Sports Cycle

The History of Motorcycle Bodywork

Bodywork, a major component on most motorcycles today, didn’t even exist on most motorcycles 15 years ago. For the first 95 years of motorcycling, bodywork just meant some sort of container mounted to the frame to store the gasoline.

The Europeans deserve much of the credit (or blame, depending on your own preferences) for making bodywork such a pervasive part of motorcycle design. BMW, Moto Guzzi, and Ducati all marketed motorcycles with fairings in the 1970s. (Fairings are the devices mounted at the front of a motorcycle to protect the rider from the elements.) By the end of the 1970s, the Japanese manufacturers were starting to do the same.


As the 1980s progressed, bodywork became more and more encompassing. Soon, many streetbikes came with not only fairings, but also cowlings that covered the engine. These items were designed to integrate with the rear portions of the bike, resulting in cleanlooking bikes that have an almost automotive appearance. In addition to visual appeal, this full-coverage bodywork has the practical benefit of protecting the rider from the elements.

" BMW Motorrad was one of the first companies to offer fairings as standard equipment on certain models, with the R80 G/S. "

As long as the bike still looks like a motorcycle, riders appreciate the look of such bodywork, as well as the additional weather protection it provides. Like everything, though, those benefits come at a price. The price of bodywork is higher than insurance premiums and higher repair costs. Even routine maintenance becomes more expensive on a bike with bodywork.