbane-made Spencer motorcycle, impressive speed machines such as a Burt Munro 1920 Indian Streamliner, a record setting 1951 Vincent Black Lightning, an original 1974 Ducati 750SS and a symbol of speed, a rare 1994 Britten V1000, created by legendary New Zealand design engineer, John Britten. Sleek contemporary custom creations include Max Hazan’s 2016 ‘Black Knight’, Daryl Villenueva’s 2016 ‘Bandit 9 Eve Mk II’, Craig Rodsmith’s 2018 ‘Corps Léger’, and Bryan Fuller’s 2019 Moto ‘2029’.

Spencer c.1906

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Spencer motorcycle as it appears today / Spencer motorcycle c.1906 / Courtesy: The Australian Motorlife Museum – Paul Butler Collection / Photograph: Penelope Clay

Spencer motorcycle as it appears today / Spencer motorcycle c.1906 / Courtesy: The Australian Motorlife Museum – Paul Butler Collection / Photograph: Penelope Clay / View full image

Indian Scout Special 1920 (engine)

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Indian Scout Special 1920 (engine) / Collection: Clyde Crouch / Photograph: Robert LaPrelle

Indian Scout Special 1920 (engine) / Collection: Clyde Crouch / Photograph: Robert LaPrelle / View full image

Vincent Black Lightning 1951

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Vincent Black Lightning 1951 / The Peter and Frances Bender Collection / © Bonhams Auctioneers

Vincent Black Lightning 1951 / The Peter and Frances Bender Collection / © Bonhams Auctioneers / View full image

Vincent Black Lightning 1951 / The Peter and Frances Bender Collection / © Bonhams Auctioneers

Vincent Black Lightning 1951 / The Peter and Frances Bender Collection / © Bonhams Auctioneers / View full image

Ducati 750SS 1974

Ducati 750SS 1974 / Private Collection / Photograph: John Downs

Ducati 750SS 1974 / Private Collection / Photograph: John Downs / View full image

Britten V1000 1994

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Britten V1000 1994 / Private Collection, New Zealand / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA

Britten V1000 1994 / Private Collection, New Zealand / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA / View full image

Hazan Black Knight 2016

Hazan Black Knight 2016 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle

Hazan Black Knight 2016 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle / View full image

Bandit9 Eve Mk ll 2016

Bandit9 Eve Mk ll 2016 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle

Bandit9 Eve Mk ll 2016 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle / View full image

Rodsmith Corps Léger 2018

Rodsmith Corps Léger 2018 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle

Rodsmith Corps Léger 2018 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle / View full image

Fuller Moto ‘2029’, 2019

DELVE DEEPER: Honouring our past by celebrating our future: The Fuller Moto ‘2029’

Fuller Moto ‘2029’, 2019 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle

Fuller Moto ‘2029’, 2019 / Collection: Bobby Haas and
Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC /
Photograph: Grant Schwingle / View full image

Fuller Moto ‘2029’, 2019 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle

Fuller Moto ‘2029’, 2019 / Collection: Bobby Haas and
Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle / View full image

The exhibition highlights the important role gender has played in motorcycle history, with the inclusion of the Vespa and the Honda Cub, two bikes designed specifically with working women in mind, through to great objects of desire such as the Ducati Monster which was designed not only to look cool, but to be ridden easily.

Vespa 150GS 1960

Vespa 150GS 1960 / Collection: Vespa House and Frank Tonon / Photograph: Anne-Marie De Boni

Vespa 150GS 1960 / Collection: Vespa House and Frank Tonon / Photograph: Anne-Marie De Boni / View full image

Honda C102 Super Cub 1960

Honda C102 Super Cub 1960 / © Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation, New York / Photograph: Randy Leffingwell

Honda C102 Super Cub 1960 / © Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation, New York / Photograph: Randy Leffingwell / View full image

Ducati M900 Monster 1994

Ducati M900 Monster 1994 / The RJ Webber Desmo Collection, Gold Coast / Photograph: John Downs

Ducati M900 Monster 1994 / The RJ Webber Desmo Collection, Gold Coast / Photograph: John Downs / View full image

Exploring in depth the abstract world of avant-garde custom designs the exhibition includes the work of Australia’s leading motorcycle custom designer, Deus Ex Machina.

There are multiple interactive experiences for all ages — a green screen motorcycle riding experience, a motorcycle design studio for building and customising virtual bikes, and an in-space mobile companion site which enables audiences to navigate the show and dive deeper into the history and stories behind each bike on display.

This is a must-see experience for bike and motor sport enthusiasts, as well as anyone with a love of popular culture, design, technology and social history.

Deus Ex Machina ‘The Drover’s Dog’ 2009

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The Drover’s Dog 2009 / Collection: Joseph Mildren/Deus Ex Machina, Sydney / Image courtesy: Deus Ex Machina

The Drover’s Dog 2009 / Collection: Joseph Mildren/Deus Ex Machina, Sydney / Image courtesy: Deus Ex Machina / View full image

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Read more about Motorcycles / Subscribe to QAGOMA YouTube to go behind-the-scenes

Show off your ride with #MotorcycleGOMA #QAGOMA

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    List of Motorcycles: Humble origins to cutting-edge prototypes

    We list the motorcycles displayed in ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ — by year from 1871 until 2020 — these motorcycles were carefully selected for the technical achievements and aesthetic merits they represent. Showcasing 100 motorcycles, ‘The Motorcycle’ spans the history of this dynamic and versatile vehicle, from its humble origins as an engine bolted to a bicycle to the cutting-edge electric prototypes of the twenty-first century. The world’s first steam-powered ‘motorcycle’ was assembled in the late 1860s, more than a decade before the first automobile was designed, and by the early twentieth century all the elements of the modern, internal combustion engine–powered motorcycle had developed. Over the next 120 years, changes in design reflected developments in technology, engineering and manufacturing, as well as the motorcycle’s evolving functions as an inexpensive mode of transportation, racing and on- or off-road vehicle and as an expression of individual creativity. These innovations changed the face of transportation, and the motorcycle has not only become an enduring design icon, but also established its place in society through popular culture, literature and film. ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ offered a rare opportunity to see geographically and historically diverse motorcycles together in one place. From the hubs of motorcycle manufacturing in the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan to less likely sources of unique designs in New Zealand and Australia, ‘The Motorcycle’ showcased a machine at the pinnacle of design excellence and evokes a world of innovation, excitement and desire. ‘The Motorcycle’ exhibition was in Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 until 26 April 2021. RELATED: Read more about the bikes in ‘THE MOTORCYCLE’ exhibition AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED: Read about our LOCAL MOTORCYCLE HISTORY List of motorcycles by year of manufacture 1871 Perreaux Steam Velocipede (above) France Collection: Department of Hauts-de-Seine / Museum of the Departmental Domain of Sceaux WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #1 Perreaux Steam Velocipede DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride 1898 Cleveland Tricycle (above) USA Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen, Curator DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride 1903 Minerva with Mills and Fulford Forecar (above) Belgium Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1906 Spencer (above) Australia The Australian Motorlife Museum – Paul Butler Collection DELVE DEEPER: Australian-born: The Spencer motorcycle story WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #2 Spencer 1908 Indian Single CeDora (above) USA Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen Curator DELVE DEEPER : Indian Single 1908 owned by pioneering stuntwoman Cedora 1912 Henderson Four (above) USA Clyde Crouch Collection DELVE DEEPER: Henderson Four the largest and fastest motorcycle of its time DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1914 Whiting (above) Australia Lowe Family Collection DELVE DEEPER: The Australian Whiting: The last word in motorcycle luxury 1914 Harley-Davidson 10F (above) USA Harley City Collection 1916 Indian 8-Valve (above) USA Arundel Collection 1919 ABC (above) United Kingdom Courtesy of the Clyde Crouch Collection DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride 1920 (engine) Indian Scout Special (above) USA; New Zealand Collection: Clyde Crouch DELVE DEEPER: Bert Munro’s 1920 Indian Scout Special still the worlds fastest WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #5 Indian Scout Special 1921 Ner-a-Car USA Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen Curator 1924 Moto Guzzi Tipo Normale Italy Collection: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 1924 BMW R32 Germany Collection: Trevor Dean 1926 Indian Hillclimber USA Arundel Collection 1926 Peugeot P104 France Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum 1927 Harley-Davidson FHA (above) USA Harley City Collection DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1928 Harley-Davidson Model SA Peashooter (above) USA Harley City Collection DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1928 Scott Flying Squirrel United Kingdom Collection of Mr and Mrs Hans Sprangers 1928 Harley-Davidson JDH Special USA Harley City Collection 1928 Indian Model 401 USA Arundel Collection c.1929 Majestic (above) France Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum DELVE DEEPER: The MotoThe Majestic, the greatest of all French motorcycle designs 1929 Opel Motoclub Neander Germany Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum 1929 Ariel Model F (above) United Kingdom Collection of Bob Muss, Australia WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #4 Ariel Model F 1929 Norton CS1 United Kingdom Collection of John Richardson 1929 Douglas DT/5 Speedway (above) USA Private Collection, Sydney DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers 1931 Dresch Monobloc France Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum 1933 Harley-Davidson DAH USA Harley City Collection 1934 Crocker Speedway (above) USA Harley City Collection DELVE DEEPER: The Crocker motorcycles: Built for speed DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers 1935 Brough Superior 11-50 United Kingdom The Peter and Frances Bender Collection 1936 Koehler-Escoffier Motoball Special France Collection: Bobby Hass and Hass Moto Museum 1938 Crocker (above) USA Harley City Collection DELVE DEEPER: The Crocker motorcycles: Built for speed WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #3 Crocker 1938 Triumph Speed Twin United Kingdom Image courtesy: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 1940 Indian Chief with Sidecar (above) USA Arundel Collection DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1942 Socovel Electric (above) Belgium Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum DELVE DEEPER: The Socovel Electric — the world’s first mass-produced electric motorcycle WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #6 Socovel Electric 1943 Harley-Davidson FL USA Kendal Maroney Collection (KMC) 1948 Moto Guzzi Super Alce (above) Italy Calleja Collection, Melbourne DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1949 Imme R100 (above) West Germany Collection: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA WATCH THE...
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    5 future focused motorcycles

    While the first patent for an ‘electrical motorcycle’ was filed in 1895, and an electric tandem bicycle was exhibited at the 1896 Stanley Cycle Show in London, it wasn’t until the 2000s that electric power became a viable alternative to the combustion engine. Like all emerging technologies, electric motorcycles are not currently able to keep up with the high speeds and long distances of their established fuel-guzzling counterparts. However, new brands continue to enter the electric market to showcase the latest in innovative technology and designs. RELATED: SOCOVEL ELECTRIC 1942 Electric and petrol-alternative motorcycles have promise to be the future of sustainable transport. Compared to cars, they generally cost less to purchase, consume fewer resources and cause less pollution. Motorcycle designers are now also experimenting with more sustainable materials to build motorcycles, including recycled plastics, bamboo and wood. ‘The Motorcycle’ exhibition was in Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 until 26 April 2021. DELVE DEEPER: Browse the FULL LIST OF MOTORCYCLES RELATED: Read more about THE BIKES ON DISPLAY 1 Vespa Elettrica 2019 Seventy-four years after the Vespa debuted in 1946, this iconic scooter has been reinvented with the introduction of the electric-powered Vespa Elettrica. Designed for navigating city streets and crawling traffic, the Elettrica is envisioned to be the electric equivalent of a 50 cc combustion-engine scooter. With the same curved fairings and smooth lines that Vespa riders know and love, the Elettrica aims to not only provide people with affordable mobility but also make their movements more environmentally sustainable. This scooter has a reverse gear for ease of parking, and will take 4 hours to fully charge when plugged in to a regular household socket. Specifications Country: Italy Power: 4 kW (5 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 4.2 kWh battery Designer: Piaggo Production: 2018-present 2 Tarform Luna Prototype 01 2019 While many future-focused motorcycle brands have turned to electric technology to deal with growing concerns regarding sustainability, Tarform has gone a step further to consider the environmental impact of all elements of their groundbreaking Luna Prototype. This 40 kWh lithium-ion battery-powered motorcycle’s bodywork is made from fully recyclable and biodegradable materials. With a sleek modern look, environmentally friendly approach and lack of noise and fumes, the Luna is appealing to atypical motorcycle riders looking for a clean way to travel the city. Designed to withstand the test of time, the Tarform Luna Prototype 01 has been built for ‘upgradeability and not obsolescence’ — any element from the battery to the panelling can be swapped for a custom look. Specifications Country: USA Power: 40 kW (54 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 10 kWh battery Designer: Taras Kravtchouk Production: 2018-present 3 Zooz Concept 01 2019 In the words of Zooz designer Chris Zahner, ‘The amazing thing about electric bikes is how simple they are. Motors, heat exchangers, exhaust systems and gas tanks are requisite masses on combustion motorcycles. But the electric motorcycle can leave a whole lot more room for interpretation, by minimising the number of elements necessary.’ The Zooz electric bike is an incredibly simple concept presented in an elegant, linear package. The battery is concealed under the seat, and in the middle, where all the propulsion happens traditionally, there is nothing – a void. The Zooz shows what a contemporary electric bike looks like when stripped down to its most basic elements. Specifications Country: USA Power: 4.3 kW (6 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 0.84 kWh battery Designer: Christopher Zahner Production: Custom 4 Cake Kalk OR 2019 The Kalk OR is an electric off-road performance motorcycle that handles bustling cities as well as rocky cross-country paths. This minimalist bike has injection-moulded polycarbonate bodywork and is dominated by a 51.8-volt battery, which allows the rider to choose between four-stroke and two-stroke modes. Despite its futuristic look, the Kalk OR is fully street legal. With a top speed of only 90 km/h, the Kalk OR may not be able to keep up with many of its road-going counterparts, but provides a green alternative for modern riders. Specifications Country: Sweden Power: 11 kW (15 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 2.6 kWh battery Designer: Stefan Ytterborn Production: 2019-present 5 Savic C-Series 2020 The motorcycle industry is embracing electric technology, with electric vehicles entering the market at an increasing rate. Savic Motorcycles founder Dennis Savic describes the Savic C-Series – Australia’s first full-size electric motorcycle – as ‘a unique offering with the most advanced features and functionality that the materials, engineering, electronic controls, electrical technology and 3D printing can offer today’. DELVE DEEPER: SAVIC C-SERIES 2020 Specifications Country: Australia Power: 60 kW (80 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 11 kWh battery Designer: Dennis Savic Production: 2020-present Read more about Motorcycles / Subscribe to QAGOMA YouTube to go behind-the-scenes Show off your ride with #MotorcycleGOMA #QAGOMA
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