Cruiser being considered.

**wysper** · 15th January 2011, 18:38

I enjoy taking in the scenery as well when on a ride. I had to take the car to gizzy from hamilton on xmas eve, I wouldn't mind doing that on the bike. There is some nice riding and scenery through the gorge. Waiweka I think it was.

**Shadows** · 16th January 2011, 19:26

Originally Posted by awa355

If I bought a Harley, do I really have to wear the Johnny Rebs, the Willie & Max frilly sleeves and the live to ride belt buckle? I do have the matt black open face helmet and wrap around shades tho'.

No. Please don't.

Originally Posted by awa355

I know most Harley owners are not tossers like those idiots but why pay thousands just to strut around town and not use the bike?

Because they can't quite afford the latest HSV or FPV, they don't have shell out to upgrade to the latest model which has slightly different tail lights every couple of years because their friends couldn't tell one bike from the next anyway, their fat guts would make them look silly on a sport bike (that, and they wouldn't fit into a Power Ranger suit), their stupid nagging wives with the perfect hair and huge earrings won't get on the back with them (always a bonus), and they look way more badass in leather any way.

Oh yeah, and they think it'll help them pick up chicks.

Any way, you needn't talk to them, they can be spotted from a mile away.

Aside from the heroes, HDs are great and Sporties are a good all round motorcycle. Just stay off the gravel, or convert it to chain drive.

And don't sell the GB. You'll regret it. I know I do. Or sell it to me. If you get a trade in price let me know and I'll see if I can better it.

**Smifffy** · 16th January 2011, 21:19

Originally Posted by Shadows

because their friends couldn't tell one bike from the next anyway,

The first time I rode the bike to work, there was only one other bike in the car park. The Harley of a guy who rides in regularly.

All the buzz was "Who owns that neat Harley in the carpark?"

I say "You know that guy Roger". and they're all

"No. Not his one the other one!"

"Which other one?"

"The one with the saddlebags and the whitewall tyres, and stuff. It's really cool""

Then I chip in with "Oh I think you mean my bike, it isn't a Harley tho"

"What is it then?"

"A Suzuki"

"Oh. Stink. Why didn't you get a Harley?"

"You mean a really cool one?" Nods, "Like yours?"

**awa355** · 17th January 2011, 08:11

[QUOTE=Smifffy;1129958926]

"The one with the saddlebags and the whitewall tyres, and stuff. It's really cool"")

Fuck, I hate talking about motorbikes to people who know nothing about motorbikes,

Anyway, what did Roger think of the bike?

**awa355** · 17th January 2011, 08:28

[QUOTE=Shadows;1129958

Aside from the heroes, HDs are great and Sporties are a good all round motorcycle. Just stay off the gravel, or convert it to chain drive.

And don't sell the GB. You'll regret it. I know I do. Or sell it to me. If you get a trade in price let me know and I'll see if I can better it.

[/QUOTE]

I had better keep the GB. It is a good one and I deserve to have two bikes!
I took my 2008 bike ( bland 250) into the shop for a new brake lever and came out with a '87 model.( just what I always wanted)
The wife just doesn't understand what a motorcycle does for the soul. I take the 500 out for a couple of hours around the back roads and time just stops. I'm ageless, even with flogged out shocks and soggy brakes, I have never regretted a single ride.

**Edbear** · 17th January 2011, 09:25

Originally Posted by awa355

I had better keep the GB. It is a good one and I deserve to have two bikes!
I took my 2008 bike ( bland 250) into the shop for a new brake lever and came out with a '87 model.( just what I always wanted)
The wife just doesn't understand what a motorcycle does for the soul. I take the 500 out for a couple of hours around the back roads and time just stops. I'm ageless, even with flogged out shocks and soggy brakes, I have never regretted a single ride.

The 500GB along with the SR500 are iconic singles and deserve to be preserved. Both can be made easily into good looking cafe racers keeping the original bits aside for future restoration.

**jafar** · 17th January 2011, 13:50

Originally Posted by awa355

I may upgrade from the old GB to a cruiser about mid year. I would be looking at around 600 - 900cc. Last cruiser I rode was a Suzuki Maurader 800 way back. It was a dog on the corners, back roads, I was searching for reverse to back up to get around. That was a 1st ride Putaruru to NP and back. The return trip I had started to understand the bike better. I know they require a different riding style to lighter, shorter bikes.

I want one that pulls from well down without having to use the gearbox like a 2st racer. Reasonable grunt to pull out and pass. Top speed isn't important.

Are the belt drives a problem? A friend said if they get a decent stone flicked up into the belt cleats, they can cut out and expensive.

I've thought about the Honda 750 and the Suzuki savage, and v twins. My problem with Honda is their parts. They dont seem to stock any, and aren't interested. What are the Kawasakis like? Thanks.

Nothing wrong with the VN900 or 900 custom ,

**Big Dave** · 17th January 2011, 17:38

Originally Posted by Edbear

The 500GB along with the SR500 are iconic singles and deserve to be preserved. Both can be made easily into good looking cafe racers keeping the original bits aside for future restoration.

I owned a SR500. Not worth getting sentimental over. I'd get Deus to flat tracker it if I had one now.

I had unlimited budget I'd get Dave to build me a flat track style big block from a dyna. Be a BD special.

**hellokitty** · 17th January 2011, 17:57

Originally Posted by awa355

The wife just doesn't understand what a motorcycle does for the soul.

Get a new wife, or teach her to ride, and get her a bike!

**phill-k** · 17th January 2011, 18:20

Up at a cafe just out of Kerikeri last Saturday, 4 bikes already there and as the wif and I dismounted the owner of a BMW came out looked at my ride and remarked about it being a nice looking roadking, said not likely couldn't afford the price of one of those even if I wanted one, he came over and asked what is it (kawa vulcan nomad) he was really surprised and then mentioned he had been a harley dealer so it seems even harley over the last 10 or so years have been successful copying the metric cruisers

**awa355** · 17th January 2011, 19:16

Originally Posted by hellokitty

Get a new wife, or teach her to ride, and get her a bike!

Its taken 36 years to train this one. She hasn't been keen on bikes since I took her to Auckland as a 8 months pregnant pillion on a Yamaha R5 350. A 3 hr trip each way.

Better to have a wife that has no interest in bikes, then she will never know how many gloves, jackets, helmets etc are tucked away in the garage.

**awa355** · 17th January 2011, 19:34

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I owned a SR500. Not worth getting sentimental over. .

Funny how different models leave a mark on you. Certainly an individual thing.

As a 18yr old, I bought a Yamaha TX750 twin brand new. I ran it in as per the book and in 24,000 miles I never had a problem. Never have I seen a bike so maligned in the magazines. Usually by bike magazine 'experts' that have never seen, ridden much less owned one. That bike gave such a sense of power and smoothness that it set a love of motorbikes that still lasts today.

**beatswalkin** · 18th January 2011, 15:58

Originally Posted by Katiepie

Can I tempt you with my Suzuki Boulevard k9 M50z that is potentially for sale? 800cc.. handles like, a cruiser

I remember seeing your scoot on the Interislander coming back from the Burt Munro and can vouch that it's a well looked after sickel. What's the sell price?

**Edbear** · 18th January 2011, 16:10

Originally Posted by beatswalkin

I remember seeing your scoot on the Interislander coming back from the Burt Munro and can vouch that it's a well looked after sickel. What's the sell price?

I reckon you should offer her about $20k...