View Full Version : Do Jap bikes have soul?
Blatman
1st May 2009, 18:43
If you had asked me this when I was 18, or 20, or even 23 I would have said an emphatic NO!! Jeez, I hated anything non-British. Really I would have run them off the road. But now, maybe I'm getting old. The old Brits were cool at the time, but fuck they did need constant looking after. I travelled through the world on all sorts of old tin and late in life bought my V-Max. I tell ya, it has character by the truck load!
Dunno why, but if we own a Duke we have to denigrate other brands, Harley riders etc and the Jappers hate them, it goes on. I mean I frickin' get a stiffy at the sound of a Duke or a Harley or a V-Max or whatever. Love 'em all!
How bout you?
Dunno why, but if we own a Duke we have to denigrate other brands, Harley riders etc and the Jappers hate them, it goes on. I mean I frickin' get a stiffy at the sound of a Duke or a Harley or a V-Max or whatever. Love 'em all!
How bout you?
try a Italian bike with a japanese motor, the fact its fast, cheap to run and cost the same as a 10 yo duc monster some people dont get it
The Stranger
1st May 2009, 18:53
If you had asked me this when I was 18, or 20, or even 23 I would have said an emphatic NO!! Jeez, I hated anything non-British. Really I would have run them off the road. But now, maybe I'm getting old. The old Brits were cool at the time, but fuck they did need constant looking after. I travelled through the world on all sorts of old tin and late in life bought my V-Max. I tell ya, it has character by the truck load!
Dunno why, but if we own a Duke we have to denigrate other brands, Harley riders etc and the Jappers hate them, it goes on. I mean I frickin' get a stiffy at the sound of a Duke or a Harley or a V-Max or whatever. Love 'em all!
How bout you?
Well if any of the last 100 threads on this topic are anything to go by the jury is still out.
I think nostalgia plays a big part. A TS185 takes me back to my youth and I'd happily rip around on one again from time to time (don't know if that's soul though actually). Hmmm. Maybe it's down to the engine configuration. I've never found an inline four that floated my boat. Maybe a SP1000 like Joey's???
martybabe
1st May 2009, 18:55
I'm with ya, used to argue the toss that brand x was better than brand y, don't give a monkeys any more, if I like it, I like it, no matter what the name on the tank says.
The only big make that has never set me alight would be Triumph but I'm seriously considering a thunderbolt now. Honestly if hyosung came out with bike I really liked I'd buy it, no brand prejudice here .
As for jappas with soul, tonnes of em..Z900, CBX 1000, FJ1200, Katana, even the old plastic maggot, loads of em. :hug:
allycatz
1st May 2009, 19:00
Soul is a personal thing..its about bonding...Ive known a few people bonded to their bikes....does a bike personally have soul....who knows...maybe the jappers that kamikaze into things think they do
Korumba
1st May 2009, 19:06
Some do some don’t, My ZZR 1100 had a fucking huge one, and my R1 has none.
Define soul i guess,ive owned later Ducatis that supposedly are full of it:zzzz:both the 89 750 sport and 90 900 SS were nothing but piles of shite,the 78 900 SS however is to me the motorcycle that is most deserving of having the labels soul/character attached,beautiful.In a different way the old TLS has character,end of the day what one defines as a bike with character another wont,no matter what names on the tank.
Gremlin
1st May 2009, 19:22
Yes, lots of bikes have soul, I only buy ones with soul... thats why I don't buy suzukis :Pokey:
Well if any of the last 100 threads on this topic are anything to go by the jury is still out.
well... I think I settled it...
Soul .....NO, Character ....YES.:calm:
NighthawkNZ
1st May 2009, 19:40
Do Jap bikes have soul? (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1129194302#post1129194302)
nope and neither does any other bike...
Character issues on other hand :scratch:
Soul is a personal thing..its about bonding...
I think you could be right. The bikes I've been closest to were ones I'd had for some time and / or done a lot of work on (Katana 750, crashed and rebuilt H-D Springer, my present Guzzi).
My new H-D doesn't have soul. Not yet. It's too 'new', too 'tight' if you know what i mean; too much like any other one off the showroom floor. Ask me again in ten years when I've done a bit to it.
Answer: Yes, at least one......the one on the seat....it's an arse-soul ;)
.......yep, I know [for the more intellectual], I have opened myself up.....but what the hell....it's worth it :bleh::bleh:
My blue lovely has soul. She is an old girl that someone still loves.
Mikkel
1st May 2009, 20:02
I'd say my 750 is a soul - a banshee to be more precise. It's an eeriely beautiful howl that she makes, but it will kill you - or at least make you go deaf.
Any bike you ride has soul (yours) , the bike has as much soul as you give it.
Soul is not if it`s a jappa , Soul is not if it`s Brittish.
Soul is what you feel when you ride the thing.
The bike has nothing without the rider.
Just my opinion
AllanB
1st May 2009, 20:05
You sausage!
IMO it depends on your definition of 'soul'.
I remember the Jap bike slagging of years gone by.
It really had no foundation, even in the very early days.
A lot of it came from racial prejudice & jealousy - there is nothing more embarrassing than you Bonnie 750 being passed at 110mph by a Honda 'black bomber' 450 :Oops:
Many people confuse annoying traits as soul - crap electrics, oil leaks, erratic starting etc.
IMO if you come back from a ride with a grin on your face then the answer is YES - no matter what you ride or what the red-neck down the road thinks of your ride.
Elysium
1st May 2009, 20:15
Also known as the machine spirit.
"The functioning, or lack thereof, of any machine is believed to be the result of its spirit's disposition. To keep their machine spirits happy and cooperative, operators therefore make numerous ritualized advances to their machinery. These depend on the machine, but in most cases include various maintenance rituals and prayers of function and occasionally also an offering or libation. This is increased if the machine is large and/or important.
Machine spirits are believed to be bestowed by the Machine God"
- Adeptus Mechanicus
YellowDog
1st May 2009, 20:15
The marque on a bike is always going to be a big issue and changing opinions based upon experience and common sense is almost impossible (for most). Try and tell a HD owner that a Vulcan or Boulevard is better or comparable in any way is like having a death wish.
In my opinion, the Japanses have done the entire motorcycling world a huge favour. They have raised the bar for the rest of the world to have to follow or to otherwise fail.
Even British bikes no longer spray oil at high pressure. This used to be called 'character' and a great corrosion prevetion feature. Back in the real world, such failings have been irradicated by the basic laws of commerce.
Japanese bikes do have lots of character. They are all quite different and the vast range of choice. I'd buy any bike from any NZ serviceable manufacturer if it suited my riding needs.
BTW: In the early 80s I owned a Triumph TR7 Convertable. After 3.5 new engines I sold it. I had to bury my past bad experience with the Triumph marque before considering my present bike.
Our past experiences and those of people we know are probably the strongest infleucing factor; hence once you get a good one you generally become loyal to it.
discotex
1st May 2009, 20:50
I reckon all bikes have soul. From the mighty GN to the Rocket III and everything in between they all have character.
Jerry74
1st May 2009, 20:57
Mine talks to me... "get off ya arse and ride me mate"
... I owned a Triumph TR7 Convertable. After 3.5 new engines I sold it. I had to bury my past bad experience with the Triumph marque before considering my present bike.
I too owned a couple of TR7s. The pop-up headlights had a mind of their own and they rusted faster than I could patch them up. Still, that had no influence on my purchase of several Triumph bikes. The two have nothing to do with each other. It's just arbitrary collections of letters purchased for the marketing departments of vehicle manufacturers.
YellowDog
1st May 2009, 21:53
I too owned a couple of TR7s. The pop-up headlights had a mind of their own and they rusted faster than I could patch them up. Still, that had no influence on my purchase of several Triumph bikes. The two have nothing to do with each other. It's just arbitrary collections of letters purchased for the marketing departments of vehicle manufacturers.
Yes I do agree with you. I was just trying to make a point about marque loyalty.
I think 'sole' is dependent on the personality of the pilot.
My jappa is a bitch slapper beast, but I love her, I guess thats character.
My Duc.....he makes me party inside and out! love him to bits!.....yep.... thats SOLE!
And guess which one gets a rub down after each ride ;)
....(haha, both of course :) )
Big Dave
1st May 2009, 22:16
Ah! Soul. Every bike has one.
toycollector10
1st May 2009, 22:41
The quote below is from the SOHC4, Single Overhead Cam Four Cylinder (Honda) forum...It's worth a read.
The Honda CB750 caused a huge stir on release, and here is what HondaMan had to say about it in an earlier post.
QUOTE
Well, I was there. I can tell you what I saw, but it was bigger than just Honda vs. Kaw (or anybody else). Like my avatar says, "If you remember the '60s, you weren't THERE...", the unenforced drugs, alcohol, smoking and escapism of every type has never reached the rampant levels it was back then.
The late '60s were a time like never before, nor since. We were testing all the things that had been sacrosanct to our parents, and things like the Vietnam War, city riots, campus riots and incredible crime everywhere were literally tearing the fabric of this country apart. The "hot summer of '68", when I was living in Chicago, was nightly riots and murder, Watts in L.A. wasn't any better, colleges were seeing students dying in riots every week. It was, quite literally, a rough time to be living, and at that time, I was living on the street myself. Not because I had to, but I wanted to "see what was up" in the "real" world.
We had tossed out many of our parent's ideals, like "the USA makes only the best things", and here came Honda, with the CB160, CB250/305, and the CB/CL450, which would run with almost no maintenance and take anyone long, long ways from home for pennies of gas. And, even Harley couldn't do that. Fords, Dodges and Chevies didn't even last as long. Honda became deeply entrenched in the average teenager's psyche as a result, and EVERYONE wanted to have one to ride. No matter where you looked, little Hondas were buzzing in every direction, day and night, year around.
Then, with no previous fanfare, came the 750. At it's debut, and in nearly stock street form, it blew away every bike in history at Daytona, in just one race. Honda didn't have to advertise it: it was whispered about in every gathering I knew, man or woman, old or young: this is the ticket AWAY from all that is going on. Enter Easy Rider, the movie (which is an excellent portrayal of mainstream teen-and-twentysomethings of the day), and the two made an explosive mix. Honda had hoped for sale of 10,000 units in the 1969-1970 seasons: they had 32,000 orders by the 3rd month after the intro, according to the Honda dealership where I worked at the time.
All you had to do to "shut Dad up" about his old Harley or Indian was to run through 1st and 2nd gear against him. No Ford, Chevy or Hemi could touch it in a 2-block race. You could ride for an entire weekend for $2 in gas, and if you laid off the throttle, you could sneak away in the night like a ghost afterward. EVERYONE talked about them, and most of us wanted one.
But, they were almost unobtainium for the first 2 years. Honda had no idea this was going to happen: they tried so hard to meet the demand that they sacrificed the quality quite a bit in the late K0 and all the K1 models, just to get them to a dealership. No one even cared what color it was: you would see people lined up at the sales counters every weekend, even BIDDING with cash in hand to get one. I laid down $250 in 1969 to "get in line" for my first one: this did NOT go toward the bike's price, either. And, I paid cash to get my K1 when it showed up, just to make sure I didn't lose my chance. It cost me a total of $1695 plus $250, which was 6 month's salary in 1970 when I got it. And, there were no loans in those days, like financing today. You gave everything up to get one.
And, it did not disappoint. In fact, it delivered an adrenalin rush of power that made my Ford with HP390 engine seem like a semi truck. I sold my car a month later, and hit the road, then the race track. It was 2 years before I even thought about owning a car again.
The 750 was so forgiving of owner mistakes that it set the standard for both bikes and cars from then on. Previously, bikes were on 600-800 mile oil changes, points at least twice a year, a battery every Spring, and kickstarters. Honda's little bike's electric starts didn't work well: this one started better than a car! And, in the first year, owners were hitting upwards of 50,000 miles on them without rebuilds or failures. ALL other motorcycles of the era (and a great many cars!) could not even do this. The legend was born.
Ironically, the very same day that Honda introduced the CB750 at the New York motor show, Kawasaki had their twin-cam 750 in the same hotel, to be debuted in the same show. The two companies were so quiet about it, they didn't even know about each other: Honda's team just had a more elaborate display, and started at about 2 AM or so setting it up. The Kaw guys saw it around 4 AM and called Japan: they were told to withdraw the "New York Steak", their code name for that bike, and return to Japan. Kaw did not wish to fight nor compete heads-up with Mr. Sochiro, a Bushido in high Japanese caste. So, Kaw spent 2 years developing a 900 on that chassis, the Z-1. It was too heavy, not smooth, handled like a tank, and was high maintenance, compared to the 750 by then.
It never mattered again, who developed what. Honda had changed motorcycling forever by 1971. Lawyers, bankers, accountants, college kids, even women were riding them, and everywhere. Not a day went past that one didn't purr by, stirring thoughts of a long trip on a lonely road to somewhere, anywhere that was away from the ruckus that American cities were then. And, the highways were empty! The RV had not yet appeared, trucks were 8-wheelers or 10-wheelers, and you could ride 90 MPH all day if you wanted to, on mostly brand-new cement Interstate highways.
UNQUOTE
Bikes are like people...some are damn sexy,certainly scary,and more than I can afford on my budget.Some are just boring,some nasty,some ''just not what I'm into''.Some people who you start off not liking,are really interesting when you get to know them better.Some people are your best mate straight away....then things get a bit sour after you have known them for awhile.You learn to take in people at a glance,and stick to those you like best.....and miss out on some more interesting relationships.
Bikes can take on a national stereotype too - fill in the blanks.....
What sort of soul would a New Zealand bike possess?....??.
toycollector10
1st May 2009, 22:57
Nice post Motu, you seem to have a handle on the "human condition"....
Anyone who determines the quality/soul/character of a machine and/or it's rider simply based on the country of origin of the manufacturer of the machine, is an idiot. Obviously.
That's akin to determining who you should marry based on the brand of milk they usually purchase.
We stopped at the Rahotu pub on the Four Points last year, four of us (Triumph, Honda and 2 Kwakas), parked up and proceeded to sort our shit prior to heading inside to get our cards. Suddenly a 'woman' dashes out and rushes to her Harley (Sportser 1200 I think?) and states that she couldn't possibly leave it where it was since we had parked our Japanese bikes within the general vicinity...she chortled about it a bit as if to joke...but still moved the bike over to the other side of the car park, next to another Harley.
What
a
fucking
half-wit.
toycollector10
1st May 2009, 23:09
"What
a
fucking
half-wit".
Out of a half-baked sort of "bikers of the world, don't unite" philosophy I never park my Japper next to an H.D, as I know it offends them and cuts them to the quick.
I sense that it just tears them up to have a piece of "Jap Crap" parked next to their motorcycle. So I don't do it. Just as a mark of respect, so to speak.
naphazoline
1st May 2009, 23:30
There's a lot of good points already covered in this thread,but the one i'd have to agree with the most would be that;
If a rider of a bike feels that his/her bike has soul,it's more likely the connection/enjoyment that he/she has with it.
Give that same bike to 10 other riders,from various riding styles,and ask them the same thing,and more often then not they will have some "minor discrepancies" about it.
I'm convinced that you can't narrow it to any brand name,as each marque has their "hits" and "misses", but one mans poison CAN be anothers medicine.
Elysium
2nd May 2009, 08:47
Anyone who determines the quality/soul/character of a machine and/or it's rider simply based on the country of origin of the manufacturer of the machine, is an idiot. Obviously.
That's akin to determining who you should marry based on the brand of milk they usually purchase.
We stopped at the Rahotu pub on the Four Points last year, four of us (Triumph, Honda and 2 Kwakas), parked up and proceeded to sort our shit prior to heading inside to get our cards. Suddenly a 'woman' dashes out and rushes to her Harley (Sportser 1200 I think?) and states that she couldn't possibly leave it where it was since we had parked our Japanese bikes within the general vicinity...she chortled about it a bit as if to joke...but still moved the bike over to the other side of the car park, next to another Harley.
What
a
fucking
half-wit.
The important thing here is, did you wave to her? :2thumbsup
scuzeme
2nd May 2009, 08:59
I have both a Italian Beauty (Ducati 1098s) and a very quick Yamaha R6 race bike, just skimming this thread made me have a little think as to how i see my two bikes.
My Duc is definitely looked at as a "she" and she definitely has a persona all of her own, shes expensive hign maintenance sexy graceful and bloody fast.
My R6 on the other hand is the bike i get most enjoyment out of but i dont look at it as a charactor its just a very mean looking weapon.
So i would say that my Italian bike sort of has a soul but i wouldnt give that term to my Jappa although i do enjoy riding it more at the mo.
Cheers.
Headbanger
2nd May 2009, 09:08
You guys are like totally deep.
All my bikes have so much soul it ooozes into the shed floor.
Elysium
2nd May 2009, 09:39
You guys are like totally deep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u5x9pdInTU
Boob Johnson
2nd May 2009, 09:57
My Kwaka is dripping with soul, style & spunk, what a fantastic bike, it's country of origin has no bearing for me. I like what I like, it's origin/label matters not.
Headbanger
2nd May 2009, 09:59
Great scene out of a great movie.
Okey Dokey
2nd May 2009, 11:13
Anyone who determines the quality/soul/character of a machine and/or it's rider simply based on the country of origin of the manufacturer of the machine, is an idiot. Obviously.
That's akin to determining who you should marry based on the brand of milk they usually purchase.
We stopped at the Rahotu pub on the Four Points last year, four of us (Triumph, Honda and 2 Kwakas), parked up and proceeded to sort our shit prior to heading inside to get our cards. Suddenly a 'woman' dashes out and rushes to her Harley (Sportser 1200 I think?) and states that she couldn't possibly leave it where it was since we had parked our Japanese bikes within the general vicinity...she chortled about it a bit as if to joke...but still moved the bike over to the other side of the car park, next to another Harley.
What
a
fucking
half-wit.
Half-wit indeed may be too generous; perhaps a tenth-wit? Love the way you put "woman" in quotes- alleged woman, obviously! :laugh:
"What
a
fucking
half-wit".
Out of a half-baked sort of "bikers of the world, don't unite" philosophy I never park my Japper next to an H.D, Aww c'mon. I personnally find it amusing it goes both ways. There's usually one person that'll come over and chat because their /dads/mothers/brothers/uncle/aunt had one. Old hoonda/cominsickme/spewzuki/yumina that is. Mine are usually a bit dirty so not surprising the worryworts don't want their finely polished pride and joys corrupted.
short-circuit
2nd May 2009, 11:56
Aww c'mon. I personnally find it amusing it goes both ways. There's usually one person that'll come over and chat because their /dads/mothers/brothers/uncle/aunt had one. Old hoonda/cominsickme/spewzuki/yumina that is.
Do Jap bikes have soul?
Is that a leading question?
Do Jap bikes have soul?
Is that a leading question?It is and they do. Its just that the uneducated masses don't realise it ;).
short-circuit
2nd May 2009, 12:05
It is and they do. Its just that the uneducated masses don't realise it ;).
Ok......sorry then........Will be on my way :whocares:
"What
a
fucking
half-wit".
I sense that it just tears them up to have a piece of "Jap Crap" parked next to their motorcycle. So I don't do it. Just as a mark of respect, so to speak.
Are you fuckin serious dude ? Who gives a fuck !
Ok......sorry then........Will be on my way :whocares:Precisely. As you were.
I think that perhaps some bikes develop soul over time whereas some have it from new.
Elysium
2nd May 2009, 12:43
Bikes have souls. Take this bike for example. It's clearly been posessed by a demon.
Bikes have souls. Take this bike for example. It's clearly been posessed by a demon.
Well, you could argue that it was the designer that was posessed.... or on something VERY strong.... :laugh:
Bikes, or rather the riding of them, may evoke more or less emotion from the rider but the bikes themselves have no soul.
Vehicles don't have character. They're a machine, they either work or they don't.
Bikes are the avenue
the ride IS the destination
Yes, lots of bikes have soul, I only buy ones with soul... thats why I don't buy suzukis :Pokey:
well... I think I settled it...
Yeah, normally the SHIT riders opt for SOUL!:bash: Rather than speed/handling etc!
No bikes have soul. FFS half the human population doesn't have a soul, or common sense, half a fucking brain!
Kirill357
2nd May 2009, 13:35
Not sure about soul, but I am after name for my bike, previous bike had, "Smokin' Joe" so new one should have i think, same as with boat, without name bad luck :)
Not sure about soul, but I am after name for my bike, previous bike had, "Smokin' Joe" so new one should have i think, same as with boat, without name bad luck :)
"Reginald"
No thanks necessary
scuzeme
2nd May 2009, 15:14
Are you fuckin serious dude ? Who gives a fuck !
Hahahaaaahaahahaaa i think i would really like you if i meet you.
Gremlin
2nd May 2009, 17:19
Yeah, normally the SHIT riders opt for SOUL!:bash: Rather than speed/handling etc!
No bikes have soul. FFS half the human population doesn't have a soul, or common sense, half a fucking brain!
ah... a suzuki rider appears... he doesn't think bikes have soul
I told you Suzukis don't have soul :whistle:
ah... a suzuki rider appears... he doesn't think bikes have soul
I told you Suzukis don't have soul :whistle:
I think you're onto something! A bit more than $20000 buys you a bike, and the rest of the money buys SOUL! When your bike doesn't idol, when it has trouble starting when cold, has a short/unstable/impractical sidestand, your thumbs hit the tank when you turn the bars from lock to lock, it goes about 180 kms till you need a trailer, stops once a year for no reason that can be explained logically, and costs a hell of a lot more than a similar spec Jappa, that's called SOUL!
toycollector10
2nd May 2009, 18:07
Are you fuckin serious dude ? Who gives a fuck !
No, I'm not serious.
No, I'm not serious.
Thank f'k for that. You can park your Jap bike next to my Harley whenever and wherever you like. I couldn't give a rat's arse.
Conquiztador
2nd May 2009, 18:35
Considering that there is no such thing as a soul. Nothing has a soul. We live we die and then there is blackness. End of story. (My belief, prove me wrong if you can...)
I think the question should be "does bikes have personality?"
The answer to this question is an emphatic YES! All my bikes have been females. They are temperamental, do unexpected things, expect me to show them affection when the only thing I can muster is a fart, take my last dollar and puts me in some unexpected situations. But they also give me amounts of pleasure, when treated right there is nothing they won't do for me, they are sexy, have lines I can admire for hours and they love me.
As I have created/customised/changed most of my bikes I have put something of me in them, part of me. They then become an extension of me. And so, I am responsible for the personality of my bikes.
When she is sold I always get sad. Part of me has just disappered down the road never to return. I know she is sad too. I feel it. I can only hope that the new owner will be as good to her as I was. This is most probably why I can not wreck a bike and sell it as parts.
No, they do not have soul. But a personality that we give them.
scuzeme
2nd May 2009, 22:00
No, I'm not serious.
:Oops:
Yes you are, your just saying that now to save yourself the embarrasment hahahaaaaaaaaaa
YellowDog
2nd May 2009, 22:15
Considering that there is no such thing as a soul. Nothing has a soul. We live we die and then there is blackness. End of story. (My belief, prove me wrong if you can...)
I think the question should be "does bikes have personality?"
The answer to this question is an emphatic YES! All my bikes have been females. They are temperamental, do unexpected things, expect me to show them affection when the only thing I can muster is a fart, take my last dollar and puts me in some unexpected situations. But they also give me amounts of pleasure, when treated right there is nothing they won't do for me, they are sexy, have lines I can admire for hours and they love me.
As I have created/customised/changed most of my bikes I have put something of me in them, part of me. They then become an extension of me. And so, I am responsible for the personality of my bikes.
When she is sold I always get sad. Part of me has just disappered down the road never to return. I know she is sad too. I feel it. I can only hope that the new owner will be as good to her as I was. This is most probably why I can not wreck a bike and sell it as parts.
No, they do not have soul. But a personality that we give them.
I would never ride a female bike. All the bikes I have owned have been male. All problems explainable. Perfectly reliable and totally predictable.
I could prove the soul thing to you, but in order to do so I'd first have to kill you.
Ride safe and avoid the blackness...........
kiwifruit
2nd May 2009, 22:21
yeah na
monkeymcbean
2nd May 2009, 22:25
If it can kill ya, it ain't got a soul!
Headbanger
2nd May 2009, 22:36
If it can kill ya, it ain't got a soul!
So only immortals and zombies have souls?
Interesting.
monkeymcbean
2nd May 2009, 22:50
thats if you believe in imortals and zombiezzz!
Paul in NZ
2nd May 2009, 22:50
ALL motorcycles have souls...... Some makers try hard to hide it but its there despite them
monkeymcbean
2nd May 2009, 22:54
where do you think they hide it?
Headbanger
2nd May 2009, 22:58
where do you think they hide it?
Under all the plastic.
Under all the plastic. What plastic?Oh you must mean the plastic that makes real speed attainable.;)
monkeymcbean
2nd May 2009, 23:07
Damn! Was thinking of adding some more plastic to! was looking up DIY make custom rear seat cowl, which lead me to a 'kawiforums.com' on the process ...the thread got pretty hilarious by the end....oh well you just had to be there...anyway i better get looking..for that soul
Headbanger
2nd May 2009, 23:11
What plastic?Oh you must mean the plastic that makes real speed attainable.;)
My god man, Its got some sort of misshapen growth on the handle bars, KILL IT, KILL IT.
I'll get you a stick.
monkeymcbean
2nd May 2009, 23:13
ah, so you saying naked bikes have more of this... soul
Headbanger
2nd May 2009, 23:15
ah, so you saying naked bikes have more of this... soul
Actually....My bike has FUNK.
My god man, Its got some sort of misshapen growth on the handle bars, KILL IT, KILL IT.
I'll get you a stick.
:laugh::laugh:yea ya got me.Worse than that its a Carbon growth.
monkeymcbean
2nd May 2009, 23:17
you should jazz it up
Kickaha
2nd May 2009, 23:29
I think you're onto something! A bit more than $20000 buys you a bike, and the rest of the money buys SOUL! When your bike doesn't idol, when it has trouble starting when cold, has a short/unstable/impractical sidestand, your thumbs hit the tank when you turn the bars from lock to lock, it goes about 180 kms till you need a trailer, stops once a year for no reason that can be explained logically, and costs a hell of a lot more than a similar spec Jappa, that's called SOUL!
No, that's called a poorly built unreliable pile of shit
They're just machines, they have no soul
I think you're onto something! A bit more than $20000 buys you a bike, and the rest of the money buys SOUL! When your bike doesn't idol, when it has trouble starting when cold, has a short/unstable/impractical sidestand, your thumbs hit the tank when you turn the bars from lock to lock, it goes about 180 kms till you need a trailer, stops once a year for no reason that can be explained logically, and costs a hell of a lot more than a similar spec Jappa, that's called SOUL! Nope,thats called for sale.
Headbanger
2nd May 2009, 23:35
Nope,thats called for sale.
That's the sort of sweeeeet deal that sucks me in.....
That's the sort of deal that sucks me in.....
No shit,ive a shed full of such "never to be repeated deals":argh:
Conquiztador
2nd May 2009, 23:46
No shit,ive a shed full of such "never to be repeated deals":argh:
I recognise a brother when I see one ;) My collection is now down to 12. And I have decided to take it even lower. I will fix one girl at the time and sell her! Give her a pinch of personality and then get a few dollars for my effort. I need those dollars so I can fill the gap she left...
Out in the dark and cold tonight unloading a frame and fishbins of parts out of the back of a van - oh shit,sigh....where do I put this lot? I am in Igor - ''Vith theeth partth,and the partth I got from thith other bike,mixth thith theeth other bitth,I can thorta join them into thomthing elth.'' I can have lightening any time I like - theeth thingth are eathy for an Igor.
Elysium
3rd May 2009, 07:13
Bikes have souls alright. I mean Burt Monro wasn't making those offerings of busted pistons to the God of speed for nothing. Clearly he heard and gave his bike the speed he needed.
short-circuit
3rd May 2009, 09:18
Bikes have souls alright. I mean Burt Monro wasn't making those offerings of busted pistons to the God of speed for nothing. Clearly he heard and gave his bike the speed he needed.
Yeah but Burt's bike wasn't a Jappa eh.
Elysium
3rd May 2009, 18:47
Yeah but Burt's bike wasn't a Jappa eh.
Well I meant in bikes general when I say bikes have soul. I used Burt's bike as an example of one owner showing such dedication and treating the bike as it had a soul by making such offerings tgo the God of speed.
Looking at the accessories in my local HD dealer yesterday and noticed amongst the chrome and blister packs from Taiwan there is a new 'soul' pack option. It costs mind! $200. Basically, you just RUB it on.
(in-joke there for HD old-timers)
short-circuit
3rd May 2009, 19:01
Well I meant in bikes general when I say bikes have soul. I used Burt's bike as an example of one owner showing such dedication and treating the bike as it had a soul by making such offerings tgo the God of speed.
Yeah yeah blah blah. I'll type it for you again nice and slow....
Burt's bike wasn't a Jappa tho eh?
Elysium
3rd May 2009, 19:19
Yeah yeah blah blah. I'll type it for you again nice and slow....
Burt's bike wasn't a Jappa tho eh?
I wasn't referencing his bikes country of origin in my original post, wasn't my point. Point I was making was all bikes have souls, but if its important to you then yes his was wasn't a Jappa.
Forest
3rd May 2009, 20:14
I don't know much about Jappas, but BMW bikes definitely have soul.
It's clearly listed as a bolt-on option on page 83 of the BMW accessories catalogue.
I don't know much about Jappas, but BMW bikes definitely have soul.
It's clearly listed as a bolt-on option on page 83 of the BMW accessories catalogue.
That item is an Arschloch. Your translation is a bit off..... :whistle:
:laugh:
Armitage Shanks
3rd May 2009, 20:46
Not many Jap bikes have 'soul' but the Hayabusa has to be in the mix.....
Lost count of the looks, 'thumbs up' and and envious glares I've had today as I rode to Akaroa and back;)...
I may have 3 Balls but I'm sure it's the Bike they're applauding nonetheless and my 5 cents ...with good humour included...wink ;)
nudemetalz
3rd May 2009, 20:58
Bikes have souls. Take this bike for example. It's clearly been posessed by a demon.
Ah yes, but are you with me (and any others?) would love to hear this Morbidelli V8 850 running and take it for a blat, looks notwithstanding?
I believe my Guzzi has character and personality. It make you work while riding it.
Soul? Dunno.
peasea
3rd May 2009, 21:08
[QUOTE=Blatman;1129194302]If you had asked me this when I was 18, or 20, or even 23 I would have said an emphatic NO!! QUOTE]
And nothing's changed.
Now grab your teddy and go to bed.
Ah yes, but are you with me (and any others?) would love to hear this Morbidelli V8 850 running and take it for a blat, looks notwithstanding?
I believe my Guzzi has character and personality. It make you work while riding it.
Soul? Dunno.
This http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/12/12/morbidelli-v12-in-the-works/ would be even more interesting to hear/ride!
As far as the Morbidelli V8 goes the second version was much improved in the looks department, though still far from stunning as you can see from the attached pic.
Though as far as V8 bikes go, I really like this one: http://www.livesteaming.com/uploads/BMWTRIP/Dscf0015.jpg
Now that has to be a Jappa with at least a bit of soul! :)
R-Soul
19th February 2010, 12:03
Anyone who determines the quality/soul/character of a machine and/or it's rider simply based on the country of origin of the manufacturer of the machine, is an idiot. Obviously.
That's akin to determining who you should marry based on the brand of milk they usually purchase.
We stopped at the Rahotu pub on the Four Points last year, four of us (Triumph, Honda and 2 Kwakas), parked up and proceeded to sort our shit prior to heading inside to get our cards. Suddenly a 'woman' dashes out and rushes to her Harley (Sportser 1200 I think?) and states that she couldn't possibly leave it where it was since we had parked our Japanese bikes within the general vicinity...she chortled about it a bit as if to joke...but still moved the bike over to the other side of the car park, next to another Harley.
What
a
fucking
half-wit.
That kind of explains why some riders are judged on tehbasis of the nationality of bikes they ride...
Now what bike would the uneducated red-neck conservative ride?
captain_andrey
19th February 2010, 12:50
Southpark:
Uriel: No! There is another. A Japanese boy did make it to level 59.
Michael: Are you stupid, Uriel? Japanese people don't have souls!
Angels: Yeah, Uriel!
Uriel: Oh. Right, right. I'm sorry.
Surely anything they make cant have a soul :)
R-Soul
19th February 2010, 13:17
I challenge anybody to ride my Firestorm for an afternoon and say it has no soul...
The soul of an angel (as far as reliability is concerned - which is DEFINITELY soul in my boooks - the character to just go on and on...)
The soul of a leprechaun as far as handling goes - agile as hell.
And the frugality of a 600 pound gorilla...
yama
19th February 2010, 13:47
Haha I've had a couple with soul, they usually show it when on the blink though
EJK
19th February 2010, 13:48
Soul in mechanical term = technology?
:lol:
Scuba_Steve
19th February 2010, 16:20
my bike has the soul of a serial killer, her name's Susan.
EJK
19th February 2010, 21:15
As in Boyle? :rofl: She's a real killer mate!
mikeey01
19th February 2010, 22:05
As in Boyle? :rofl: She's a real killer mate!
lol...
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Great voice but...
Ratti
20th February 2010, 10:30
wouldn't go as far as saying my bike has soul.
but definatly has character.
Laava
20th February 2010, 11:56
Yep agree with Ratti, bikes don't have soul, they can however have appeal. An old SL125 appeals to me, not from a technical viewpoint but rather from a nostalgic one. They have also stood the test of time which not all have done or even could have done. I have a leaning toward v twins personally as well, but that is just me I guess!
Trudes
20th February 2010, 12:40
Jap bike with Soul (maybe it's character) = 2 stroke :woohoo:
Fluffy Cat
20th February 2010, 17:42
Errrr.....what's a soul?.
Subike
20th February 2010, 18:10
I guess it can depend upon.
Its age
Its ownership
Its mileage
What love and attention has been imparted into the bike over the years.
Upon the places it has traveled to,
Has it become a part of the family, because its sound is known by many friends of the rider.
Is it worty of special attention because of some event it has attended, or situation it has survived.
Does it have some peculiar quirk no other bike of the same model seems to have.
Does it have its own special way of being bought to life for each ride.
Or is it just a poor slug ridden every day to work,
Kicked into the back of the garage in the cold,
left rusting under a tree when it refuses to work anymore.
There are so many different variables that can either give a bike a soul,
or make it a junky jappa.
The attitude of its owner can make the difference.
sitting in the show room brand new,
a shinny new jappa awaits it new owner,
yearning for the open road to flex its muscles,
hoping for that turn of the key, the push of that button,
whichl transforms it from a hunk of steel plastic and glass,
into a willing alive beast,
with a voice that wants to be heard,
a sparkle to turn the head of those who envey or dispise the rider on board.
Soul?
Character?
only an owner knows.
Ratti
20th February 2010, 18:13
well said Subike. I have 3 LTD's, the one I ride has character, 1 is a donor bike, but I think I hear the other one whimpering and crying when I walk past
R-Soul
22nd February 2010, 08:11
Frankly I'd be too scared to sell my Red Sonja - I'd be looking over my shoulder the whole time waiting for her to hunt me down in vengeance...
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