Something got me thinkin' along these lines. I can't think of many names for a model of motorcycle that have as much class and power (not necessarily the bike...but the name of the bike) as Monster.
Some others came to mind:
Notron:
"Commando"
"Commando" with "Combat" engine...often referred to as "Combat Commando"
"Dominator"
Vincent:
"Black Shadow"
Hodaka:
"Super Rat"
Harley:
"Cross bones"
Can't really think of any others that are anywhere near as good as "Monster"
I can think of some stupid ones...
Apriia: "Shiver"
Honda: "Dream"
Yamaha: "Virago" (means: a domineering woman...nice choice!??)
Hodaka: "Combat Wombat"
Harley: "Fat Boy"
Any additions to either list??
Ninja
Hayabusa
Interceptor
Sprint
Firebird
Transalp
Paris-Dakar
Low Rider
Elsinore
made by Ducati:
Bronco
Indiana
Uhm...
Daytona!
;D
Eleanor
Angelina
Rocket III - not the new Triumph, the old BSA
Laverda Jota. It just rolls off the tongue. And I think it means something vulgar.
Dunstall - as a friend pointed out, sounds like a southerner cursing his bike. It dunstall on me again!
John Player Special - how many bikes are named after a cool cigarette logo?
Vincent Black Lightning.
how about Hurricane? a name so good they had to change it so insurance companies would insure the bike.
I like my VFR Interceptor
winner without a doubt....
Norton Combat Commando ...toughest name ever...
Vincent Black Shadow was a better bike ...but not even close in the name department
Triton.
okay, so maybe that doesn't exactly count... but whatever. [cheeky]
am I the only one who thinks the name monster is really lame?
Quote from: wengr on June 27, 2008, 08:31:36 PM
am I the only one who thinks the name monster is really lame?
yes. :-*
I think Monster is actually somewhat of a weak name. Whenever I refer to my bike I call it an S4R and avoid calling it a Monster at all costs. I think the Interceptor is the coolest name, but I think it would better fit Honda's pure sporting class bikes rather than the sport-touring.
Quote from: hyphen on June 27, 2008, 08:39:39 PM
I think Monster is actually somewhat of a weak name. Whenever I refer to my bike I call it an S4R and avoid calling it a Monster at all costs. I think the Interceptor is the coolest name, but I think it would better fit Honda's pure sporting class bikes rather than the sport-touring.
S4R? monster? does it really matter? ducati as a
make is not... necessarily recognizable, n'mind the model of bike... I could have an ST4 ABS, or a 999R, and most folk wouldn't know wtf I was talking about...
I'm sure aot of ppl here have suffered the, "ducati? who makes that?" question.
Quote from: teddy037.2 on June 27, 2008, 08:55:18 PM
I'm sure aot of ppl here have suffered the, "ducati? who makes that?" question.
It's a Yamaha, right?
Quote from: teddy037.2 on June 27, 2008, 08:55:18 PM
I'm sure aot of ppl here have suffered the, "ducati? who makes that?" question.
Kawasuzuki then! It has to be Kawasuzuki!! They both end with an "i"!!
Quote from: DRKWNG on June 27, 2008, 09:13:20 PM
Kawasuzuki then! It has to be Kawasuzuki!! They both end with an "i"!!
I think it might be triumph... what in hell have they brought out since the 70's? :D
Quote from: teddy037.2 on June 27, 2008, 09:22:17 PM
I think it might be triumph... what in hell have they brought out since the 70's? :D
The all mighty Whistle-Tip 675!! Jeesh, you actually had to ask?
Quote from: DRKWNG on June 27, 2008, 09:23:43 PM
The all mighty Whistle-Tip 675!! Jeesh, you actually had to ask?
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
I like HD "Night Rod" ....but if they had a Japanese pirate.CBARRGHH600ARRGGHARRGH that would be even better. Monster is the best in sort of a Herman Munster sorta way.
Quote from: RobJohn3 on June 27, 2008, 10:01:56 PM
I like HD "Night Rod" ....but if they had a Japanese pirate.CBARRGHH600ARRGGHARRGH that would be even better. Monster is the best in sort of a Herman Munster sorta way.
holy crap!
I totally had that idea for a plate... well, obviously not as drawn out... but imagine a flat black honda, skull and crossbones painted on the fairings, and a plate that read "CB ARRR" (we only get 6 characters in HI)
Not to threadjack, but I had never heard of a Norton Commando before. Before my time I guess. Anyways, front page of eBay was this bike - very very cool. [thumbsup]
Take a look;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220249161860
That bike is SWEET!!!
Triumph Bonneville "AMERICA"!
I love irony. 8)
Quote from: AndrewNS on June 27, 2008, 07:22:50 PM
I like my VFR Interceptor
It is a good name but stolen from Royal Enfield...late '60's"
Quote from: JoDuc on June 27, 2008, 10:11:30 PM
, but I had never heard of a Norton Commando before.
Wow! I guess I am old!
Guess ya don't read many motorcycle magazines either.......
Quote from: RobJohn3 on June 27, 2008, 10:01:56 PM
I like HD "Night Rod" ....
Sounds too much like the title of a porn movie...
I thought of one more good one (IMO) after I did my original post...
Victory "8-Ball"
Cars have much better names than motorcycles:
Stingray
Cobra
Viper
Spitfire
Phantom
Challenger
Etc. etc.....I could go on.
Are MC marketing/design teams that less creative??
Quote from: Old-Duckman on June 28, 2008, 05:14:15 AM
Wow! I guess I am old!
Guess ya don't read many motorcycle magazines either.......
Nah, just look at the pics! ;)
Quote from: JoDuc on June 27, 2008, 10:11:30 PM
Not to threadjack, but I had never heard of a Norton Commando before. Before my time I guess. Anyways, front page of eBay was this bike - very very cool. [thumbsup]
Take a look;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220249161860
(http://i15.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/f8/f2/374b_3.JPG)
That is a sweet bike. I've been following that auction, not that I am looking to buy it. I just want to know how much it will go for. The last one didn't look quite as nice and sold for about $17,500.
The Commando and other British bikes (like the Bonneville) are probably the reason so many of us like the looks of our Monsters. The British bikes are what a motorcycle should like like for many of us and the Monster is the current day equivalent. That is why many of the classic Monster lovers can not warm up to the funky headlight on the 696.
I'm newer to monsters and at first didn't really understand why all the animosity towards the new 696...after seeing the above Norton, I really understand the love for the classic look. That is one awesome bike! [thumbsup]
Quote from: Travman on June 28, 2008, 07:51:31 AM
The Commando and other classic British bikes (like the Bonneville) are probably the reason so many of us like the looks of our Monsters. The classic British bikes are what a motorcycle should like like for many of us and the Monster is the current day equivalent. That is why many of the classic Monster lovers can not warm up to the funky headlight on the 696.
Preach on brother!!
Quote from: Travman on June 28, 2008, 07:51:31 AM
The Commando and other British bikes (like the Bonneville) are probably the reason so many of us like the looks of our Monsters. The British bikes are what a motorcycle should like like for many of us and the Monster is the current day equivalent. That is why many of the classic Monster lovers can not warm up to the funky headlight on the 696.
+1
IMO, the only cafe racer issued from a major manufacturer. The Thruxton? Nice try. Too retro (as in speed, hp, and handling).
And in my case, the name is very apropos, as my Monster has tried to kill me three times now. ;D
Quote from: dlearl476 on June 28, 2008, 12:49:28 PM
+1
IMO, the only cafe racer issued from a major manufacturer. The Thruxton? Nice try. Too retro (as in speed, hp, and handling).
And in my case, the name is very apropos, as my Monster has tried to kill me three times now. ;D
lol... i love the look of the thruxton at any rate... and yes, i prefer my old air-cooled monster, or as i am speaking of it to my girl, 'il mostro'
Quote from: teddy037.2 on June 27, 2008, 07:44:04 PM
Triton.
okay, so maybe that doesn't exactly count... but whatever. [cheeky]
those made up names are cool
ts a norton with a triumph engine. better than Norumph
norvin norton with vincent engine better than norcent
Tricati a Ducati with a triumph engine. waaay better than a ducumph
Quote from: teddy037.2 on June 27, 2008, 08:55:18 PM
S4R? monster? does it really matter? ducati as a make is not... necessarily recognizable, n'mind the model of bike... I could have an ST4 ABS, or a 999R, and most folk wouldn't know wtf I was talking about...
I'm sure aot of ppl here have suffered the, "ducati? who makes that?" question.
Very true that it doesn't matter. But I just don't like the name.
Though, I usually get a different response to those that are ignorant to Ducati as a make. When someone asks what I ride and I mention Ducati they automatically think of a high-brow bike because it's Italian. Rightly so because just about every imported Italian vehicle is pretty highly regarded (ferrari, ducati, mazarati, bugatti, lamborghini) but I think that's just how people think when they hear of an Italian vehicle. They may not know what it looks like or what it is, but if it's Italian then it must be cool.
Quote from: hyphen on June 28, 2008, 04:31:33 PM
They may not know what it looks like or what it is, but if it's Italian then it must be cool.
And they are quite correct. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Old-Duckman on June 28, 2008, 05:15:50 AM
Sounds too much like the title of a porn movie...
I'm a very twisted soul. [evil]
I was thinking about the name and the history the other day.... Hear me out here...
The original monster was a parts bin bike... 900ss engine, frame from over there... Hey any spare forks?
A "franken-bike" if you will
Name makes sense to me
Cmorgan47 has a good point, it is kind of a frankenbike. The name suits it! The Monsters have always had that street fighter crossed with cafe racer with a pinch of sport bike in their looks.
Speed triple!
I always thought the Velocette Venom was a cool name.
FireBlade
Interceptor
Monster
what about "Lucifers Hammer"
I always liked the Suzuki GT-750....not the official "Lemans" name, but the "Water Buffalo" moniker
Of course, other than the Monster, the best name is certainly the MV Agusta "Brutale"
A Little Off Topic, but the Japanese Car Manufacturers have some weird names going. I pinched this from another website:
Car Make: Daihatsu
“Daihatsu†basically means “Osaka engine manufacturer†in Japanese.
Strange Names for Daihatsu car range:
“Naked†- A car without clothing.
“Applause†- A big clap for you when you buy this car.
“Rocky†- Possibly named after “Rocky†the movie.
“Town Cube†- A car in the form of a moving cube.
Car Make: Honda
“Honda†is the name of the founder of this company, “Soichiro Hondaâ€.
Strange Names for Honda car range:
“Joy Machine†- A very kinky car.
“Acty Crawler†- A crawling car which looks like a spider.
“Life Dunk†- A car telling you that life sucks?
“That's†- A car "that is...?" (still wondering).
Car Make: Mazda
“Mazda†derives from the name of God of Wisdom in the early civilization of the West Asia, “Ahura Mazdaâ€.
Strange Names for Mazda car range:
“Bongo†- A car which resembles a broad-horned antelope.
“Bongo Friendee†- A car which resembles a friendly broad-horned antelope.
“Scrum†- A car suitable for Rugby players.
Car Make: Toyota
“Toyota†basically means “the abundance of rice/wealth†in Japanese.
Strange Names for Toyota car range:
“Stout†- A car which resembles “Teletubbiesâ€.
“Toyopet†- “Toyo†means “the abundance of†in Japanese. Most probably it means here “the abundance of pets†if you own this car.
“Deliboy†- A car suitable for a boy who works in a deli?
Car Make: Nissan
“Nissan†derives from the company's abbreviation used in the Tokyo stock market, which stands for “Nippon Sangyoâ€.
Strange Names for Nissan car range:
“Prairie Joy†- A very kinky car on a prairie.
“Big Thumb†- A car in the size of a big thumb.
“Fairlady†- A car for “My Fairladyâ€.
Car Make: Mitsubishi
“Mitsubishi†means “three rhombus†or “three diamonds†in Japanese.
Strange names for Mitsubishi car range:
“Guts†- A car with some guts to be a car.
“Delica Space Gear†- A delicious car with space-ship equipment.
Car Make: Isuzu
“Isuzu†gets its name from the “Isuzu River†in Japan.
Strange names for Isuzu car range:
“Mysterious Utility Wizard†- A mysterious car, a long lost cousin of Harry Potter.
“Giga 20 Light Dump†- A car with 20 gigantic super-useless lights.
"Mini Active Urban Sandal" - A car in the shape of an active mini sandal.
I'm pretty happy with "Monster". I wouldn't want a Ducati Joy Machine. :P
OUI
I personally like the name Hayabusa, a Japanese falcon whose main diet are small birds called Blackbirds [thumbsup] ;D
Here in africa the VW Polo don`t sell all that well as the word polo means penis in some african language. and no respectable black man want`s to be seen sporting a small white Polo ;D
Once owned a VW Scirocco (Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara and reaches hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe.).
IMO; US bikes are HD's Road King (most appropriate) and Night Train (very cool if you're into the blues).
combat wombat
Something that I keep thinking as I read through here, it was mentioned but I was wondering if the signiance was lost. The Monster was originally introduced by it's Italian moniker Il Monstro, I'm not sure when or how it was americanized but I kinda dug it.
another thing that irritates me is that monster energy drinks has combined with kawasaki. so when i search for "monster" stuff on ebay i get all of this motocross monster crap. [puke]
PENALTY [evil]
the ron [evil]
how about Desmosedici 8)