The secret to enjoying biking.

[Mr. Peanut]

This is how I see it, if you think otherwise that's fine by me.

Motorcycling is about freedom. You get on a bike, fire it up, and you're superman. Choose a bike that lets you do that often. Some bikes often don't fire up. We call these "Old and cheap sport bikes". Are you still listening?!!

IF YOU CANT AFFORD A NEW SPORT BIKE YOU CAN'T AFFORD AN OLD ONE.

There there, don't cry. Now listen up.

Find a bike you can afford, that doesn't mean the clapped out CBR NSR GSXR on trademe for $4995, it means the $2000 GN250 that made you dry wretch. YES, BUY A HORRIBLE BIKE!!!

I'll tell you why. You might love that CBR on the test ride, you might love it for the next month, but you'll learn to hate it. You'll realise it isn't a faithful machine, and you'll soon be in an expensive love triangle with your bike and your mechanic. Meanwhile, that horrible GN250 keeps passing your house every morning, and you start to think, "Gee, that wouldn't be so bad, any bike on an awesome day like this."

Get yourself the newest, cheapest, simplest bike you can afford, and enjoy yourself. You'll have a full face helmet on anyway. And all that money you save can go into buying that awesome new bike you ACTUALLY wanted.

And GUESS WHAT? That horrible bike will sell for the same you bought it for! Your friends who are still stuck paying off their horrible clapped out 250s (sitting in a garage) are gonna f**king jealous of your reliable new sports bike!

One more tip, DON'T BUY LEATHERS! You're not one of those pussys that doesn't ride in the rain are you? Get good quality waterproof gear, when you can afford a 150hp bike, you'll be able to afford both.

DON'T let me say I told you so. I'm an arsehole like that.

[Paul in NZ]

The secret to enjoying biking is....

Don't join web forums.... If you don't 'know' your bike is a pile of crap you won't notice ;-)

[Slyer]

I think you seriously overestimate the GN

[kit]

I actually have leathers and i ride in the rain, and i recall a particulary wet day riding down the west coast and stopping for brunch. Another group of bikers pulled in and one of the fellows commented " dry rider my f***kn A" he had purchased all the right gear and still got soaked.......It dont matter what ya got if it rains hard enough your gonna get wet!!!!!

[Cheshire Cat]

This is how I see it, if you think otherwise that's fine by me.

Motorcycling is about freedom. You get on a bike, fire it up, and you're superman. Choose a bike that lets you do that often. Some bikes often don't fire up. We call these "Old and cheap sport bikes". Are you still listening?!!

IF YOU CANT AFFORD A NEW SPORT BIKE YOU CAN'T AFFORD AN OLD ONE.

There there, don't cry. Now listen up.

Find a bike you can afford, that doesn't mean the clapped out CBR NSR GSXR on trademe for $4995, it means the $2000 GN250 that made you dry wretch. YES, BUY A HORRIBLE BIKE!!!

I'll tell you why. You might love that CBR on the test ride, you might love it for the next month, but you'll learn to hate it. You'll realise it isn't a faithful machine, and you'll soon be in an expensive love triangle with your bike and your mechanic. Meanwhile, that horrible GN250 keeps passing your house every morning, and you start to think, "Gee, that wouldn't be so bad, any bike on an awesome day like this."

Get yourself the newest, cheapest, simplest bike you can afford, and enjoy yourself. You'll have a full face helmet on anyway. And all that money you save can go into buying that awesome new bike you ACTUALLY wanted.

And GUESS WHAT? That horrible bike will sell for the same you bought it for! Your friends who are still stuck paying off their horrible clapped out 250s (sitting in a garage) are gonna f**king jealous of your reliable new sports bike!

One more tip, DON'T BUY LEATHERS! You're not one of those pussys that doesn't ride in the rain are you? Get good quality waterproof gear, when you can afford a 150hp bike, you'll be able to afford both.

DON'T let me say I told you so. I'm an arsehole like that.

Whatever Trever

[YellowDog]

Fumeux - good post. I do agree with you and it is sort of what i did. I really do enjoy riding, but i am generally a pussy and only ride the tiger in the dry. I ride for work, so that is generally in the wet.

Riding in the wet is not a pleasure (for me). At this time of the year when the sun is out and the air is cool - this is the best riding of all

[BMWST?]

I actually have leathers and i ride in the rain, and i recall a particulary wet day riding down the west coast and stopping for brunch. Another group of bikers pulled in and one of the fellows commented " dry rider my f***kn A" he had purchased all the right gear and still got soaked.......It dont matter what ya got if it rains hard enough your gonna get wet!!!!!

no you wont.....

[cs363]

no you wont.....

X 2 on that....

[sil3nt]

Whatever Trever

I thought it was a pisstake but apparently your serious. If your going to spend the money on a cbr the your probably going to spend the little extra to get a mechanic to check it out. From what i hear the CBR is a damn reliable bike anyway.

[p.dath]

Haha.

The actual secret is attitude. Nothing more, nothing less.

And it especially has *nothing* to do with the age of your bike. Haha. :-)

[Cheshire Cat]

I thought it was a pisstake but apparently your serious. If your going to spend the money on a cbr the your probably going to spend the little extra to get a mechanic to check it out. From what i hear the CBR is a damn reliable bike anyway.

EXACTLY.If you're pashionate about something you will go all the way and Leos are known for NOT being tight arses.

[=cJ=]

**yawn**

Buy the bike that makes you grin even when it's sitting in the shed being fixed up.

And what's this about having a mechanic, only do that if you HAVE to.

Sheesh, youngsters these days..

**gets slippers**

[jrandom]

If I was starting on a learner licence right now, I'd get a Yamaha Scorpio 225. Hard to beat for $4K brand new.

Many a time these days, y'know, I find myself riding around town on Stickchick's Scorpio; I can't be arsed hauling the mighty 1400 out of the gargre.

Also, get leathers and waterproofs to go over them. That's the only thing that actually works both for protection and for keeping dry on long rides in truly shit weather.

And, generally speaking, just go and get your fucking full licence already.

[Brownstoo]

Buy the bike that makes you grin even when it's sitting in the shed being fixed up.

And what's this about having a mechanic, only do that if you HAVE to.

+1! What is this "mechanic" they speak of?
Even when I had mine in pieces all over the garage I'd still walk past, knowing I wouldn't be riding for a while, and crack a huge smile and feel all fuzzy just coz that was my bike...
Sure, I know it's gonna cost me more than a ginny to keep going, but the fun to be had with sports bikes outweighs that cost for me any day. Also the only way I'll learn how to fix/maintain bikes myself is if I have to do it to keep riding.
And there's no blanket rule for how to enjoy motorbikes. I just happen to enjoy owning a sports bike more than I'd enjoy having that extra couple of grand in my account and a ginny.
Each to their own though!

[gwigs]

+1! What is this "mechanic" they speak of?
Even when I had mine in pieces all over the garage I'd still walk past, knowing I wouldn't be riding for a while, and crack a huge smile and feel all fuzzy just coz that was my bike...
Sure, I know it's gonna cost me more than a ginny to keep going, but the fun to be had with sports bikes outweighs that cost for me any day. Also the only way I'll learn how to fix/maintain bikes myself is if I have to do it to keep riding.
And there's no blanket rule for how to enjoy motorbikes. I just happen to enjoy owning a sports bike more than I'd enjoy having that extra couple of grand in my account and a ginny.
Each to their own though!

Surely part of owning motorbikes is fixing and maintaining them yourself....and after all if you,re riding it you want to know its done properly.
It doesnt really matter what you ride..if its got 2 wheels and youre enjoying it
thats all that counts....