As a motorcyclist myself, I too have a fair share of misc bike parts around our abode. That said, I have not brought in an entire bike due to the 'smell factor'. Bikes (that are being used in any capacity) smell of the lovely fragrances of oil, gasoline and rubber- not exactly the aroma's you want in your home. If you have an old bike completely drained of its liquids and never to be used, go for it. If not, you'll be sorry.

Oh- and PLEASE don't have bike stuff if you/your spouse/your parent doesn't/didn't ride. That's called posing ;)

ouch, a kucklehead springerfront hardtail... is not for decoration!

I'll double down on the smell problems, the carburetters alone stunk up my studio for days when i brought them up to clean... headaches.. sinus burning yada yada not the best idea.

I thought we were the only ones...

http://bontempsbeignet.blogspot.com/2011/03/big-white-wall-decor-and-furry.html

Our's has been in our dining room since 2008. It's definitely a conversation starter and has been there so long that it sort just blends into the decor.

@ Liz - Oh wow! Cool bike.

Agreed on the 'posing' comment, MotoBonnie!

Neither of my bikes would easily get into the elevator and up to the 9th floor unless I took 'em apart and put 'em back together again.... However, my bikes are for RIDING, not DECORATING.......

I knew I wasn't the only one...

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/ny-design-meetup/debbies-living-room-august-group-design-experiment-new-york-design-meetup-093371

see first pic in second row.

Beware: I have a friend who's entire apartment building burned down because a neighbor brought her motorcycle indoors. The gas fumes ignited off of the pilot light of the stove.

This is completely normal to me, as my best friend and his dad frequently had bike parts in the house when he was living at home. I think my friend might just go with pictures of bikes in his house now though.

Well yeah, my bike smells too, but I'd still love to have the ability to bring it inside occasionally...

Haven't seen any sport bikes yet. My Ducati 748 lived happily in my living room in my NY loft for 3 years, and didn't even stink up the place too badly. You guys with your vintage Harleys just need to replace some more gaskets...

http://icenined.tumblr.com/post/4346210223

ahem...girls with vintage harleys.

In the right space I would definitely have a bike on display. My husband is in love with his Harley and would appreciate drooling over it all winter inside when he can't ride.

My first motorcycle in the house event was when I was 18--my bike lived in my basement apartment bedroom for the winter. Getting it back up the stairs in the Spring was NOT fun.

I designed my current home in no small part around the concept of an indoor bike room and workshop.
Right now that room holds our two street bikes, two trackbikes and a vintage Z50. Extra bodywork, leathers, helmets and anything else visually interesting gets hung for display. In my upstairs foyer, the decor includes a race rep pocketbike.

Stinky is a Harley/vintage problem.
I'd go as far as to say that sportbikes don't leak or stink, but anything Italian and all bets are off.

Gotta agree with the smell comments. I have my bike in the garage, and I can smell it in the adjoining laundry room. Unless you want the fresh scent of eau-de-mercaptan, I would pass on this.

A non-functioning bike used as art? Okay, I can see that. But if it's functional, absolutely not -- it needs to be garaged or outside. My husband's Gixxer stays out in the carport.

I have to draw the line somewhere (four bicycles which he rides regularly he keeps in our living room for safekeeping; the other four or five are in storage). I am hopeful for a day when our interior design doesn't always involve something with two wheels. He's says that will never happen.

Not a fan, and not just for the smell. To me this reeks of "trying to hard to be cool."

not trying too hard... ours livesin the dining room out of necessity. We're not gonna put the custom bike my hubby built in the garage where it will be destroyed by welding/plasma cutting sparks. And btw, our house doesn't smell like gas, oil, or rubber. Maybe it's just a really well built bike. i.m.h.o.
:)

I like this idea--mostly because it brings back childhood memories.

When I was a kid and still lived in my birth country, my dad would bring his motorcycle inside the house at the end of the day to keep it safe from someone stealing it.

But homes in other countries are totally different from the US. For example, in my birth country, if you live in the "city," there isn't such a long way from the sidewalk (if there is one) to the front of the house. Yes, there's a "front porch," but it's not like the homes here. And the floors are usually made from terracota tiles.

I used to bring bikes into my apartment for security reasons. I think a bike inside is great when it's in that limbo between a pile of parts and a running bike, lets the bike building inspiration come at any time.

OMG my boyfriend is going to piss his pants when I show him this! He's been talking about bringing the bike inside "as a conversational piece" forever. Now that AT makes it chic with stacks of vintage books, weathered wall treatments and framed target practice art, I'm all in! And I am going to do a post about this if that's okay;)

Patina's Precis

I'm offended at the folks that keep perfectly functional motorbikes confined indoors as decoration. If it RUNS...RUN IT and PARK it outside (or in a garage).
@liz...PLEASE tell me that custom chopper doesn't run...PLEASE!

my roommate has an orange vespa, she bought in the hopes of getting it running again. now its a very unusual seat in out basement.

I love that artwork behind the motorcycle in the first pic, can anyone tell me who it is by?

@ jmilb yes... it runs. There's no way in HELL that thing would be parked outside. And if you read my comment you would also know it won't be going in the garage any time soon either.

@liz: ok, it runs...now PLEASE tell me it gets ridden. I get not wanting to park it outside..kinda...

A motorcyle inside, no way.