Are you proud of what you own? [Archive]

Deviant Esq

8th July 2007, 21:36

For most of us the answer is yes, even if the bike is a bit old, or has a few quirks or whatever, we love our bikes. Hell, we wouldn't keep hold of them or even buy them in the first place if we didn't, right? But do you ever find yourself talking about your bike as though it's more like an exotic superbike? I would think most of us, despite liking what we have, wouldn't go quite to that stretch.

Just saw an auction on TradeMe for a bike where it would seem to my humble opinion that the seller thinks his bike is more than what it is. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's clear he loves his bike and that's great, you gotta love your bike... but from the asking price and the last comment: "No test rides unless I have the cash in my hand. Genuine reason for sale.", he seems to think he needs to convince people it's a special bike. I mean sure, it looks to be in pretty good condition given its age and mileage, and he sounds like he's maintained it well... but at the end of the day hundreds of thousands were made and it was never a "special" bike.

I don't know if I should post the link to his auction because he's only trying to sell his bike at the end of the day, and didn't ask for this, but it raises an interesting point I think. Do you or anyone you know sometimes talk of your bike as though it's more than it really is?

kiwifruit

8th July 2007, 21:39

yes, i'm proud of my bike, but not as proud as i was of my 1980 xr200 when i was 13-14 (mid 90's) :D

Taz

8th July 2007, 21:42

I'm proud of mine. Sometimes I find myself thinking that something sexier would make my life complete but then I ride my bike and it astounds me just how competent it is at tackling all modes of motorcycling and all roads. Adventure bikes rock!

Conquiztador

8th July 2007, 21:50

put your personal touches on her she becomes more and more part of you.

And what do you mean talk about the bike? I talk TO her.:Punk:

nudemetalz

8th July 2007, 21:58

Well and truly.
Oddly enough, the more I did to put her back to factory condition, the better I liked her.

The Lone Rider

8th July 2007, 22:01

Go on, you know my cruiser is a bit of a sex bomb and is like riding a soft recliner. Yeah you know it ryan.

Should put red flames on it next time, make the bike go faster and all. Wouldn't want to paint the whole bike red though - dont want to go THAT fast. :D

KoroJ

8th July 2007, 22:01

It would hard to own an ST and think it wasn't special.

Just today I left home having already done 50 km out of a full tank and rode about 400 km before filling again, and the gauge said it still had 80km to go. I rode comfortably in temps between 1 and 9 degrees and over a long period of time at a wide range of speeds....I just didn't want to STop.

Ghost_Bullet

8th July 2007, 22:10

My bike... :love:MMmmm my bike :love: Yeah it is love, not the quickest machine, but it does it's thing and looks good doing it.<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2329284230100338616goKOdV"><img src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/20/20/2/84/23/2329284230100338616goKOdV_th.jpg" alt="Q on road to Rally"></a>
I loved my second bike a heap to... Honda VLX400 <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2776980140100338616NAozkL"><img src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/59/559/9/80/14/2776980140100338616NAozkL_th.jpg" alt="Steed at Lake"></a>, my first step after learners and all. (I wish I never sold it... )

The bike I loved to hate was me previous Nevada 750, great bike for what it was, but it just become blah! <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2356000130100338616YchJuQ"><img src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/53/453/0/0/13/2356000130100338616YchJuQ_th.jpg" alt="Nevada"></a> Had some great time on it all the same.

imdying

8th July 2007, 22:16

A bike is a major asset to a lot of people. If the deal on your next bike hinges on selling your current one, the last thing you want is some numbnuts to waste it on a test ride.

trumpy

8th July 2007, 22:36

My bike's ugly but then so am I, so we fit together rather nicely......................:D

Hitcher

8th July 2007, 22:37

There's nothing like the occasional spirited perambulation from home to Martinborough for an afternoon hot chocolate at The Fush and then home again to reacquaint oneself with and FJR1300's more aggressive side. Tee hee!

The world's best sports tourer? I still have to ride the Concours...

007XX

8th July 2007, 22:52

dogsnbikes

8th July 2007, 22:54

Yeah love all my bikes for one reason or another but love the lines on the Daytona....gotta love those hips:yes:

And I see know problem with asking for the cash before a test ride save's problems later on if the bike your selling is binned on a test ride:shit:

But everyone will up talk there bike as a recollection of memories their bike has given them regardless the reason too sell :Punk:

Deviant Esq

8th July 2007, 23:06

T.W.R

8th July 2007, 23:11

Certain bikes you'll own over your motorcycling lifetime will hold special places in your memories :yes: Some you'll idolise during the time you have them and regret the day you moved them on :crybaby:

Sometimes you don't know how lucky you are to own certain bikes until years later when they come up as the 'Genuine Classics' or when your on a ride somewhere or at a rally when people gather around just to have a close look at your bike because of it's rarity & class.

I've been lucky enough to have a couple of bikes that have been well and truly within those realms, one of which I saw at the March Hare rally and it made me proud just seeing the old girl again in almost the same condition she was when I moved her on over a decade ago, she's now owner's club registered as 1 of 3 remaining in NZ of her kind :Punk: The other was 1 of 6 in the country when I had her and also made into an overseas mag.

Always be proud of the machine that you've got even if it gives you grief now & then because even whilst you've got it someone somewhere will be dreaming of owning a bike just like it and one day in the future you'll be having thoughts about that bike because of what it was.

SARGE

9th July 2007, 00:16

Most definitely...

My babe is only a 250, but I love her :love::love::love:
Sometimes, I'll lean over the tank to hug her...

She's special and I don't care what other people think...except when they say that she sounds horny because of her combined Vtwin engine with dual exhaust carbon pipes...then I'm really proud!:Punk:

We look good together,and DAMN I absolutely LOOOOOVE riding her:scooter:

Right, please excuse me while I go in the garage and give her a kiss...:hug:

i'll agree there V .. thats one of the tidiest VTR's ive seen..

in answer to the original post .. hell YES im proud of Spooky.. i know every bolt on it .. i bought it out of the container when i worked for Red Baron.. had an 84 FJ1100 at the time and that bike just "fit" me but it was a total rat bike..

i have been through Spooky completely.. hi compression big bore, stroker crank.. stage 3 heads.. carbs worked, upgraded ignition ( dont ask me what the red Mil-Spec switch on my dashboard is :whistle: ) custom headers and can, high pressure fuel pumps ..worked transmission, full suspension upgrade.. i get comments on it all the time from people who are shocked at the fact that it is such a sleeper ( got a comment today on the ride about how horny it sounds at song..)

freakin shopping list it is .. but i have designed and wrenched every single thing on it.. so yea .. i'd have to say im proud of it .. dont plan on ever selling it and if for some reason we meet the tarmac.. thats what insurance is for ..i'll rebuild it

ZeroIndex

9th July 2007, 02:41

I'm not proud of my bike... for one it's old, and then there's the sticker on the side that says Yamaha... I want an '04 ZX-6R those make pretty stunt bikes...

moko

9th July 2007, 02:52

I know it's fair enough to want the cash in hand before allowing someone take the bike for a test ride, that's just common sense, plain and simple. What I didn't get was him feeling the need to tell people he had a genuine reason for selling it. Eh? It's not like it's collectable, or you just wouldn't part with it, or it's too new, or something like that...

Here it's common practice to only give a test ride to someone if they've got insurance(letting someone ride un-insured here will get you same penalty as them if they get nicked and thats 2/3 of the way to a ban so not funny)and the asking price in cash in your hand.Too many people have lost bikes on test-rides for it not to be,often the test ride would be around the corner and straight into a van.Usual rule is "you break it and it's yours".
As for the good reason to sell,I always ask,usually guy just wants to trade up,needs the money,giving up riding or something but always worth asking as often people aren't very good liars.I'd go for a test ride,quite happy to leave the money if I'm serious and I've have a mate along to ride shotgun in any case.Also if you're buying look at everthing,I got stung with my DR because there was a mass of dodgy wiring under the seat.Learned my lesson and if a seller wont spend 5 minutes un-bolting something for me,or won't let me do it I'll walk away,small price to pay if you want to sell a bike so if they couldn't or wouldn't I'd assume there was something to hide.I'd put up with anything within reason to satisfy a potential buyer and I expect the same,guy with the money makes the rules.

vifferman

9th July 2007, 09:27

I'm actually a bit embarrassed about my bike, rather than proud, as it has some battle damage, mismatched front disks, and I can't afford the 'special' items (like new suspenders) that would make it how I want it.
Plus at the end of the day, it's not new, it's not Italian exotica, just a somewhat-customised Jappa.

Zukin

9th July 2007, 09:44

Hell yeah
I love my bike

Reasons
It took me ages to save for a bike that I have always wanted :yes:
It does everything I need it to do (tarseal, and gravel)
I always grin when I am riding it
It is part of me now

I love it!! :yes::yes:

fazer

9th July 2007, 09:56

Only realised how muched I liked a bike after I got rid of it. Still annoyed with myself after 3 years.

Reckless

9th July 2007, 10:02

Well me old Z1 is kinda part of me now. Had her since 1990 and she'll be 30 next year. She's in great original condition. Good enough when parked beside Seans imaculate Z900 race bike at Paeroa people still gathered around her for a spell. Since I owned the VTR1000, she's not quite as nice to ride as a modern bike but still do 2-3 times a week when its fine (don't want to get water in her bones to make her age faster).
How do I feel about her? Probably won't know till she's gone. Although I'm not planning on finding out till I've gone.

Badcat

9th July 2007, 11:09

ManDownUnder

9th July 2007, 11:23

LOL...

My bike is old, cheap, high mileage maintained to a "going" state...

And yeah... she rocks. I could spend 4 times the money and get a bike that performed 40% better... and I don't use her to her full capacity now - so why would I?

janno

9th July 2007, 11:30

Veerrry proud of my bike.

Looks just like a 250, but is really 650cc's of hard out Nana Power!!

I've had more than a few oldies who ride hard and fast say very nice things about my bike.

Lots of innovative technology and design on it for its day, apparently.

But I like it because it fits me like a glove. Almost like it's custom made. :sunny:

more_fasterer

9th July 2007, 12:57

I can't blame the seller, bikes are a lot easier to f**k up on a test ride than cars and you have no idea what kind of rider the potential buyer is. Then of course there are the other reasons that Moko alluded to.

I certainly am proud of my bike... it was a bit of a shed when I bought it, and I intend on tweaking it to make the most of what is a very good basic package IMO.

scumdog

9th July 2007, 13:16

With eight -and-a-half inches of course I'm proud of what I own....

But I like my T-Sport too, no desire for anything too much more in the forseeable future, it's comfortable, not too hard on gas and enough torgue not to need to change down for hill or pass cars.
And it looks cool too - tassles, ya got to have tassles...

slowpoke

9th July 2007, 14:04

Proud? Did you say proud?
The bloody thing has been in one workshop or another for 6 of the last 9 months!
Proud? Get tae fuck.....

Wolf

9th July 2007, 14:14

Shit, yeah, I'm proud of my bike - "battle scars", crappy spray-can paintjob, 223cc engine and all.

She's small, light, goes anywhere I point her (and, according to reliable testimonies, most places I'd be too scared to point her) and has been unfailingly reliable.

Three times had cause to regret having sold a motorcycle - TS125 (tons of fun and nice and light off road), CB360 (excellent light and manoeuvrable tourer) and the Zundapp Bella 154 (a real classic).

The XT225 does a great job of replacing both the TS125 and the CB360 as fun machine, light off-roader and one-up tourer, and is vastly better suited to where and how I want to ride than all my other past bikes (CB550 and LS400 included) so yeah, definitely proud.

Wouldn't get rid of her - adding more refinements over time to make her more my own personal machine suited to my needs (load-carrying stuff is the next major project).

Would gladly add an oldish (1980s) BMWR100CS to the "fleet" as a nice 2-up tourer as I will admit the XT225 is lacking in the seating department for any pillion larger than my 5-year-old son...

breakaway

9th July 2007, 14:22

A bike is a major asset to a lot of people. If the deal on your next bike hinges on selling your current one, the last thing you want is some numbnuts to waste it on a test ride.

Well put. If I was to sell my bike, I would not allow test rides without proof of funds.

From previous experience (Selling my RG150), I know people just want to come out, and take the bike for a hoon. I didn't really mind that, since the RG was already pretty crashed. But my current bike is pretty neat, with pretty fairings et al. No ride without proof of funds when I sell it.

T.W.R

9th July 2007, 14:22

Now there's good reason to be proud mate :yes:

I don't believe I'm proud of my bikes but reckon they're as cool as a cool thang

Here's a pic (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18273&d=1129879327) of when and here's a pic (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=55419&d=1172988692) from the March Hare. Nothing much has changed on the old girl :Punk:

And the other one (http://http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18276&d=1129879327)
Which got into Streebike :yes: issue 47 readers rides

Mattzxr750

9th July 2007, 14:37

I was sad :bye: to see my old bike go, but I knew that i was stepping up to bigger and better things.:woohoo:

I was even sadder :crybaby: a week later when I walked to the bike shop to see that the new owner had dumped her on her side distorying the nice paint job...

as well as the right side

Mattzxr750

9th July 2007, 14:39

Now I wouldnt give up my new bike for anything

007XX

9th July 2007, 17:37

i'll agree there V .. thats one of the tidiest VTR's ive seen..

in answer to the original post .. hell YES im proud of Spooky.. i know every bolt on it .. i bought it out of the container when i worked for Red Baron.. had an 84 FJ1100 at the time and that bike just "fit" me but it was a total rat bike..

i have been through Spooky completely.. hi compression big bore, stroker crank.. stage 3 heads.. carbs worked, upgraded ignition ( dont ask me what the red Mil-Spec switch on my dashboard is :whistle: ) custom headers and can, high pressure fuel pumps ..worked transmission, full suspension upgrade.. i get comments on it all the time from people who are shocked at the fact that it is such a sleeper ( got a comment today on the ride about how horny it sounds at song..)

freakin shopping list it is .. but i have designed and wrenched every single thing on it.. so yea .. i'd have to say im proud of it .. dont plan on ever selling it and if for some reason we meet the tarmac.. thats what insurance is for ..i'll rebuild it

Cheers mate...

Re: Spooky...yeah, she's a good lookin' beast...and definitely sounds good. Shame the owner can't hear her through the blaring Metallica lugged in his ears!!!:innocent::laugh::dodge:

All joking apart...nice ride!

Deviant Esq

9th July 2007, 17:48

And the other one (http://http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18276&d=1129879327)
Which got into Streebike :yes: issue 47 readers rides
That Ducati is a beautiful bike... pity you didn't hang onto it! You need to edit your post to fix the link to the pic of it too ;)

People tell me I should hang on to the NZ250, but I don't think I will. It's been a good bike and all that, but I'll move it on once it's time for me to get my full.

babyblade250rr

9th July 2007, 17:51

love my cibby take her almost everywhere i go the cage has been neglected a little but :whocares: its a cage!!

MyGSXF

9th July 2007, 18:02

Yep.. :yes: I've soooo outgrown her.. but I still :love: her to bits!!!

When I shifted up here from Chch, I had to leave her in a friends shed for 6 months. :bye: When I went back to pick her up, as soon as he opened the garage door, I went running in & wrapped my arms around her & gave her a BIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGG cuddle!!!! :hug: (& I actually had a tear or 2 in my eyes...:shutup:) we then went for a 600k ride, in 1 day!!! :Punk:

& I always give her a pat & thank her, when we get home after a good day out riding!! :D We have done about 50,000 ks together now!! :scooter:

Jen :rockon:

Wolf

9th July 2007, 19:37

& I always give her a pat & thank her, when we get home after a good day out riding!! :D
Shit, I do that just riding to work and back every day. We get each other to the destination in safety - her performance, my riding... Team effort.

After my earlier post I had to pop home and back to work so I gave her a pat and said "of course I'm bloody proud".

She's not a rocket but she makes the open road limit readily enough (exceeds it by a better margin than the LS400 used to) and seems happy enough to sit at 100 - 105 for extended periods. Economical on fuel, as I found on the last Cold Kiwi. A hell of a lot better in town or at low speeds than the CB550. Vastly more comfortable on long hauls than the RD350 was on even a short run (despite the seat being more like a 6x1 plank than anything else). Eats hills with alarming ease (would leave any poor sap on an LS400 far behind). Brilliantly manoeuvrable - absolute weapon in traffic, brilliant handling at all speeds from walking pace to open road. Excellent one-person all-rounder, which is just what I wanted.

Lois Pryce rode an XT225 the length of the Americas, a Japanese woman is riding one around the world, I'd happily tour the world on mine.

Of course, it's not going to suit everyone. It has a large following of devotees - as do many bikes - for its own unique blend of qualities.

My own battered specimen with its hodge-podge of modifications and customisations and its own quirks (like the bodgy airbox mod that renders it too rich around sea-level but perfect up in the mountains) suits me admirably. A few things need to be done yet to better equip it for the uses to which I want to put it, but (so far) I get by.

T.W.R

9th July 2007, 19:47

That Ducati is a beautiful bike... pity you didn't hang onto it! You need to edit your post to fix the link to the pic of it too ;)

People tell me I should hang on to the NZ250, but I don't think I will. It's been a good bike and all that, but I'll move it on once it's time for me to get my full.

:doh: dunno what went wrong with the link :scratch: try again here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18276&d=1129879327) :crybaby: time and a place causes lots of things to happen :weep: though for every smile there was a headache to go with it :shutup:

I see a 83' 900 went for in excess of $20g on trademe today :shutup:

If you could afford it the NZ would be a good runabout :yes: but it's also a worthy mount for another newb into motorcycling too

nudemetalz

9th July 2007, 20:12

That is sex on wheels, Bill.

Doesn't get much nicer than that !!!

T.W.R

9th July 2007, 20:18

That is sex on wheels, Bill.

Doesn't get much nicer than that !!!

:o That pic was taken a few days after getting the panels back from the painter and :Oops: 1st day on chasing a 500 Pantah up Dyer's Pass Rd scuffed the underside ( you can see the big white patch on the fairing lowers in the pic :slap:)
She had the goods, including a few bits of a RV1 Alchemy that terrorised Bears racing in the early 90s :Punk:

Riff Raff

9th July 2007, 20:54

I've loved all my bikes, and for whatever reason I've moved on to the next one, I still retain only fond memories of the predecessors.

sunhuntin

9th July 2007, 22:35

love the virago... she almost always gets comments. the most common is "what cc is that?" [seems people dont equate an l plate to 250cc or less!! even other bike entusiasts]

feel proud and also a little embarassed with all the attention she can get. lol. shes got me from the middle to the north island to the bottom of the south and back without any troubles... shes great!

even with her last proper clean and polish being before winter started, you cant see the filth unless you look. i love the fact that her paint scheme contains the same colors as the flag of the country i call home [canada] makes me feel closer, though thats not why i bought her.

have already decided im gonna keep her, and maybe upgrade to a larger cc virago.

and besides... the kb member that dragged me over here rides one, so it must be good!

riff raff.... i not only retain memories of bikes gone by, but also any parts i managed to break off in our time together! mirrors, levers, indicators and lenses.. you name it. even got rego cards, ownership cards and my temp learners license. would have loved the license plate off the gn that was killed, but didnt see anyway of getting it. damn.

Edbear

10th July 2007, 12:46

i love my little streettracker 500
here she is:
http://www.kenkong.com/album/main.php?g2_itemId=18260
she's a bit loud, but she's got it where it counts.
she's never let me down (except that little swingarm pivot bolt issue in coromandel on a sunday KB ride)
and she's beautiful when she's clean.
my new girl has already forbidden me from selling her (even to get a bike with a pillion seat), so she's part of the family now.
i have regretted selling a few of my bikes, i won't let this one get away.

so yeah, i love her.

That is NICE!!!!! You should be proud! Excellent job!:first:

I love my bike too! First brand new bike and a pleasure to ride anywhere, anytime. :sunny:

Have fond memories of all the bikes I've owned, yes, even the B31 despite the pain and bruises from kickstarting it, :crybaby:and the XS750 Special, despite seizing it due to it using a wee bit more oil than I was aware of...:shutup: and the GSX-F600 for getting me back into biking with so much fun and absolute dependability:2thumbsup