Motorcyclist Demographics

[rastuscat]

A few years back I saw a list of 8 demographics some study had grouped motorcyclists into.

Cruisers, Born Agains, Mods, Rebels, that sort of thing.

Anyone know where I can find that again?

Or alternately, it'd be interesting to hear anyone's ideas on broad categories of "us".

Just interested.

[AllanB]

Born again (could also be covered as Harley Riders...)


Hmm good question as the old school 1%ers appear to have gone - yeah they still wear patches but they own more expensive bikes than I can and when it is wet toodle off in their HSV's or Mercs .....

There is almost a European/Japanese fraction now - not a anti one as they tend to ride together just with long term brand loyalties.

Sports - possibly a sub category here of hyper-sports

Cruisers

Nakeds (these used to be just 'motorcycles')

[merv]

There is the adventure rider group too that like getting dirty.

I was more of the old trail bike rider type myself but they are disappearing and being replaced by the flash guys with a lot of money to spend on big heavy adventure bikes.

[Zedder]

Born again (could also be covered as Harley Riders...)


Hmm good question as the old school 1%ers appear to have gone - yeah they still wear patches but they own more expensive bikes than I can and when it is wet toodle off in their HSV's or Mercs .....

There is almost a European/Japanese fraction now - not a anti one as they tend to ride together just with long term brand loyalties.

Sports - possibly a sub category here of hyper-sports

Cruisers

Nakeds (these used to be just 'motorcycles')

Those motorbike cops are trouble, hooning around in their colours and making vehicles move over for them. Ever noticed they're at most crashes?

[Voltaire]

I was on a bike run last weekend, 50 odd bikes, mine was one of the newer ones at 1974, oldest rider was over 80 I think, as was his bike... 160kms of Whangarai back roads :niceone:

[Motu]

the old school 1%ers appear to have gone - yeah they still wear patches but they own more expensive bikes than I can and when it is wet toodle off in their HSV's or Mercs .....

Agree with the expensive bikes, but when it's wet and cold, the most common bike on the road is a HD with the rider in an open face helmet and scarf.

[James Deuce]

Agree with the expensive bikes, but when it's wet and cold, the most common bike on the road is a HD with the rider in an open face helmet and scarf.

Maybe where you're from. Here it's Firestorms and KTM 1190s with the odd SV650/1000 thrown in.

[T.W.R]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=312122&d=1432338770

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=312121&d=1432338770

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=312120&d=1432338770

[T.W.R]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=312123&d=1432338827


http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=312119&d=1432338770

[Flip]

There is only two groups. Us and rice burner riders.

[Motu]

I'm not so PC, I just call them what they are - Jap Shit.

[FJRider]

A few years back I saw a list of 8 demographics some study had grouped motorcyclists into.

Cruisers, Born Agains, Mods, Rebels, that sort of thing.

Anyone know where I can find that again?

Wikipedia ... :blank:


Or alternately, it'd be interesting to hear anyone's ideas on broad categories of "us".

Just interested.

If you mean KB'rs ... Self-centered, opinionated, know-it-all ... mototcycle enthusiasts ... (actually owning a motorcycle is not required)

[TheDemonLord]

Commuters

and Annoying scotter riders who don't check their mirrors while not filtering passed 2 trucks because it is too narrow (except I could fit my busa through no problem_

[rastuscat]

One day I'll sit and collate the comments. Just not today. Thanks though.

[baffa]

I'm not so PC, I just call them what they are - Jap Shit.

Superior Build Quality - Check.
Superior performance - Check
Superior handling and braking - Check
Superior Economy - Check
Superior Ride quality - Check
Superior reliability - Check
Superior technology - Check
Superior value - Check
Superior Grin factor - Check
Inferior Wank factor - Check.

So why do people bag on Jap bikes over american muscle again?

[Flip]

Jap bikes have:

Inferior build quality.
Inferior dealer network
Inferior parts availability
Eye wateringly expensive parts
Non-existent dealer sponsored owners club
Inferior resale value
Little to no custom parts availability.
Inferior fire resistance
Non-existent brand loyalty.
Built in obsolesce by both design and parts availability.
Inferior pride in ownership.

When I see some body with a "serious" Suzuki/Honda tattoo I will take it all back.

[Mike.Gayner]

When I see some body with a "serious" Suzuki/Honda tattoo I will take it all back.

Anyone who puts a brand name tattoo on their body is an unbelievable tool. Is that your way of saying "I am owned by a multi-million dollar profit-seeking corporation"? Brand loyalty is for fucking idiots and tools to marketing teams.

And Harleys are for fuckwits.

[TheDemonLord]

Jap bikes have:

Inferior build quality.
Inferior dealer network
Inferior parts availability
Eye wateringly expensive parts
Non-existent dealer sponsored owners club
Inferior resale value
Little to no custom parts availability.
Inferior fire resistance
Non-existent brand loyalty.
Built in obsolesce by both design and parts availability.
Inferior pride in ownership.

When I see some body with a "serious" Suzuki/Honda tattoo I will take it all back.

Inferior Build Quality - depends how you define as inferior
Inferior Dealer network - there's 1 HD shop in Auckland and at least 3 for Suzuki?
Inferior Parts Availibility - never had any trouble getting parts for my bikes, except for my 20 year old Hornet. Admitedly haven't tried to get parts for a Harley
Expensive Parts - Genuine Front brake pads for a 'Busa:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-gsxr600-gsxr750-gsxr1000-gsx1300r-genuine-front-brake-pads-59100-29840-/281217745246
vs Genuine Front brake pads for a Roadking:
http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/original-equipment-front-rear-brake-pads-44082-00d
Non existant Dealer sponsored owners club - And thank Fuck for that!
Inferior resale value - Are you talking about just raw Dollar value or adjusted value?
Little to no custom parts availability - there are plenty of Custom parts for my bike - ones that make it go faster, brake harder, turn quicker - Oh, wait you mean 'custom parts' as in useless pieces of chrome that make it look Fugly, Go slower etc.
Inferior fire resistance - lolwut?
Non-existent brand loyalty - How does this make the Bike any better? if anything the HD brand loyalty is responsible for the fact that they virtually never produce a new or original design.
Built in obsolesce by both design and parts availability - In the same way that things like Jet Fighters have this.
Inferior pride in ownership - Speak for yourself and in any case - most of the pride you speak of is just overblown, oversized egos of BAB having their midlife crisis, in which case you may keep your pride.

[Erelyes]

Jap bikes have:

Inferior build quality.

http://www.businessinsider.com/harley-davidson-reliability-issues-2014-2?IR=T

(Edit: original article http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/05/most-reliable-motorcycles/index.htm)

Yamaha was cited as the most reliable motorcycle brand, BMW the least reliable, and Harley-Davidson next to BMW in reliability issues.

As for the rest of your points:
- A parts network's not hard to run when your bikes all use the same parts and there are few of them (I bet H-D do their own coolant and it sells like hotcakes)
- 'Dealer funded' owner's club - and who funds the dealers? You do. :facepalm:
- 'Little to no custom parts availability'. I think you mean 'aftermarket'. 'Custom' is something just that. :facepalm:

I could go on but why bother.

[baffa]

This morning this thread made me giggle.
Now I'm laughing.

Flip has some valid points about Dealer networks, parts availability (maybe) owners clubs, and resale value.
I think however hes confusing brand loyalty with brand narcissism. Unlike certain marques I dont feel like hot shit simply because I ride a Honda, moreso I love the bike and brand for the build quality, their racing pedigree, and enjoyment factor.

You do realise how ironic it is to bring up Obsolescence (which I beleive was the word you were looking for) when Harley Davidson and their ilk purposely shun modern reliable technology (or hide it in the example of water cooling).

Share a picture of your tattoo, I havn't laughed enough today.

[Banditbandit]

A few years back I saw a list of 8 demographics some study had grouped motorcyclists into.

Cruisers, Born Agains, Mods, Rebels, that sort of thing.

Anyone know where I can find that again?

Or alternately, it'd be interesting to hear anyone's ideas on broad categories of "us".

Just interested.

https://advgrrls.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/bikes.jpg

[rastuscat]

Jap bikes have: Inferior fire resistance

Can't address all the issues, but this has turned into an interesting thread.

I can speak with some degree of authority on the fire retardness of BMWs.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0XDsR8vphtw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Flip]

Inferior Build Quality - depends how you define as inferior
Inferior Dealer network - there's 1 HD shop in Auckland and at least 3 for Suzuki?
Inferior Parts Availibility - never had any trouble getting parts for my bikes, except for my 20 year old Hornet. Admitedly haven't tried to get parts for a Harley
Expensive Parts - Genuine Front brake pads for a 'Busa:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-gsxr600-gsxr750-gsxr1000-gsx1300r-genuine-front-brake-pads-59100-29840-/281217745246
vs Genuine Front brake pads for a Roadking:
http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/original-equipment-front-rear-brake-pads-44082-00d
Non existant Dealer sponsored owners club - And thank Fuck for that!
Inferior resale value - Are you talking about just raw Dollar value or adjusted value?
Little to no custom parts availability - there are plenty of Custom parts for my bike - ones that make it go faster, brake harder, turn quicker - Oh, wait you mean 'custom parts' as in useless pieces of chrome that make it look Fugly, Go slower etc.
Inferior fire resistance - lolwut?
Non-existent brand loyalty - How does this make the Bike any better? if anything the HD brand loyalty is responsible for the fact that they virtually never produce a new or original design.
Built in obsolesce by both design and parts availability - In the same way that things like Jet Fighters have this.
Inferior pride in ownership - Speak for yourself and in any case - most of the pride you speak of is just overblown, oversized egos of BAB having their midlife crisis, in which case you may keep your pride.

This is my bike, its done 100,000 km, this is how I define build quality.

312186

Jap dealers come and go, most of them carry no parts. A HD dealer is required by contract to stock parts, be trained, also provide service and there is a MRP on all parts to prevent dealer price gouging.

Price wise, you have compared an E bay $50 special with full dealer price and there is only $5 in it. Do a search on roadking pads and you will find them for $8.

Not everbody is interested in HoG but saying that the club is bigger than Auckland.

After market, yea right, get a copy of the HD after market bits, both custom and performance, it's the size of a phone book. The custom chrome one is bigger.

BAB, not in my case, been riding for at least 40 years and still going strong. Jap bikes are for SQUIDs - Acronym for Stupidly Quick, Underdressed, Imminantly DeadSquids.

In this world the two most common tattoos are Mum followed by HD.

Your comment about Jet fighters and planned obsolesce sounds about right to me. What would you rather own/fly in a F16 or a Spitfire? What would you rather drive DB4 or a WRX?

Quality gets better with age, cheap plastic disposeable vehicles are just that, disposeable.

[baffa]

I sold my CBR900RR with 140 kms on the clock, still going strong.
Therefore better than your Harley.

This is why people get HD tats. The ink lasts a lot longer than the bike.

[TheDemonLord]

This is my bike, its done 100,000 km, this is how I define build quality.

My gsx650FU did around 30,000/40,000 KM in under a year, till I traded it in, with only needed replacement tyres and a new Chain/Sprocket - everything works and was in very good condition (as proof of this, I got a tradein value of 6.5K, for a 3 year old bike with 50-60,000 Km - a brand new one is $10.5k)

So that is how I define build quality.


Jap dealers come and go, most of them carry no parts. A HD dealer is required by contract to stock parts, be trained, also provide service and there is a MRP on all parts to prevent dealer price gouging.

If your dealers are mandated to have parts, be trained and also set a certain price - tends to suggest that historically your dealers have been asshats engaging in dodgy business practices/sub standard practices - really selling me on the Harley Dream here. Pretty sure the big 3 Suzuki Dealers in Akl have lasted 10+ years.


Price wise, you have compared an E bay $50 special with full dealer price and there is only $5 in it. Do a search on roadking pads and you will find them for $8.

I compared Genuine parts (from a shop, albeit listen on Ebay) with Genuine parts - I also found Busa pads for cheaper - my point being that they are not excessively expensive as claimed.


Not everbody is interested in HoG but saying that the club is bigger than Auckland.

Somalia is bigger than Auckland, but it is still a shit hole filled with illiterate peasants who think that a witch doctors herbs will stop an AK47 bullet - Size is no indication of whether it is any good.


After market, yea right, get a copy of the HD after market bits, both custom and performance, it's the size of a phone book. The custom chrome one is bigger.

You use that word 'Performance' - it does not mean what you think it means.....

As I implied earlier- most of the aftermarket parts for Harley can be described with 'Overpriced Chrome Tat' IMO


BAB, not in my case, been riding for at least 40 years and still going strong. Jap bikes are for SQUIDs - Acronym for Stupidly Quick, Underdressed, Imminantly DeadSquids.

Then why is the biggest market for HDs among the 50 year old Male population? (source: http://static.cdn-seekingalpha.com/uploads/2012/5/30/3177621-13384002756620274-Survive---Prosper.jpg)

Sure Squids in the US buy Japanese (because allowing someone to buy a GSX-R1000 after completing the equivalent of a BSH test is a good idea.) however the rest of the world has cottoned on to the fact that learners should be limited in what they can ride till they have built up the experience to handle a more powerful machine. As an aside - I have found that a lot of Harley riders tend to favour the less-is-more strategy when it comes to wearing correct safety gear (Just like their SQUID brethren).


In this world the two most common tattoos are Mum followed by HD.

I think Mike summed it up better than I can about Tattoos of Corporate brands.


Your comment about Jet fighters and planned obsolesce sounds about right to me. What would you rather own/fly in a F16 or a Spitfire? What would you rather drive DB4 or a WRX?

I never liked the F16 anyway.... however if it was a choice between an F35 or an F22 then yes, I would take that over a Spitfire, just like I'd take a DB9 over a DB4


Quality gets better with age, cheap plastic disposeable vehicles are just that, disposeable.

I don't I would use the word Quality - instead I would use:

'Nostalgia for a teenage dream gets more expensive with middle age'

[Banditbandit]

'Nostalgia for a teenage dream gets more expensive with middle age'

:rofl: True ...

[Pontiac_Tonz]

Born again (could also be covered as Harley Riders...)


Hmm good question as the old school 1%ers appear to have gone - yeah they still wear patches but they own more expensive bikes than I can and when it is wet toodle off in their HSV's or Mercs .....



Hey that's me... but a Calais V.

neighbor was watering his lawn the other day, I was going to ride to work, but had to ride pass the sprinkler.... took the car instead. Can't be too careful eh?

[Banditbandit]

Not everbody is interested in HoG but saying that the club is bigger than Auckland.


Are you sugegsting a '1.5million blowflies can't be wrong' type of argument ???



In this world the two most common tattoos are Mum followed by HD.

Ummm .. shallow gene pool ???

[rambaldi]

I sold my CBR900RR with 140 kms on the clock, still going strong.
Therefore better than your Harley.

This is why people get HD tats. The ink lasts a lot longer than the bike.

I think you mean 140 kkms (or 140 Mega metres) :p either that or you barely got it off the lot before selling it.

I have seen photos of that million mile harley. Not sure how much left of the bike is stock but that is impressive. Not what I would expect out of every bike though...

[Gremlin]

Is there category for... I don't care if you ride something else because the world would be a boring place if everyone rode the same thing?

Got a Jap and a German, both brilliant for their respective uses. And... guess what? That's the key, you buy what suits you :ride:

Now get out and ride some more!

[TheDemonLord]

Is there category for... I don't care if you ride something else because the world would be a boring place if everyone rode the same thing?

Got a Jap and a German, both brilliant for their respective uses. And... guess what? That's the key, you buy what suits you :ride:

Now get out and ride some more!

But, But, But - this is KB! we can't have sensible opinions here!

[rambaldi]

Is there category for... I don't care if you ride something else because the world would be a boring place if everyone rode the same thing?

Got a Jap and a German, both brilliant for their respective uses. And... guess what? That's the key, you buy what suits you :ride:

Now get out and ride some more!

But my bike doesn't arrive for another couple weeks :(

[willytheekid]

Jap bikes have:

Inferior build quality.
Inferior dealer network
Inferior parts availability
Eye wateringly expensive parts
Non-existent dealer sponsored owners club
Inferior resale value
Little to no custom parts availability.
Inferior fire resistance
Non-existent brand loyalty.
Built in obsolesce by both design and parts availability.
Inferior pride in ownership.

When I see some body with a "serious" Suzuki/Honda tattoo I will take it all back.

Ok!...you can take it ALLLL back now mate;)

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/22/81/d7/2281d772fb180aa22730a586d711f361.jpg

https://motoinked.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/w4bze.jpg


...as for the other comments, I have only three letters that completely disprove ALL of that...V.F.R!:bleh: (More bike awards in just that ONE model than most brands could ever dream of!:D)


...I believe that all of the big brands have made some great bikes over the years...and some pure shitters as well:killingme, got nothing to do with country of origin or how many others own the same bike. End of the day, its about what makes YOU smile :love: (Me?...I just love bikes!!...harleys, hondas, trumpys - don't care!, as long as its a good model and keeps me smiling like a mad man! :D)

ps...20yr old VFR sittin in her park outside of work...about to hit 140,000ks...serviced her yesterday*...she still dosn't need a tune,...cos HONDA V4!...and like Flip, I look after my ride's (*Side Note...front plug removal on a V4 may involve magic and some yoga moves, nothings perfect...but she's damn close! lol)

LOVE WOT U RIDE...AND RIDE WOT U LOVE...simple really

as for
"Demographics (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/174708-Motorcyclist-Demographics/page3)"


...I honestly don't think there is one for me?:confused:...altho Stupid does come close!:yes: (Why else do I ride all seasons AND still pay excessive ACC fee's for the "privilege":facepalm:)

[Ender EnZed]

When I see some body with a "serious" Suzuki/Honda tattoo I will take it all back.

Take your pick. (https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=hayabusa+tattoo&safe=off&rlz=1C1CHMD_enNZ555NZ555&espv=2&biw=1164&bih=614&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=YKliVZHeNpPN8gWos4CABw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ)

[JimO]

This is my bike, its done 100,000 km, this is how I define build quality.

312186


looks like every other harley out there, have you no sense of individuality? you might as well be riding around on the 2 wheeled equivilant of a yellow cab -, what i dont get is how normal bike riding people buy a harley and turn themselves into their very own hells angel, and what the fuck do you need a leather waistcoat and a wallet on a chain for

[Swoop]

Jap bikes have:

Inferior build quality.
Inferior dealer network
Inferior parts availability
Eye wateringly expensive parts
Non-existent dealer sponsored owners club
Inferior resale value
Little to no custom parts availability.
Inferior fire resistance
Non-existent brand loyalty.
Built in obsolesce by both design and parts availability.
Inferior pride in ownership.

When I see some body with a "serious" Suzuki/Honda tattoo I will take it all back.
Wheeeeeeel. Where does one start with that lot of crap?

[Laava]

Jap bikes have:

Inferior build quality.
Inferior dealer network
Inferior parts availability
Eye wateringly expensive parts
Non-existent dealer sponsored owners club
Inferior resale value
Little to no custom parts availability.
Inferior fire resistance
Non-existent brand loyalty.
Built in obsolesce by both design and parts availability.
Inferior pride in ownership.

When I see some body with a "serious" Suzuki/Honda tattoo I will take it all back.

The most retarded post I have seen in a while. What a load of shit.

[Moi]

Is there category for... I don't care if you ride something else because the world would be a boring place if everyone rode the same thing?

Got a Jap and a German, both brilliant for their respective uses. And... guess what? That's the key, you buy what suits you :ride:

Now get out and ride some more!

+1 - but mine are Italian and Spanish...

[Kickaha]

and what the fuck do you need a leather waistcoat and a wallet on a chain for

To fit in with the rest of the Harley riding sheep

[Tazz]

Jap bikes have:

No need for so many fucking tools.

You're entitled to your own opinion and it's good to be prepared for the worst, but that's a mighty large array of tools for the bad ass reliability and build quality talk you sling of your road machine :laugh:


<img src="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=260086&d=1294116940" />

<img src="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=260087&d=1294116083" />

I'd be interested to know if the 140,000km Honda mentioned needed all that on hand ;)


http://cdn2.tattoowise.com/tattoos/medium/1d19c346/ignoranceisbliss-innerleftforearm.jpg

[buggerit]

every Harley on the road means one less campervan, just sayin:yes:

[merv]

I'd be interested to know if the 140,000km Honda mentioned needed all that on hand ;)


Lol, another question would be did the Honda rider even know his bike had a tool kit on board?

I had a similar chuckle many moons back on one of the South Island rides we did with Richard Scoular when he ran Sawyers in Wellington. One well known fellow traveller, who rode a BMW, was waxing lyrical about its toolkit while we were relaxing in the sun at a hotel at Haast and says "So how does your Honda toolkit compare to this?" My answer was of course "I don't know I've never had to use it". That was 1997 and I still have that 1994 VFR and I still rarely see the toolkit.

[pritch]

Thanks folks. This turned into an entertaining thread, even if that was not the intention.

[willytheekid]

I'd be interested to know if the 140,000km Honda mentioned needed all that on hand ;)


Not bad!...very similar to my Guzzi's old tool kit!! :laugh:(Add a hammer and lots of electrical cabling & fuses lol)



[/CENTER]"I don't know I've never had to use it". That was 1997 and I still have that 1994 VFR and I still rarely see the toolkit.

LOL...Ive been "trying" to get Roger at road n race to give the VFR a complete tune up for nearly a year now(tappets)...everytime, I get the same reply..."Nahhh, It would just be a waste of my time and your money...FFS willy, its a VFR750! NOT your guzzi!":killingme



ps...do they really come with tool kits??:blink:...why???:confused:
pps...I do like helping my mate work on his classic Harley tho, has a nice layout and usually always fun & easy to fix & tune...its a well designed bike IMHO...I don't really know why people knock em so hard?

[Gremlin]

I'd be interested to know if the 140,000km Honda mentioned needed all that on hand ;)
Almost 130k on the Hornet... The last 100k has almost exclusively (ie, <5k country) been commuting which is pretty hard on a bike.

Clutch cable at 60k, rear wheel bearings around 90k I think along with front forks serviced. Around 123k it got some love, suspension both ends overhauled, parts replaced etc. Other than that it's been tyres, brake pads, chains, sprockets and is onto it's 2nd set of brake discs (both ends). Oh, and the odd light bulb here and there.

[Moi]

...do they really come with tool kits??:blink:...why???:confused:

ballast? :innocent:

[Flip]

I carry a good tool kit in all my vehicles, c/w a first aid kit and small fire extinguisher. Nothing worse than having a break down and not being able to fix it. You might notice that a few of those tools in my HD kit are metric. Not much use to me on a imperial vehicle.

Some of my best friends ride jappers. No seriously they do.

[Tazz]

pps...I do like helping my mate work on his classic Harley tho, has a nice layout and usually always fun & easy to fix & tune...its a well designed bike IMHO...I don't really know why people knock em so hard?

Don't know aye. Couldn't have to do anything with the open minded non brand zombiefied hipster people like Flip.

Curious if he he owns Apple branded everything and excitedly starts conversations at the supermarket with people wearing the same colour.

:dodge:

I haven't got anything against any bike marques, mainly because Skoda and Lada don't make bikes, but the 'club' that peddle them can take their assless chaps and whisper sweet nothings about their 'steeds' in someone elses fuckin ear thanks!
It's like they feel they have to try and justify to themselves and others why they bought their bike every time they talk about them in comparison to other brands :laugh: I don't care, it's YOUR bloody bike! Go ride it :bleh:


I carry a good tool kit in all my vehicles, c/w a first aid kit and small fire extinguisher. Nothing worse than having a break down and not being able to fix it. You might notice that a few of those tools in my HD kit are metric. Not much use to me on a imperial vehicle.

Some of my best friends ride jappers. No seriously they do.

Nothing wrong with carrying a tool kit, its just funny to say you ride something that is superior to everything else because everything else is built like shit and breaks down all the time, yet your 'invincible' machine has 3kg worth of tools to hit the road with, just in case.

Where's your faith in what you preach? :laugh:

If parts are that 'out of this world' (by comparison) cheap, plentiful and the dealer network is so amazing you should only need to carry your low limit credit card anyway ;)

[swbarnett]

Almost 130k on the Hornet... The last 100k has almost exclusively (ie, <5k country) been commuting which is pretty hard on a bike.

Clutch cable at 60k, rear wheel bearings around 90k I think along with front forks serviced. Around 123k it got some love, suspension both ends overhauled, parts replaced etc. Other than that it's been tyres, brake pads, chains, sprockets and is onto it's 2nd set of brake discs (both ends). Oh, and the odd light bulb here and there.
140k on my GSX since '09 (all but 23k in the last 4.5 years). Had to replace the needles in the carbs at 100k (known issue) and a cam chain at 108k. Oh, and I've just replaced the clutch cable.

[Ocean1]

Nothing wrong with carrying a tool kit, its just funny to say you ride something that is superior to everything else because everything else is built like shit and breaks down all the time, yet your 'invincible' machine has 3kg worth of tools to hit the road with, just in case.

There's a quote, from a Rolls Royce exec at a press function on the release of a new model, when asked by some smart arsed oik if RR were so reliable then why they came with such a comprehensive tool kit.

The answer was roughly: We supply a tool kit so that our clients may render assistance to those unfortunate enough not to own a Rolls Royce.

Presumably HD kits are compiled from exclusively metric tools.

[rastuscat]

Just watched the vid of 56YQC going up in flames again.

Can't believe the commentary, largely provided by me.

"If we shut Moorhouse Ave at this time of day that'd be most un good". What was I thinking?

My Engrish teacher would turn in her grave. Especially as within seconds, I called for the road to be closed.

Ah the good old days.

[JimO]

why did it go on fire?

[merv]

Back to demographics Mr Cat did your 8 types include cops on bikes?

Also to follow the thread, while the BMW went up in flames what use was its toolkit?

[Gremlin]

"If we shut Moorhouse Ave at this time of day that'd be most un good". What was I thinking?
Probably something like... "There's no box on the incident report for burning the patrol vehicle to the ground" :facepalm:

Do they have fire extinguishers on board?

[HenryDorsetCase]

A few years back I saw a list of 8 demographics some study had grouped motorcyclists into.

Cruisers, Born Agains, Mods, Rebels, that sort of thing.

Anyone know where I can find that again?

Or alternately, it'd be interesting to hear anyone's ideas on broad categories of "us".

Just interested.

Duh.


Rebel
Guru
Beatnik
Traitor
Runner
Mentor
Pebble
Water
Preacher
Teacher

Beatnik.

[HenryDorsetCase]

140k on my GSX since '09 (all but 23k in the last 4.5 years). Had to replace the needles in the carbs at 100k (known issue) and a cam chain at 108k. Oh, and I've just replaced the clutch cable.

Its clearly a lemon. Get rid of it!

[rastuscat]

Probably something like... "There's no box on the incident report for burning the patrol vehicle to the ground" :facepalm:

Do they have fire extinguishers on board?

Fire extinguishers are a fecking waste of time on a decent bike fire. They burn like fury. A nearby Popo car driver emptied a dry powder into it, and the fire just laughed at it.

I thought it was a good idea, until I realised that if we torched the other one too, it might look suspicious.

DOH !! Is this forum open to the public?

[Flip]

[QUOTE=Tazz;1130866838]Don't know aye. Couldn't have to do anything with the open minded non brand zombiefied hipster people like Flip.

Curious if he he owns Apple branded everything and excitedly starts conversations at the supermarket with people wearing the same colour.

:dodge:

QUOTE]

I have nothing against jap bikes, they are very well designed, made and excellent value for money. I just enjoy a good vigorous discussion about motorcycles. Not sure about being hip?

I am a old school engineer by profession, I like old bikes, old cars, old radios, old guns and old houses. My HD is very old school, with modern reilyability and fuel consumption. However the roady can trace its ancestory directory back to a bike that was made in the 20's. I am happy with the existing mix of old and new in a vehicle that I can ride every day far and wide. It fits me like a old pair of shoes.

I don't actually own any apple products, I had a bad run with apple I pods and wont be buying any more apple products.

My HD has had 1 new belt in the last 10 years, a few bulbs and a new headlight and thats all I can think of. I do however run Mobil1 V2 or HD syn3 motor oil. For a high milage air cooled motor its oil consumption is like a new bike.

My love of old things is as follows, my house was made in the 1880's, my oldest car in 1928, my radio in 1956 (and I am working on an earlier one) my oldest hunting gun in 1762, my lathe in the 1950's. I believe just because something uses old technology doesn't mean its rubbish.

My last modern bike was a Triumph Trophy 1200. Loved that bike as well, powerfull but it was terrible to ride in cross winds. I also tended to collect a few speeding tickets on it which was a pain.

[400sm]

Anyone who puts a brand name tattoo on their body is an unbelievable tool. Is that your way of saying "I am owned by a multi-million dollar profit-seeking corporation"? Brand loyalty is for fucking idiots and tools to marketing teams.

And Harleys are for fuckwits.


OMG! Thank you. I don't even have to comment.

[400sm]

My gsx650FU did around 30,000/40,000 KM in under a year, till I traded it in, with only needed replacement tyres and a new Chain/Sprocket - everything works and was in very good condition (as proof of this, I got a tradein value of 6.5K, for a 3 year old bike with 50-60,000 Km - a brand new one is $10.5k)

So that is how I define build quality.



If your dealers are mandated to have parts, be trained and also set a certain price - tends to suggest that historically your dealers have been asshats engaging in dodgy business practices/sub standard practices - really selling me on the Harley Dream here. Pretty sure the big 3 Suzuki Dealers in Akl have lasted 10+ years.



I compared Genuine parts (from a shop, albeit listen on Ebay) with Genuine parts - I also found Busa pads for cheaper - my point being that they are not excessively expensive as claimed.



Somalia is bigger than Auckland, but it is still a shit hole filled with illiterate peasants who think that a witch doctors herbs will stop an AK47 bullet - Size is no indication of whether it is any good.



You use that word 'Performance' - it does not mean what you think it means.....

As I implied earlier- most of the aftermarket parts for Harley can be described with 'Overpriced Chrome Tat' IMO



Then why is the biggest market for HDs among the 50 year old Male population? (source: http://static.cdn-seekingalpha.com/uploads/2012/5/30/3177621-13384002756620274-Survive---Prosper.jpg)

Sure Squids in the US buy Japanese (because allowing someone to buy a GSX-R1000 after completing the equivalent of a BSH test is a good idea.) however the rest of the world has cottoned on to the fact that learners should be limited in what they can ride till they have built up the experience to handle a more powerful machine. As an aside - I have found that a lot of Harley riders tend to favour the less-is-more strategy when it comes to wearing correct safety gear (Just like their SQUID brethren).



I think Mike summed it up better than I can about Tattoos of Corporate brands.



I never liked the F16 anyway.... however if it was a choice between an F35 or an F22 then yes, I would take that over a Spitfire, just like I'd take a DB9 over a DB4



I don't I would use the word Quality - instead I would use:

'Nostalgia for a teenage dream gets more expensive with middle age'



I agree with you.......... except I think the F16 is THE shit.

[400sm]

looks like every other harley out there, have you no sense of individuality? you might as well be riding around on the 2 wheeled equivilant of a yellow cab -, what i dont get is how normal bike riding people buy a harley and turn themselves into their very own hells angel, and what the fuck do you need a leather waistcoat and a wallet on a chain for

Totally awesome.

[swbarnett]

Its clearly a lemon. Get rid of it!
Nah, it's not run in yet. I'll give another 100k and see what it's like then...

[Tazz]

There's a quote, from a Rolls Royce exec at a press function on the release of a new model, when asked by some smart arsed oik if RR were so reliable then why they came with such a comprehensive tool kit.

The answer was roughly: We supply a tool kit so that our clients may render assistance to those unfortunate enough not to own a Rolls Royce.

Presumably HD kits are compiled from exclusively metric tools.

I was in possession of a Bentley s2 for a while (silver cloud ii with Bentley badges) and the manual was a surprisingly good read. Particularly instructions to tow start the push button auto gearbox, including reference to leaving the upstanding gentleman towing you sufficient room as not to rear end his vehicle once started, but worded much bettera and there was probably reference to having your driver do it rather than implying you were driving yourself, God forbid.


[QUOTE=Tazz;1130866838]Don't know aye. Couldn't have to do anything with the open minded non brand zombiefied hipster people like Flip.

Curious if he he owns Apple branded everything and excitedly starts conversations at the supermarket with people wearing the same colour.

:dodge:

QUOTE]

I have nothing against jap bikes, they are very well designed, made and excellent value for money. I just enjoy a good vigorous discussion about motorcycles. Not sure about being hip?

I am a old school engineer by profession, I like old bikes, old cars, old radios, old guns and old houses. My HD is very old school, with modern reilyability and fuel consumption. However the roady can trace its ancestory directory back to a bike that was made in the 20's. I am happy with the existing mix of old and new in a vehicle that I can ride every day far and wide. It fits me like a old pair of shoes.

I don't actually own any apple products, I had a bad run with apple I pods and wont be buying any more apple products.

My HD has had 1 new belt in the last 10 years, a few bulbs and a new headlight and thats all I can think of. I do however run Mobil1 V2 or HD syn3 motor oil. For a high milage air cooled motor its oil consumption is like a new bike.

My love of old things is as follows, my house was made in the 1880's, my oldest car in 1928, my radio in 1956 (and I am working on an earlier one) my oldest hunting gun in 1762, my lathe in the 1950's. I believe just because something uses old technology doesn't mean its rubbish.

My last modern bike was a Triumph Trophy 1200. Loved that bike as well, powerfull but it was terrible to ride in cross winds. I also tended to collect a few speeding tickets on it which was a pain.


I just read to much into you retarded fanboy themed comments, you do them so well :-P

[Flip]

I do try.

,

[baffa]

Whilst we won't agree which marque is the best,
We can all at least agree that Auckland is NZ's best city.

[Oscar]

85% of all Harley Davidson's made are still on the road...




















































....the rest made it home.

[JimO]

Whilst we won't agree which marque is the best,
We can all at least agree that Auckland is NZ's best city.
totally, thousands of indians and asians cant be wrong

[Flip]

totally, thousands of indians and asians cant be wrong

Ouch.....................

[baffa]

Of course. They know from experience than south of the bombays thar be dragons

[Flip]

And the ride american iron.....




312368

[Laava]

And the ride american iron.

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/252/806/aa4.png

[yevjenko]

Jap bikes have:

Inferior build quality.
Inferior dealer network
Inferior parts availability
Eye wateringly expensive parts
Non-existent dealer sponsored owners club
Inferior resale value
Little to no custom parts availability.
Inferior fire resistance
Non-existent brand loyalty.
Built in obsolesce by both design and parts availability.
Inferior pride in ownership.

When I see some body with a "serious" Suzuki/Honda tattoo I will take it all back.
That's the funniest load of crap I've ever read. I seriously hope you don't believe that shit.

[pritch]

Yesterday I visited a bike shop that I hadn't been to in a while, they had a nice Road King. There were twenty seven thousand reasons I didn't buy it, besides which it would have been a real bitch to get in and out of my shed.

[F5 Dave]

I carry a good tool kit in all my vehicles, c/w a first aid kit and small fire extinguisher. Nothing worse than having a break down and not being able to fix it. You might notice that a few of those tools in my HD kit are metric. Not much use to me on a imperial vehicle.

Some of my best friends ride jappers. No seriously they do.

Who said we'd admit to being your friends? Oh that's right I have a Triumph now.:blink: You should buy a Triumph & experience some dealership love. . . . [lights fuse & stands well back]



Anyway you do at least own some decent vehicles (the ones with the tuning fork logos:innocent:).

[MarkH]

LOL at the inferior build quality comment, pretty much ensures no one can take any claim made by that poster with any seriousness at all.

Reliability: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/04/who-makes-the-most-reliable-motorcycle/index.htm

I ride a sports tourer, one of the biggest reasons for my particular choice was reliability and build quality. For me it is essential to have a reliable vehicle so that I can go to work and earn the money to spend on motorcycles & motorcycle accessories. The ST Owners forum has many mentions of the ST1300 being fine for more than quarter million miles with no mechanical work over and above routine maintenance. I have no knowledge of repairs because running 22 thousand kms in a year only requires petrol, oil, filters, tyres & maybe brake pads - no repairs of any kind.

I don't know much about motorcycle demographics, I just know I prefer to ride rather than drive. I have 4 wheels, by which I mean that I have 2 motorcycles in the garage. I ride 52 weeks a year running up 20,000+ km per year. I ride 350km per week to get to work & back 5 times and then when I'm on holiday I ride more kms than that. I ride at 3am when the temperature is below freezing and I ride in torrential rain and gale force wind. What demographic would I be in and why should I care about it?

[F5 Dave]

. . .

I ride a sports tourer, . . .

By that you must mean the DR650. :msn-wink:

[Flip]

Who said we'd admit to being your friends? Oh that's right I have a Triumph now.:blink: You should buy a Triumph & experience some dealership love. . . . [lights fuse & stands well back]



Anyway you do at least own some decent vehicles (the ones with the tuning fork logos:innocent:).

Triumph dealers....... Great bikes fucking terrible service. I used to ride a Triumph but I ordered some parts 5 years ago and they still havent turned up. If somebody from TriumphNZ would like to contact me and rectify the situation I would be delighted to (IMHO as a exTriumph owner) to stop bagging the useless theiving bunch of cunts.

With the influx of cheap low quality bikes from China the Jap bike riders have become the new anachronisms.

Welcome to the club boys!

[F5 Dave]

We meet on Tuesdays. . . . I'd be there right now but it's started to rain, and you know. . .

[Flip]

Yep I know, Mr Floppy.

[jonnyk5614]

Agree with the expensive bikes, but when it's wet and cold, the most common bike on the road is a HD with the rider in an open face helmet and scarf.

My Gixxer will still be cruising along. Sold my car this year - haven't looked back.