it could be any of those things, i don't think anyone else can really answer that for you. you'll probably figure it out eventually, i wouldn't stress about it if i were you.

but it might be worth considering if it's possible that you are attracted to men on some level but are scared of entering into a relationship with one (or having sex with one) for reasons related to your being trans? obvs i can't say whether or not that's the case for you, and i don't know how far along you are in your transition, but a lot of guys kind of figure out that they're into dudes once they've started transitioning and feel more comfortable with their gender/body/etc.

it also seems likely that it's at least partly to do with wanting to look like those men, though. less

Hey, I am a gay transman so yes of course I love muscular men!

As for your specific situation, YES it is normal to want to see an idealized image of yourself. I think it could be two things: One, it could be that you simply admire the other man or Two, it could be that you're attracted to him.

Let me start out by saying that I have always been attracted to men and only men. I have no interest in and have never had interest in dating a female. I have had sexual experience with females, but only in the form of them giving me pleasure. I don't really have an interest in their parts and so have no interest in reciprocating.

Still, many many people do have more interests that come about later in life and especially so for transgender people. Maybe hormonal changes in the brain make us guys much hornier after a time than we were before, or perhaps we just get more comfortable with ourselves and do more soul-searching than other people do.

If you don't feel any attraction to the dude (ie wouldn't ever even want to have sex with him even in fantasy) then odds are you're really not attracted to him *at all!*

If on the other hand you think it might be kinda hot to mess around with him even without going all the way, you could be kind of attracted to only certain guys.

After starting T I began getting interested in women, but only to the degree that if I had a more functioning 'tool' down there, I would want to have sex with them. Since I haven't even had metoidioplasty, that's not an issue. Still not 'bisexual' for real because I would still be sort of selfish in that respect, but until now I didn't have fantasies or real desires for women even a bit, so that changed for me and for plenty of transmen it's the opposite- they start out attracted to women and come to find men more appealing than they used to be.

Only you know! less

"I have also been told that in general (not just in trans persons), it's common for people to be turned on or find enjoyment from looking at an ideal image of themselves (for example: muscular men, fashion models, porn etc) because they can imagine how hot it would be to look like that themselves or be in a similar situation. "

I think you nailed it right there if you're not interested in a relationship or sex with men. This is entirely true, look at all of the model magazines that women buy and body building mags that men buy, they have information on how to look like that, and are largely example pictures because people like to LOOK at what THEY want to look like.
There's a difference in finding something aesthetically pleasing and finding it actually attractive. You might find a well built man aesthetically pleasing, it's something you want to look more like, and you enjoy the look of it, but it's not something you'd want to have sex with. less

Ahh, this makes me feel normal! I was really in denial about being trans for so long, and was really confused. I AM definitely attracted to males, but also just looking at males and thinking about myself being male-bodied does turn me on quite a bit. I'm glad I'm not the only one. less