Are looks everything?

**Hiflyer** · 19th July 2009, 23:54

If I like the look of a new flash sports bike, does that make me a squid? If I like the look of an older 90’s bike does that make me not cool enough to ride with the other “cool cats” on their flashy sports bikes? Or should I look for something in between so that I feel like a douche trying to please everyone?

These are all things that go through my head when I think about which bike I want to buy when I get my full. But it’s stupid really cos why do I care what other people think about my bike? Because in reality biking is a selfish hobby, and even if you share it with people there are only a select few who you can share it with, It should be about the owners choice, don’t take other peoples advice to heart too much.

Why should we care what other people think? Isn’t it all about the ride that the bike offers you when you get on? Some people say that the looks of the bike don’t matter and that you can’t see the bike when you’re riding etc etc. But do you not look at the bike when you walk up to it? Do you not look in reflections to see yourself and remind yourself you are in fact on a bike you like the look of?

My old flatmate bought a GPX250 cos he heard they were reliable and plenty fast for a learner, but got fed up with its looks after a while, while on the other hand my uncle bought a 916 cos its fricken sexual, and while the looks and power are to die for he said his Moto Guzzi was a much more enjoyable ride....

There are so many things to consider when choosing a bike, but should looks really be one of them? Look at what happened to my uncle...

I guess asking this question on kb is pointless cos 80% of the sports bike riders will say looks/performance are all that matters and 80% of the enduro riders will say it’s only the comfort of the ride that matters (for obvious reasons haha) There are so many opinions out there and ..... I don’t even know what my point is.....

Maybe it’s, don’t get too hung up on the looks of a bike, or maybe it’s, just do whatever you want

But in the end it’s your choice, don’t let other people’s opinions or KB bring you down!!!!

**firefighter** · 20th July 2009, 00:08

Sounds like you can afford to buy whatever you want! (lucky bastard!)

Get whatever you like, new/old/whatever......

Feel and comfort, and yeah, if you have the money a nice new stylish bike will have the technology to give you the first two....

You needa like the look of it still, there's plenty of mint looking bikes out there that that will tickle your fancy and still offer plenty of comfort, grunt and are fun and will keep you happy...

What will make you look like a dick is if you buy an R1 and don't know how to ride it........(coming off a hyo 250 i'd say ......no)

But, do you actually care what people think of your bike????

The people who wank on negatively about your brand new bike are usually just little jealous homos.....or have'nt gotten over pubity yet.......
Like chicks when they judge other chicks for a top or something they're wearing, when really the reason is they know they look hot, and they would'nt be able to look as good......and can't handle it......(they're usually fat and ugly too lol

)

**Indiana_Jones** · 20th July 2009, 00:13

Just get what you want.

Fuck the other cunts

-Indy

**firefighter** · 20th July 2009, 00:14

Originally Posted by Indiana_Jones

Just get what you want.

Fuck the other cunts

-Indy

What you said. I should have just said that.

**Hiflyer** · 20th July 2009, 00:17

Originally Posted by firefighter

Sounds like you can afford to buy whatever you want! (lucky bastard!)

Get whatever you like, new/old/whatever......

Feel and comfort, and yeah, if you have the money a nice new stylish bike will have the technology to give you the first two....

You needa like the look of it still, there's plenty of mint looking bikes out there that that will tickle your fancy and still offer plenty of comfort, grunt and are fun and will keep you happy...

What will make you look like a dick is if you buy an R1 and don't know how to ride it........(coming off a hyo 250 i'd say ......no)

But, do you actually care what people think of your bike????

The people who wank on negatively about your brand new bike are usually just little jealous homos.....or have'nt gotten over pubity yet.......
Like chicks when they judge other chicks for a top or something they're wearing, when really the reason is they know they look hot, and they would'nt be able to look as good......and can't handle it......(they're usually fat and ugly too lol

)

Originally Posted by Indiana_Jones

Just get what you want.

Fuck the other cunts

-Indy

Haha both very good points, I'm not too fussed about the performance of the bike cos any newish 600 or larger bike will destroy a 250 haha and yea there is alot of bitchyness in the bike world.

Oh and Indy, its easy for you to say "fuck the other cunts" cos your bikes a real looker!!!!

**PirateJafa** · 20th July 2009, 00:18

They're not everything?

Fuck, there goes me sole reason for owning my bikes.

**jono035** · 20th July 2009, 06:31

Originally Posted by Hiflyer

Haha both very good points, I'm not too fussed about the performance of the bike cos any newish 600 or larger bike will destroy a 250 haha and yea there is alot of bitchyness in the bike world.

Oh and Indy, its easy for you to say "fuck the other cunts" cos your bikes a real looker!!!!

Get advice from people on here about how the bike handles, whether it has enough grunt for you (or too much), whether it has any annoying tendencies (like catching on fire at 120km/hr on the motorway) and then do what everyone else does.

Choose the one that looks nicest.

**nallac** · 20th July 2009, 08:18

Originally Posted by jono035

.Choose the fastest one that looks nicest .

yip thats good advice....

**boman** · 20th July 2009, 08:46

Choose what ever gets you on the bike riding, looks or performance, or both. They are no good locked in the shed.

**Dodgyiti** · 20th July 2009, 09:08

It's such an emotive journey buying a bike.

Because I mostly buy older bikes, I have the following mental list of all the sensible things. This list is written on the lightest material known to man and can fly out the window with the slightest breeze when looking at a prospective new machine..

Parts: can I get all the things needed for daily running, tuneups etc, and how much are they or what is a minor and major service worth

Running Costs: How much to insure per year, how hard is it on tyres and how much are replacements, is there anything due for replacement

Resale: what are older simmilar models selling for, is it a popular colour (re-sale red rules!)

Enjoyment: will it do all I need (tour/commute/luggage/scratch etc) how long will my licence last

From that you will know if the bike that does take your fancy measures up to what you need.

I usually work out the 4 things above before I even go looking at prospective new bikes because when you see it in the flesh and hear it running the mind gets clouded.

**p.dath** · 20th July 2009, 09:13

I think you spend too much time worry about what everyone else thinks.

Just get what you like. Simple.

**Big Dave** · 20th July 2009, 09:21

You just have to be smarter than the internet.

**Okey Dokey** · 20th July 2009, 10:17

Get what you like and you will be happy. Why worry about what others like? Presumably they got what they wanted, too.

**Mystic13** · 20th July 2009, 10:22

Originally Posted by Hiflyer

If I like the look of a new flash sports bike, does that make me a squid? If I like the look of an older 90’s bike does that make me not cool enough to ride with the other “cool cats” on their flashy sports bikes? Or should I look for something in between so that I feel like a douche trying to please everyone?

These are all things that go through my head when I think about which bike I want to buy when I get my full. But it’s stupid really cos why do I care what other people think about my bike?

I think you think too much. So the question is how can you deal with this inferiority complex you have so that you don't have an issue buying whatever bike you want?

I'd be curious about how many riders care about what other riders think of their bike. I know I don't. I suspect on the whole most don't care.