What makes a good bike in my eyes, I thought I would share some of my likes and dislikes as far as motorbikes goes and what lead me to my latest acquisition.
So, I am (or was) just over 6’ 3” and weigh in at about 12 ½ stone with long arms and legs. I have ridden bikes for around 50 years without extended breaks. I don’t really like people much so ride mostly on my own but will always stop for another rider in distress and always wave at other riders.
There used to be only three kinds of two wheelers when I started riding, Harleys, Motorbikes and Trailies but over time we now have Cruisers, Tourers, Sports, Super-Sports, Adventure, Off road, Track, Naked, Super Naked, Street-Fighters, Roadsters, Commuters and on and on and on, so the choice is immense. I like all bikes but there are some bikes I would not spend my own money on so I started by eliminating manufacturers fist.
These are the ones that I eliminated, Aerial, Arch, Bimota, Brough Superior, Confederate, Egli Vincent, JMC Norvin and Wyrus on the grounds of outrageous cost, availability or dealer back up. I also eliminated anything Chinese for a number of reasons. I also eliminated electric bikes for cost and **** poor range.
Next I eliminated bikes by type, or anything with a screen, I’m way too young to need a screen especially as they just make riding so uncomfortable with the noise and buffeting. So out went Sports bikes, Tourers and Adventure bikes. Next was Cruisers, even though I doo like the style and sound of hogs they are just too small for my long legs, they are all a bit too cramped for me, Indian is much the same. Commuters were next to go as I don’t need or like little bikes. I don’t go off road so out went off road and off road style bikes. I have tried or owned many of the above types of bike and don’t get on with them so I do know what I’m looking for/missing.
This left what I know best and enjoy riding the most, Naked Bikes, Roadsters, Street Fighters and Street Bikes (so many labels) but there is still a huge choice out there so I needed to whittle them down a bit further. I set a lower limit of 900cc and a top limit of 150bhp. This eliminated all the nutters bikes with massive unusable power and a few middle weight bikes. So what’s left that fits my criteria, BMW boxer, well I have one of them already. Ducati monster, I have one of them already. Honda, they are good but boring bikes. KTM, they seem to be in flux at the moment so I decided to pass, even though I like some of their bikes. Kawasaki, never owned a kwaker before, they only have the Z900 and Z900rs. Norton, I like the looks but wanted a new bike not a 70’s bike with a new number plate. Suzuki, I like suzi’s, only option is the GSX1000s. Triumph, already have a Speed-Triple and the twins are all a bit too small for me. Yamaha, had a few yams, they only have XSR900 or the MT09.
I ride all year round, purely for fun/pleasure. I try to get out at least 4-5 times a week and only ride in the dry, even it the UK. A bike has to speak to me, I have to have a connection with it and it has to put a smile on my fizzog. So what is it? I pick it up on the 17 of July as long as it’s dry (don’t fancy picking up a new bike with fresh tyres in the pissing rain) and I will post a pic when I get it. However there is a massive prise for the first person who guesses right (Terms and conditions apply).
So, I am (or was) just over 6’ 3” and weigh in at about 12 ½ stone with long arms and legs. I have ridden bikes for around 50 years without extended breaks. I don’t really like people much so ride mostly on my own but will always stop for another rider in distress and always wave at other riders.
There used to be only three kinds of two wheelers when I started riding, Harleys, Motorbikes and Trailies but over time we now have Cruisers, Tourers, Sports, Super-Sports, Adventure, Off road, Track, Naked, Super Naked, Street-Fighters, Roadsters, Commuters and on and on and on, so the choice is immense. I like all bikes but there are some bikes I would not spend my own money on so I started by eliminating manufacturers fist.
These are the ones that I eliminated, Aerial, Arch, Bimota, Brough Superior, Confederate, Egli Vincent, JMC Norvin and Wyrus on the grounds of outrageous cost, availability or dealer back up. I also eliminated anything Chinese for a number of reasons. I also eliminated electric bikes for cost and **** poor range.
Next I eliminated bikes by type, or anything with a screen, I’m way too young to need a screen especially as they just make riding so uncomfortable with the noise and buffeting. So out went Sports bikes, Tourers and Adventure bikes. Next was Cruisers, even though I doo like the style and sound of hogs they are just too small for my long legs, they are all a bit too cramped for me, Indian is much the same. Commuters were next to go as I don’t need or like little bikes. I don’t go off road so out went off road and off road style bikes. I have tried or owned many of the above types of bike and don’t get on with them so I do know what I’m looking for/missing.
This left what I know best and enjoy riding the most, Naked Bikes, Roadsters, Street Fighters and Street Bikes (so many labels) but there is still a huge choice out there so I needed to whittle them down a bit further. I set a lower limit of 900cc and a top limit of 150bhp. This eliminated all the nutters bikes with massive unusable power and a few middle weight bikes. So what’s left that fits my criteria, BMW boxer, well I have one of them already. Ducati monster, I have one of them already. Honda, they are good but boring bikes. KTM, they seem to be in flux at the moment so I decided to pass, even though I like some of their bikes. Kawasaki, never owned a kwaker before, they only have the Z900 and Z900rs. Norton, I like the looks but wanted a new bike not a 70’s bike with a new number plate. Suzuki, I like suzi’s, only option is the GSX1000s. Triumph, already have a Speed-Triple and the twins are all a bit too small for me. Yamaha, had a few yams, they only have XSR900 or the MT09.
I ride all year round, purely for fun/pleasure. I try to get out at least 4-5 times a week and only ride in the dry, even it the UK. A bike has to speak to me, I have to have a connection with it and it has to put a smile on my fizzog. So what is it? I pick it up on the 17 of July as long as it’s dry (don’t fancy picking up a new bike with fresh tyres in the pissing rain) and I will post a pic when I get it. However there is a massive prise for the first person who guesses right (Terms and conditions apply).
