Are looks everything?

[Hiflyer]

If I like the look of a new flash sports bike, does that make me a squid? If I like the look of an older 90’s bike does that make me not cool enough to ride with the other “cool cats” on their flashy sports bikes? Or should I look for something in between so that I feel like a douche trying to please everyone?


These are all things that go through my head when I think about which bike I want to buy when I get my full. But it’s stupid really cos why do I care what other people think about my bike? Because in reality biking is a selfish hobby, and even if you share it with people there are only a select few who you can share it with, It should be about the owners choice, don’t take other peoples advice to heart too much.

Why should we care what other people think? Isn’t it all about the ride that the bike offers you when you get on? Some people say that the looks of the bike don’t matter and that you can’t see the bike when you’re riding etc etc. But do you not look at the bike when you walk up to it? Do you not look in reflections to see yourself and remind yourself you are in fact on a bike you like the look of?

My old flatmate bought a GPX250 cos he heard they were reliable and plenty fast for a learner, but got fed up with its looks after a while, while on the other hand my uncle bought a 916 cos its fricken sexual, and while the looks and power are to die for he said his Moto Guzzi was a much more enjoyable ride....

There are so many things to consider when choosing a bike, but should looks really be one of them? Look at what happened to my uncle...

I guess asking this question on kb is pointless cos 80% of the sports bike riders will say looks/performance are all that matters and 80% of the enduro riders will say it’s only the comfort of the ride that matters (for obvious reasons haha) There are so many opinions out there and ..... I don’t even know what my point is.....

Maybe it’s, don’t get too hung up on the looks of a bike, or maybe it’s, just do whatever you want



But in the end it’s your choice, don’t let other people’s opinions or KB bring you down!!!!

[firefighter]

Sounds like you can afford to buy whatever you want! (lucky bastard!)

Get whatever you like, new/old/whatever......

Feel and comfort, and yeah, if you have the money a nice new stylish bike will have the technology to give you the first two....

You needa like the look of it still, there's plenty of mint looking bikes out there that that will tickle your fancy and still offer plenty of comfort, grunt and are fun and will keep you happy...

What will make you look like a dick is if you buy an R1 and don't know how to ride it........(coming off a hyo 250 i'd say ......no) :oi-grr:

But, do you actually care what people think of your bike???? :baby:

The people who wank on negatively about your brand new bike are usually just little jealous homos.....or have'nt gotten over pubity yet.......
Like chicks when they judge other chicks for a top or something they're wearing, when really the reason is they know they look hot, and they would'nt be able to look as good......and can't handle it......(they're usually fat and ugly too lol :rolleyes:)

[Indiana_Jones]

Just get what you want.

Fuck the other cunts

-Indy

[firefighter]

Just get what you want.

Fuck the other cunts

-Indy

What you said. I should have just said that. :apint:

[Hiflyer]

Sounds like you can afford to buy whatever you want! (lucky bastard!)

Get whatever you like, new/old/whatever......

Feel and comfort, and yeah, if you have the money a nice new stylish bike will have the technology to give you the first two....

You needa like the look of it still, there's plenty of mint looking bikes out there that that will tickle your fancy and still offer plenty of comfort, grunt and are fun and will keep you happy...

What will make you look like a dick is if you buy an R1 and don't know how to ride it........(coming off a hyo 250 i'd say ......no) :oi-grr:

But, do you actually care what people think of your bike???? :baby:

The people who wank on negatively about your brand new bike are usually just little jealous homos.....or have'nt gotten over pubity yet.......
Like chicks when they judge other chicks for a top or something they're wearing, when really the reason is they know they look hot, and they would'nt be able to look as good......and can't handle it......(they're usually fat and ugly too lol :rolleyes:)


Just get what you want.

Fuck the other cunts

-Indy

Haha both very good points, I'm not too fussed about the performance of the bike cos any newish 600 or larger bike will destroy a 250 haha and yea there is alot of bitchyness in the bike world.

Oh and Indy, its easy for you to say "fuck the other cunts" cos your bikes a real looker!!!!

[PirateJafa]

They're not everything?

Fuck, there goes me sole reason for owning my bikes.

[jono035]

Haha both very good points, I'm not too fussed about the performance of the bike cos any newish 600 or larger bike will destroy a 250 haha and yea there is alot of bitchyness in the bike world.

Oh and Indy, its easy for you to say "fuck the other cunts" cos your bikes a real looker!!!!

Get advice from people on here about how the bike handles, whether it has enough grunt for you (or too much), whether it has any annoying tendencies (like catching on fire at 120km/hr on the motorway) and then do what everyone else does.

Choose the one that looks nicest.

[nallac]

.Choose the fastest one that looks nicest .


yip thats good advice....

[boman]

Choose what ever gets you on the bike riding, looks or performance, or both. They are no good locked in the shed.

[Dodgyiti]

It's such an emotive journey buying a bike.

Because I mostly buy older bikes, I have the following mental list of all the sensible things. This list is written on the lightest material known to man and can fly out the window with the slightest breeze when looking at a prospective new machine..:rolleyes:

Parts: can I get all the things needed for daily running, tuneups etc, and how much are they or what is a minor and major service worth

Running Costs: How much to insure per year, how hard is it on tyres and how much are replacements, is there anything due for replacement

Resale: what are older simmilar models selling for, is it a popular colour (re-sale red rules!)

Enjoyment: will it do all I need (tour/commute/luggage/scratch etc) how long will my licence last

From that you will know if the bike that does take your fancy measures up to what you need.

I usually work out the 4 things above before I even go looking at prospective new bikes because when you see it in the flesh and hear it running the mind gets clouded.

[p.dath]

I think you spend too much time worry about what everyone else thinks.

Just get what you like. Simple.

[Big Dave]

You just have to be smarter than the internet.

[Okey Dokey]

Get what you like and you will be happy. Why worry about what others like? Presumably they got what they wanted, too.

[Mystic13]

If I like the look of a new flash sports bike, does that make me a squid? If I like the look of an older 90’s bike does that make me not cool enough to ride with the other “cool cats” on their flashy sports bikes? Or should I look for something in between so that I feel like a douche trying to please everyone?


These are all things that go through my head when I think about which bike I want to buy when I get my full. But it’s stupid really cos why do I care what other people think about my bike?



I think you think too much. So the question is how can you deal with this inferiority complex you have so that you don't have an issue buying whatever bike you want?

I'd be curious about how many riders care about what other riders think of their bike. I know I don't. I suspect on the whole most don't care.

[sidecar bob]

I think you should just buy my RSV R, only 12k.
That should please everyone!! including me.

[Hiflyer]

na i was just exploring both sides of the story, I like to know that people like my bike as well as myself but I also know its my choice in the end and I'll be happy with the bike I buy, why else would I have bought it? haha

[James Deuce]

It's 99% how you look.

[Hiflyer]

well crap whatever I buy is gunna look crap then haha

[Ecclesnz]

Having recently upgraded my bike I can understand what you are thinking.

That said however I decdided that the bike was being bought for me to ride.

I don't plan on doing any form of stunt riding or public display so honestly did not really worry too much about how I looked on it, to an extent.

The people I choose to share my riding experiences with are bike lovers. Some ride crotch rockets, some ride adventure bikes and some ride cruisers etc.

The understand the love of bikes, and the different quilities and aspects of different bikes. Chances are if you get a bike you love, one that makes you grin just thinking about startng it, then those who deserve to share your riding experiences will understand your choice.

Feel free to share your reasons for buying bike x, y or LS650 however never feel like you have to defend your choice. There was a thread on here a while ago about owning yoru own part of road, hell yes, but own your own bike too.

As long as you can ride and be happy, I don't care what you ride, be it an Aprillia or a honda 110, just when you're done, get off the bike with that ear to ear grin and I will exactly how you feel.

[Voltaire]

It's such an emotive journey buying a bike.

Because I mostly buy older bikes, I have the following mental list of all the sensible things. This list is written on the lightest material known to man and can fly out the window with the slightest breeze when looking at a prospective new machine..:rolleyes:

Parts: can I get all the things needed for daily running, tuneups etc, and how much are they or what is a minor and major service worth

Running Costs: How much to insure per year, how hard is it on tyres and how much are replacements, is there anything due for replacement

Resale: what are older simmilar models selling for, is it a popular colour (re-sale red rules!)


Enjoyment: will it do all I need (tour/commute/luggage/scratch etc) how long will my licence last

From that you will know if the bike that does take your fancy measures up to what you need.

I usually work out the 4 things above before I even go looking at prospective new bikes because when you see it in the flesh and hear it running the mind gets clouded.

So thats the Holden Ute project cleared up....what about the Guzzi's :rofl:

[AD345]

See bike.

Like bike?

Ride bike.

Like bike?

Buy bike.

[hang0ver]

Has someone been paying you out for owning a GT250R?

[Hiflyer]

Haha na I was just thinking how it can be easy to get caught up in what people think and how it can make you miss out on awesome things, not just biking wise either.

[Indiana_Jones]

Haha na I was just thinking how it can be easy to get caught up in what people think and how it can make you miss out on awesome things, not just biking wise either.

You think too much.......

Get a Daytona 600

-Indy

[Hiflyer]

You think too much.......

Get a Daytona 600

-Indy

ooorrr

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-230621564.htm :headbang:

:banana::banana::banana::banana:

[Blackshear]

I forget the important parts, BUT!
Grandpa walks, boy rides donkey over bridge.
Grandpa rides, boy walks over bridge.
Grandpa and boy ride donkey over bridge
Grandpa and boy carry donkey over bridge, donkey falls off and dies.

Moral: Please everyone and you'll eventually lose your ass.

[jrandom]

It's 99% how you look.

'kin oath.

Motorcycles aren't just machines for turning petrol into awesomeness, they're a visual statement of what you are on the inside.

Me, on the inside, I'm a big black bike with a big round headlight and proper handlebars and a motor that goes brrrmm brrrmm (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xgBr91m7DA).

So I got me one-a those. It's great.

[Mom]

Some of the responses on this thread have made me laugh.

I am cool and so is my blue lovely. In fact I will go as far as to say my blue lovely is the best bike in the world. I have to say that or else she will be very naughty and misbehave again :dodge:

I could care less what anyone else thinks frankly. Sure there are other, flasher, more sparklier (is that a word?) newer bikes out there, but do I care? Not a jot.

It is not about what you ride, all bikes are cool, it is just some are sparklier than others. They may (most likely do) or may not have much better everything than my blue lovely but so what!

[Indiana_Jones]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

-Indy

[Pathos]

Looks are everything when its parked and worthless when riding. bikes spend time doing both.

I bought my 636 because I wanted the performance of a modern 600 but I love the fact that its so pretty. Especially in Candy plasma blue.

I've never had a pretty bike before but I just have to flick the light on in the morning and catch a glimpse before I ride to work on the GS.

[Squid]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

-Indy

Too true. Thats why I like the look of my naked Gixxa sem fiddy. Huge round headlights on the front that look like bug eyes, too fat on the bum end, handle bars too low, exhaust too loud but I love it :love:

[2wheeldrifter]

When you already look this good.... a bike aren't going to help much,



if at all......

[AllanB]

Of course it counts.

Pop into any Harley shop - the bikes are designed around the 'look' ditto every other brand that has a HD look-alike cruiser in their range.

Ducati - which bike caused such a uproar a few years ago as it was fuggly compared to it's predecessor 99something....

Triumph - bonnie - hmmm looks like a bonnie :drool:

Sport bikes - any - notice how they all look alike - and all look like XYZ'z race bikes.

Do you really want to be the guy riding the cow of a bike?

[AllanB]

Huge round headlights on the front that look like bug eyes, too fat on the bum end, handle bars too low, exhaust too loud


Weird - you just described an old girlfriend .......:rolleyes:

[Mikkel]

If it can make you go OOOOOH - both riding and looking at it - and it doesn't upset your hemorrhoids it's all good.

Who cares what you ride? Ride your own ride.

[Dean]

Looks are shite, nothing, when buying a bike, its simple, my thesis:

When you are going 100kph into a oncoming cars path do you think the drivers going to pause for a half a second and think "that bikes a real looker".

Or when you are riding down the main road at 60kph past pathway onlookers, you cant see every detail of the bike, so what would you notice
A) scrathed paint and battered detail
B) POWAAAR the speed in which you are travelling, fast or slow.

When YOU are riding it can you
A) pop your head around the bike and admire the rear headlights and rear tyre etc
B) Feel the acceration the POWAAAR .
When you are riding it, looks dont benifet you in the safety side of things, the answer to all my situations raised is POAWARRR.

[crazyhorse]

Motorcycling is about getting out there doing it - who gives what you ride or how you ride, so long as you are doing it - so buy what you want and have fun doing it

[jono035]

yip thats good advice....

Heyyyyyy come on now, that was a misquote :)

[retro asian]

It can be a hard decision man.
Think about what the bike will be used for the most.

I ended up passing up on the best looking bike I could afford. It would've have made me Uber-cool, but it didn't really suit my needs -was too big, too loud, and a bit too old. Not the best for a daily commute.

However, I now love the sensible bike I chose...and maybe sometime in the future I will have a go of buying a big engine custom-pipes chopped-look impractical butt-flossing-pillion-seat super vibrating machine...

[Hiflyer]

Looks are shite, nothing, when buying a bike, its simple, my thesis:

When you are going 100kph into a oncoming cars path do you think the drivers going to pause for a half a second and think "that bikes a real looker".

Or when you are riding down the main road at 60kph past pathway onlookers, you cant see every detail of the bike, so what would you notice
A) scrathed paint and battered detail
B) POWAAAR the speed in which you are travelling, fast or slow.

When YOU are riding it can you
A) pop your head around the bike and admire the rear headlights and rear tyre etc
B) Feel the acceration the POWAAAR .
When you are riding it, looks dont benifet you in the safety side of things, the answer to all my situations raised is POAWARRR.


Do you never look at your bike when you walk up to it? :blank:

[SPman]

It's 99% how you look.
Well, that's you fucked then!

[James Deuce]

You can talk, chicken head!

[Dean]

Do you never look at your bike when you walk up to it? :blank:

Mate it depends on what kind of rider you are, do you sit and stare at your bike more than you ride it? I dont think you do i assume. I would rather ride my bike for 4 hours instead of sitting blazed steering at the darn thing. As said before when you are riding the bike you can have fun within legal speed limits in the twisties, no way in your mind are you noticing or thinking about how it looks. Your anticipating the next corner, so on and so forth.

[steve_t]

You can talk, chicken head!

:clap: :laugh:

[slofox]

I reckon my own bike is pretty fugly to look at. But I have a helluva good time riding it. For me, function wins over form every time.

[kevfromcoro]

well this interesting......
it doesnt matter what you ride ...
as long as you ride....................
i have been riding for a few years....
my last bike overseas was a rg150.
then i rode a harley.. for a few days.
its all fun really... who cares what you look like.
i dont care.....
i will ride anything.....

[slofox]

i will ride anything.....

what, even that huckery..errr y'know? Personally i like to discriminate a little as to what I mount...

[puddy]

If you get the 650 Hyosung because you like the look of it, or if you think Hyosungs are cool/fast/etc, or if you think that other people want one, or whatever ..............then you really ARE GAY!

[Maha]

Looks are shite, nothing, when buying a bike, its simple, my thesis:

When you are going 100kph into a oncoming cars path do you think the drivers going to pause for a half a second and think "that bikes a real looker".

Or when you are riding down the main road at 60kph past pathway onlookers, you cant see every detail of the bike, so what would you notice
A) scrathed paint and battered detail
B) POWAAAR the speed in which you are travelling, fast or slow.

When YOU are riding it can you
A) pop your head around the bike and admire the rear headlights and rear tyre etc
B) Feel the acceration the POWAAAR .
When you are riding it, looks dont benifet you in the safety side of things, the answer to all my situations raised is POAWARRR.


You thesis is Horse shit.

Looks can often come into the equation when 'looking' to buy a bike, perhaps not for you, you bought a zeal. I wanted my current bike over the S model because it looks fucking stunning in blue with gold rims (to me anyway)
There are certain bikes out there that I would never want to own, and if I am going to spend my money on a bike, it will be 50% looks and 50% price that dictates my decision. The look of a bike is the first thing that you notice?

[Dean]

You thesis is Horse shit.

Looks can often come into the equation when 'looking' to buy a bike, perhaps not for you, you bought a zeal. I wanted my current bike over the S model because it looks fucking stunning in blue with gold rims (to me anyway)
There are certain bikes out there that I would never want to own, and if I am going to spend my money on a bike, it will be 50% looks and 50% price that dictates my decision. The look of a bike is the first thing that you notice?

Dont insult my zeal and brag about your bike, my thesis still stands strong, you could be currently riding the ugliest of bikes/lady............... but it doesent matter! Because you dont recognize its cosmetic flaws when you are riding it. You can have fun on a little bucket 125, just as you could have fun on a big bike, remember the saying "riding is about embracing the journey not the destination". Looks are nothing.

[ducatilover]

Just get what you want.

Fuck the other cunts

-Indy

+1 for indy.
I ride what I find makes my genital area stand up that half inch it only does for Marylin Monroe :clap::first:

[Maha]

Looks are shite, nothing, when buying a bike, its simple.



you could be currently riding the ugliest of bikes.

Do you want to re-write your thesis?
Seems you are misguided somewhat on where you stand exactly?

[98tls]

remember the saying "riding is about embracing the journey not the destination". Looks are nothing. Who the fuck said that?.Whoever it was spent far to much on the side of the road thinking than riding,that or his wife was a fatty.

[Dean]

but it doesent matter! Because you dont recognize its cosmetic flaws when you are riding it.


Because you judge 50/50 on performance and looks right, so i put thats as an example so you would understand. As you made it pretty clear looks were part of YOUR choice did you not?


Do you want to re-write your thesis?
Seems you are misguided somewhat on where you stand exactly?

[Maha]

Because you judge 50/50 on performance and looks right, so i put thats as an example so you would understand. As you made it pretty clear looks were part of YOUR choice did you not?

Wrong, Looks and cost.
The best looking and most suited bike my money can buy.

Im so shallow......:rolleyes:

[Dean]

Who the fuck said that?.Whoever it was spent far to much on the side of the road thinking than riding.

It has been on many signatures of kb profiles, words switched around here and there but all the same meaning. Im suprised you havent heard of the expression.

[98tls]

It has been on many signatures of kb profiles, words switched around here and there but all the same meaning. Im suprised you havent heard of the expression. Really:rolleyes:Still,bit of a newbie to the whole motorcycling thing myself,note to self "pay more attention to KB profiles".:nono:

[Dean]

Wrong, Looks and cost.
The best looking and most suited bike my money can buy.

Im so shallow......:rolleyes:

Everyone has different tastes in motorcycles, at the end of the day buy what pleases you, eg in your case looks and cost. Obviously im on a 250 so im a noob, and have only owned a few bikes in the past, but the thesis makes sense.

[monkeymcbean]

You just have to be smarter than the internet.

Smarter than designers that understand the emotions that drive consumer decisions, 'emotional mapping' ...thats if you feel you need to be smarter though!

[Highlander]

Wrong, Looks and cost.
The best looking and most suited bike my money can buy.

Im so shallow......:rolleyes:

Looks and cost you say?
Is that really a K1200S in your Avatar?
Looking to hop off the Honda onto a BMW?

For me looks are a part of the equation, but not as big as price and rideability.
I never really considered BMW because of the perception that they were overpriced, and I think they are ugly (especially the Boxers). Then I found one in my price bracket and took it for a ride just to rule it out.

Bought it.

Loving it.

Still not convinced about the looks, but it ticked all the other boxes. Good thing the R1100s is the purtiest bike BMW ever made.

[monkeymcbean]

I think you think too much. So the question is how can you deal with this inferiority complex you have so that you don't have an issue buying whatever bike you want?


I'd be curious about how many riders care about what other riders think of their bike. I know I don't. I suspect on the whole most don't care.

Huh! there is a whole lot of people employed out in this world to just subtley work on people like you, I and the next rider.
Everytime you pick up bike magazine any magazine, what people wear, what cars they drive, it all influences you and your decision on what you buy whether it is emotional or not.

Bikes are no different in why people buy this bike as opposed to the next, Harley Davidson has its marketing down pat. I reckon alot of riders do care what sort of bike they are riding and what it means to them or mean to others. Hell the whole world revolves around desirablity.

[gatch]

I can't remember where I read it but someone compared bikes to woman.. ie

First impressions based on looks, get to know it for a little while, thrash it heaps in a short space of time, having fun ? Any niggling maintainance issues ? If its draining your life, get rid of it.. etc etc

[98tls]

I can't remember where I read it but someone compared bikes to woman.. ie

First impressions based on looks, get to know it for a little while, thrash it heaps in a short space of time, having fun ? Any niggling maintainance issues ? If its draining your life, get rid of it.. etc etc Then again going back to the "forget the destination blah blah' and once again thinking woman if you end up thinking wtf and bedding a fatty the last thing on your mind is the journey.