What you earn?

[Lazy7]

an interesting thing about how you pay/approach your biking.

whether your biking is because its a cheap alternative to driving and your doing it because it saves you money cause you got none.

or you worked hard for your bike and got a reasonably nice one with the little bit of money you had to play with after paying all your bills.

or you have quite a bit of money to play with and bought a nice "toy" for the weekends but have other quite nice "toys" as well.

Or you have enough money to buy lots of toys and have a few bikes just laying around depending on the weather. Along with other stuff - like a boat or maybe a fancy car.

[Colapop]

You haven't catered for - other....
I spend too much money on my sport so I don't have a bike ... yet.... And when I do get one the bank will own it for awhile probably, and then I'll break it and myself and then I'll be back at square 1.

[bugjuice]

I work hard for my toys..
then I enjoy them more..

[Big Dave]

MUCH more than any of that - motorcycles are my work, leisure and lifestyle.

(and my mrs pays for them)

[Grahameeboy]

I bought my new bike cash before Misses left.....phew........

It is just a Toy as I get ferry to work but I have a Kayak too and it is nice to have Toys to play on when you want to......

[Big Chim]

I would have to say for commuting because thats the only way i can justify the addiction for all parties concerned in my household:Punk:

[Fishy]

I bought my bike cause I thought it would make me cool......knew I should of got a Suzuki. Bugger!. :drinkup:

[Grahameeboy]

I bought my bike cause I thought it would make me cool......knew I should of got a Suzuki. Bugger!. :drinkup:

ah yes....life is a journey not a Hondanation.......whoops destination.....

[Sniper]

Option 2...

[Free to Ride]

bought my bike for commuting - but cant say that now - have done over 7000kms in 3 months and only ride 45kms a day for work!!! and now want a bigger bike :laugh:

[Motu]

I've worked hard all my life,and don't have enough money to buy anything but a cheap bike....but that's what I prefer anyway.Bikes have always been cheap fun to me - I like to buy a bike that needs ''a bit of work'',I get to have some enjoyment fixing it up,doing a few mods,and I get to ride it for a few years.Never really considered having the latest and greatest,the cutting edge is not for me...who wants a bike that doesn't need any work? I'd go crazy if I had no reason to pull my bike apart.

[WRT]

I dont think you can pidgeon hole us quite that easily, Lazy7. I could tick the first 3 options (would like to be able to tick the last one, but alas Mr Tax man stops me from doing that) and they would all have been true at one point or another. I started out getting a cheap bike for cheap transport. Since that time long, long ago, I've not looked back. Now bikes are a way of life for me.

In fact, that one answer could work for a lot of us here. Wheres option 5 - "Bikes are my life - is there any other way?"

Put me down for that one, please.

[skelstar]

Bought bike for commuting, now do lots of kms. My friends dont know me very well anymore. Pity, Ill miss them.

[Pumba]

Started off as cheep transport back in my school days and now that I get a pay check at the end of each week what isint used living day to day means I can enjoy pay for my enjoyment with the bike on the weekends

[GR81]

the bike is a toy on the side for me :)

[terbang]

A popular statement.."If it Flys, Fucks or Floats then its cheaper to rent it". I have have owned planes and boats and I am married so I guess you could say I bought there as well. I can vouch for the above statement as I am now a lot poorer than I once was. The good thing is I have kept my bikes and am a firm believer that ownership of them is mandatory and more fun and cheaper than all of the above..!:blip: Ahh err (sorry Mrs T) maybe not more fun than all..

[Insanity_rules]

I work like a Bastard, my bike is a cheapie but its my toy and a great means of blowing off steam.

Didnt want to blow a bit bundle till I get my full.

[riffer]

I don't like credit, or HPs so I stay away from them.

Therefore all of my bikes have to be bought in cash.

Which is why I ride a ten year old bike ...

to work, cause I hate the train and cage parking is freakin ridiculous...

and I love to ride.

When the kids are older, and I save some more money, I'll get a newer bike.

[Freakshow]

Originally brought it for a combination of commuting and bit of fun. I am now having fun commuting and having fun riding and i most definatly want a bigger bike so back to saving again. Everyone has to have their toys!

[madboy]

I bought a house as a solo-parent, so couldn't afford fast cars anymore. Bought a 400 to still get a bang but for less [borrowed] bucks. Always said it was a toy, so if the money got tight it would go. The money got tight, but by that stage I had gotten addicted to police chases, carving up traffic, wheelies, stoppies and just being a hooligan. I couldn't part with it, unless I bought myself a bigger and faster bike instead - so I borrowed more. Then my partner moved in and I got a significant pay rise and suddenly the bike became affordable again.

It helps that it's cheaper to run than the car, free to park in town and doesn't require me to share with 1,000 other stressed, grumpy and smelly people on the train.

Now every time I walk past a new 1000cc sportsbike I avert my eyes... I don't need more debt.

[RantyDave]

If it was just for commuting I'd still be on a scooter so it's safe to say the bike is at least partially a toy. BUT:

* Catching the bus home causes me to become a miserable bastard - so the bike pays for itself in stress reduction for the rest of my family at least.
* Driving in would cost a fortune.
* Tried cycling, doable on a good day. Not on a bad day. I still get knackered doing it.

So this bike just about pays for itself. The next one won't though. The next one will fall squarely on the "overpriced, childish, un-necessary, midlife crisis boy shit" side of the ledger. Oh well.

Dave

[Ixion]

What Mr Motu said. Never been able to afford expensive bikes. Never spent more than $3K to buy a bike. And that made me flinch. But doesn't need to cost a lot to have fun - in fact I suspect it's in inverse proportion. The funnest bikes I've had have been the cheapest.

I justify the cost of the BMW on the basis of what I save using Ratty for commuting.

And I tell Mrs Ixion that the two smokers are an investment. Which is maybe not totally untrue.

[Freakshow]

* Tried cycling, doable on a good day. Not on a bad day. I still get knackered doing it.Dave

I couldn't believe it last night as My stepdad rides a pushbike to work and on his reurn journey home he was knocked sideways by some lady in a car.

Now has bruises and bumps and a buckled wheel and he had all the reflextive gear and big flashing tail lights and a massive head lamp. He should be easyer to see than us on bikes so I am glad I have the power to get away easier from these idiots as there are plenty of them:angry2: .

[sels1]

My bike is both a hobby/ interest and my main form of transport - it replaces the 2nd car. I ride it to work and go play with it on the weekend. Some of the guys I work with have boats/yachts/caravans and moan about the amount of time they get to use them.....I enjoy my toy every day.

[Jackrat]

I work for my money I've payed cash for everything bar my house,an that bastards going to be payed for in half the time the parasites think.
As for the bike,it's just another toy like everything else.

[Gremlin]

Haven't bothered voting as I could tick all of the first three. Its my only form of transport, but I suppose you don't really need 122hp for commuting, but it makes it bloody fun.

Still, I worked hard, and saved and spent as little as I could in order to have the 7.

Can't imagine how people drive anywhere in auckland anyway, so hopefully it will be a while before I have to watch my life pass by in a cage.

[Krusti]

Got mine cause I'm stupid and live beyond my means.....

[Big Dave]

the bike is a toy on the side for me :)

'Its side' - I've seen you ride.:gob:

[Big Dave]

Got mine cause I'm stupid and live beyond my means.....

>>live beyond my means

Welcome to 2006. Who doesn't? That's why I get up in the afternoons innit?

[kickingzebra]

Everything is a toy, Its just sometimes I hate the fact I have soo much damn money and income tied up in houses. So the first bike was HP, the next were too shitty for a finance company to touch, so I paid cash, then I got re addicted, and now the bank officially owns the pretty blue telefonibike... Screw them, they'll have to fight me for it!!!

I'm going to become a cashed up citizen sometime soon, learn what it is like to rent, and have cash in the bank. Then buy racebikes!!

Soo, err, anyone want to buy a cheap house in Hamilton, or an expensive cheap house in Snells Beach?? Both selling, all (if any) profit going to Mrs Kicking Zebras bun in the oven fund, and my Racebike and business fund!!

[kickingzebra]

Oops double click, ignore my ADSL inspired impatience

[Madness]

Actually paid cash with the girlfriends divorce settlement.:woohoo: :woohoo:
I took option two in the belief that she worked hard for the money, the guy is an asshole & drives a subaru.
If we marry I want a pre-nup.

[Scouse]

My Bike is I guess a weekend toy as I dont use it to commute to work I use my other toy to commute (2003 Monaro)

[inlinefour]

I work to afford toys. If I could not buy toys then what exactly is the point in working? Yea I need $$$ to stay alive, but I make more in one day that what I got for the week doing a part time job and getting the student allowance as a full time student. Bring on the toys I say!
P.S. I try really hard to aviod growing up, although I often get hassled to do so... :bash:

[bobsmith]

Where is the "I have no money but I managed to get just a bit more loan so I can buy a bike because I'm hooked and I'm an obsessive bastard and I'll be hungry for a few months now..."

[DMNTD]

Where is the "I have no money but I managed to get just a bit more load so I can buy a bike because I'm hooked and I'm an obsessive bastard

Ahhhhhh....finally found my slot!
Bought all my bikes because they are like an extention of my "soul" to sound all corny and stuff....but to me it's true.
Nothing to do with brands,sizes or looks to a point,but just to be "there"...Oh crap that sounded gay but hey...whatever;)

[bobsmith]

I meant "loan" not "load"...... Now where's all my money gone...

[rasty]

Number 4 not because it is correct but is possibly closest to the mark.

[SPman]

Got mine cause I'm stupid and live beyond my means.....

That seems to strike a familiar chord....................:whistle:

[Lazy7]

That seems to strike a familiar chord....................:whistle:


ditto... :stupid:

[Lazy7]

i've earnt a range of money through my short working career (about 10years now) from part time work, full time minimum wage, student with income support, proper full time work, pay rises, cashy jobs on the side here and there. At the moment i have quite a 'comfortable' income.

but

i have never been able to save.

and

no matter how much i have earnt, i'm always left with (give or take) less than $50 in my account, day before pay day.

so

because i cant force myself to save, i enforce myself with HP's and Loans. It works quite well if you have very little self control like i do and you still get the things you want. :-)

[mstriumph]

Got mine cause I'm stupid and live beyond my means.....

............... i prefer to call it 'visionary' :ride:

[Free Rider]

i work full time and save every penny to get a bike :) but its worth it!

[Hawkeye]

Originally chose number 1. On reflection I should be 1 , 2 and 3.
Have the family 'wagon' and the second cage (3 sets of golf clubs + 2 teenagers don't quite fit on the bike somehow). Got sick of paying $70 petrol + $50 parking per week so started using train with the other masses. Trains not reliable and still have 15 mins walk at each end.
Convinced the misses that I could a) reduce costs ($12/week petrol) and b) get home sooner. Hence I got my cheap toy. :clap:

Takes 3 mins in the cage to go to the dairy for a loaf of bread and some milk. Suprisingly, It can take almost an hour to get there and back on the bike. Strange that eh! :weird:
Oh! And it affects your memory. I keep forgetting things and have to go back. :weird:

Oldest son has his eye on the second cage. Youngest son has his eye on the 250.
Bugger. I think I need to start saving again. I can see yet another (bigger/faster) means of transport being needed. :msn-wink:

[Krusti]

............... i prefer to call it 'visionary' :ride:

I like that!:2thumbsup

You know you are due to enrol in bikers anonymous when like us you buy a piece of land then decide that instead of the big/normal house we were gonna build you opt for a one bedroom shack in order to keep the trike and bike!:cool:

As long as we build our big deck for parties it's all good. God it's great having kids left home.:wari:

[Slides]

How about the "Finally got around to buying the Katana I always wanted..." reason???

Vauge I know, but sadly true...

Oh, and I'm new here, so hi to all and please forgive my newbie mistakes!

[Lazy7]

haha. welcome to the site, and good first post. completely understand

[Slides]

Thanks Lazy7!

[Shadows]

Gotta have your toys. I work like a [insert hard working thing here], I've now got heaps of equity in the house, time to take some out again and have some fun before I find I'm too old to enjoy it.

[Nicksta]

how about the "i work hard for my money and buy my toys before i meet a guy that wont let me buy them".....
my sole motivation for overtime at work is my bike and accessories.. ;)

[myvice]

Work hard for my bike(s), and I'm on it every day as I gave my car to Jax (wifey) after a 4WD killed her Subaru and she looks for a new play thing, she works hard for her toys too!
Two jobs at the moment to save for new bike... $17k, but no one else will have touched it and it's the only bike to really grab my attention it the last 2-3 years, well, that I can afford anyway!