Nope looks had nothing to do with it, i usually gravitate to ugly bikes (TL1000S, Vstrom, now the C14). The ride did nothing for me on the Vee. I could rail it, i could drag peg, i could keep a pretty good pace with it but i did not thrill me. Sometimes i felt like i was just commuting on it while i was on some of the best roads in the country. Just didn't feel the thrill or the desire to ride it most of the time. The best time i ever had on it was during the GAP trip a couple years ago. They were working on the bridge down the hill from Fontana at night and there was a back woods detour to get around it. Everyone else hatted it but i had a blast running it. Super tight switch backs with gravel bookoo elevation changes. I loved that road on the Vee, took it on the C14 last year and hated it.