Retail therapy is so good for the soul

**Mom** · 11th March 2011, 16:37

I've done it

I have had one of the best days of my life today, and still came away with change from my allocated bike buying budget

Not much change to be fair, but under all the same, and I have a new jacket/pants and boots along with one of the loveliest bikes I can sit on and still touch the ground. Ok, I have had to cheat a little bit

but hey, I can live with that

I had 2 choices today, well 2 of each choice to look at. Today was all about finding what fitted me, I was not planning on parting with any money at all. I had my eye on a bike in Napier and wanted to tyre kick before committing to buying something I had not sat on

However circumstances were such, and things went so well I simply had no choice but to open my wallet.

First up to Colemans to look at a couple of Suzuki 650 Bandits they had listed on Trademe. Like I said no intention of buying as there was a really lovely one down the line I was keen on, I just needed to see if it fit. I do, in the same way I fit on my current ride which is ok, but not great. Hmmmm. I wonder if the ER6n is any lower? So off to have a look there. Nope, it is actually higher (though you can get a "low profile” seat). I went to the local Kawasaki dealer which is where I had my first big HI FIVE moment of the day. This thread should be read as a HUGE RAP for the places I visited today.

**Mom** · 11th March 2011, 16:37

Experience Motorcycles - Henry Plowright, what a nice chap. Did not know too much about the Kawasakis but was a wealth of knowledge about sneaky ways to make yourself taller, he being short of stature too. His trusty side kick though did tell me that there is no way to lower the ER6 except to look at replacing the shock with Ohlins stuff. Well without casting aspersions on the product, the price of it and my budget/riding style does not warrant that kind of outlay. Henry suggested getting my boots "raised" making me taller. I had already asked the question about my current boots and they can’t be raised, but it occurred to me that I could buy some new ones that could be raised. Henry gave me the name of a wonderful cobbler in Newmarket who did his boots for him. But first off I needed to go to Motomail.

Motomail - Elliot, what a great salesman he is. Not pushy, very helpful and knowledgeable, and managed to make a fat, old woman feel good despite having to try on every pair of friggen pants in the store almost

Thank you Elliot, I was getting a bit

but you kept on finding options for me until we found one that worked. I cannot speak highly enough of him. Remember here that I only wanted to buy boots, well I thought seeing as I was there, and considering I was getting a new bike, I deserved new gear

Woman’s logic that

I also talked myself into a new jacket

As did Maha

We got an awesome deal from Motomail, thanks guys, I will be stand out, drop dead shexy as, in my new gear

**Mom** · 11th March 2011, 16:38

So into Newmarket we go, looking for “The Shoe Sheriff”, and some kai, shopping makes you ravenous

Bellies full, we wandered along Broadway, me carrying my new bike boots and wearing my old ones for effect. No idea why we were getting some “looks” from the ladies strolling along, but hey, each to their own. The Shoe Sheriff aka Peter and his team are simply wonderful

Honestly guys, this is like the cobbler of old that we had in Howick when I was a kid growing up. Great personal service and a fantastic result. I am getting my boots soles filleted which gives me an additional 12mm of height in the sole, the new boots are higher than my old ones too which helps. They have a bit of a wait list, but I expect to have the boots couriered back to me within 2 weeks. Awesome stuff!

So back to Colemans now, I want to see of that extra 12mm will in fact work. Here is where the very lovely Daryl Priestly comes into the equation, well to be fair he was already there but this time I made him work

Sit on bike, get out tape measure, measure distance from boot to floor, blah, blah, blah. The bike is gorgeous, I don’t want the one in Napier anymore, I want this one, and I friggen fit it to boot! So I got him to sharpen his pencil and we talked money. He talked good money and great service to boot, I really could not say no, so I didn’t!

**Mom** · 11th March 2011, 16:38

I HAVE A NEW BIKE!!!!

She is blue, a very pretty blue, and has a Micron pipe on her, so she sounds yummy

She is being fitted with a Ventura pack rack and needs a service and a bit of touch up stuff done. She needs a new WOF and will come with 6 months rego. I took a side frame cover with me today, as she also comes with a Givi screen I want to get it painted the same colour as the bike. I stupidly thought any painter can do that, but my painter friends up here tell me otherwise. So now I have to get the bits back to Auckland, once I find a painter. Any tips?

My boots will take 2 weeks, my paint stuff will take two weeks. My schedule allows me to get back to the shitty city in 2 weeks time. Hopefully the planets will align and I will have my baby home then.

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions, advice, abuse and general lovin’

You also rock!

One day I will get my hands on my dream bike, the dream however carried me to a place that I am very, very happy with.

**98tls** · 11th March 2011, 16:40

Good for you,congrats have fun and pics eh.

**MrKiwi** · 11th March 2011, 16:43

Snap it - Any pics?

**steve_t** · 11th March 2011, 16:46

Grats Mom!

**ducatilover** · 11th March 2011, 16:55

Great stuff Mom! Keep it sparkling and shit.
Pics?

**Maha** · 11th March 2011, 16:57

Here is the trademe listing....this is the bike.
As you can see the Givi screen needs to be the same colour as the bike.
Colmans, in particular Daryl was most excellent to deal with...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-278609121.htm

**98tls** · 11th March 2011, 17:00

Originally Posted by Maha

Here is the trademe listing....this is the bike.
As you can see the Givi screen needs to be the same colour as the bike.
Colmans, in particular Daryl was most excellent to deal with...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-278609121.htm

Looking good,dont mind the fairing in black to be honest,then again what do i know my bikes lamb shite yellow.

**Laava** · 11th March 2011, 17:02

So Ann did you get a new root?

**bogan** · 11th March 2011, 17:02

Great news! and it looks pretty fookin mint, despite having too many cylinders, and too many sides to your swingarm

very nice paint job though

**Maha** · 11th March 2011, 17:04

Originally Posted by 98tls

Looking good,dont mind the fairing in black to be honest,then again what do i know my bikes lamb shite yellow.

It is a fine example and the last digits on the odometer are 777 which is weird cos' the seat height on Annes current bike is 777....call it fate?
Heres the jacket that I got, REV'IT Ignition...
http://www.motomail.co.nz/estore/sty...kignition.aspx

**colonel** · 11th March 2011, 17:07

nice ride mom. its cool when things just fall into place

**98tls** · 11th March 2011, 17:11

Originally Posted by Maha

It is a fine example and the last digits on the odometer are 777 which is weird cos' the seat height on Annes current bike is 777....call it fate?
Heres the jacket that I got, REV'IT Ignition...
http://www.motomail.co.nz/estore/sty...kignition.aspx

Loving the leather mate,ive had a high end cordura jacket for years now which has served me well but..........nothing like a bit of leather eh.