Or, the ongoing struggle between "keep it simple and make it lighter" and "OH NO, TOO MUCH LIGHT!"
If you're familiar with my preferences at all, you know I have a particular affection for numerous oddities from past eras, particularly scooters and unusual motorcycles. Consider, for example, the Suzuki SW1 . Or This charming, eccentric old-school KTM moped from the '50s .
Actually, I'm genuinely surprised that I have never written about a Zundapp Bella before since I am certain that I must have encountered at least one of these bikes at some vintage motorcycle exhibition over the past ten years. Oddly enough, though, this hasn’t happened yet. That said, perhaps sharing my experience with such an iconic classic would be worthwhile after all. The peculiar story of the Zundapp Citation 500 With your support returning in 2021, which surely counts for something. something .
In any case, something else you might or might not be aware of is that I have a particular fondness for naked motorcycles in today’s time. On the whole, these usually top my list as preferred choices. We’ve already delved into how much I adore my Street Triple and my Hawk GT 650; their shared appeal likely lies in this aspect.
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 couldn't be more different from something contemporary, yet A scarce Zundapp scooter exclusive to the United States known as the Suburbanette It clearly indicates that this idea isn’t entirely novel. Just take a look at it; it’s definitely something worth seeing. I assure you, my eyes remain intact throughout composing this piece.
Keep It Weird
- Cycleoddity: How the Yamaha Frog 750 Prototype Foretold the Future in 1985
- Weird Cycles: The Honda Juno M85, Or When Honda Created a Boxer Engine Scooter
Now, I understand your desire to strip away the bodywork from the Zundapp Bella to create this Suburbanette version. 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 or servicing would become considerably simpler without needing to dismantle the bodywork initially.
However, it’s evident that Zundapp likely didn’t plan for all its internal engine components to be exposed in such a manner. Aesthetically, it appears somewhat chaotic. It seems more accidental than deliberate—like a fully enclosed motorcycle that has somehow lost its outer casing without intent.
Keep in mind, this is not intended as any sort of commentary on its ride quality. I have never actually ridden one, so I cannot provide insight into that aspect. It strikes me as odd that, if the U.S. was getting a version of the Bella tailored specifically for our market, this would be the configuration chosen. Clearly, the 1950s were quite distinct from today since this model clearly does not embody either 'bella' or 'bellissimo.'
What do you make of this, am I being overly critical about the small scooter? Have you ever owned a Bella or a Suburbanette? Please share your thoughts in the comments section!
