After all, there aren’t many machines that are called by names – drill presses, lathes or grinders aren’t given names, nor are lawnmowers, forklift trucks or inkjet printers, all have model numbers.
While there are exceptions (the Henry hoover, for example), with many motorcycles referred to by alphanumeric terms, a large number have names. Some are for rather obvious reasons – such as the Triumph Bonneville, named to commemorate Johnny Allen’s success at the Salt Flats in Utah; while Royal Enfield’s Bullet has a name relating to the company’s history in armaments. But one wonders at the reasoning behind names