Why do you have your current bike?

**ZeroIndex** · 13th March 2006, 11:33

I got mine because it was cheap and... wait that's it, it was cheap... something to learn and fall on

**Ixion** · 13th March 2006, 11:41

When I decided that I needed to get more serious about biking and that the T500 was in need of a long reinvigorating rest, I wanted to try something completely different. And I always hankered after trying a BMW.No real reason , just wanted to try one. And one came along (I was actually after a boxer, but whatever). And it had lots of interesting stuff that I wanted to try out - ABS (brilliant) , shaft drive (nice, mostly) , water cooling (unimpressed) , full fairing (nice when the weatehrs shit, pain when it's nice) , lotsa luggage space (nice)

And then Ratty cos I wanted a commuter scooter - don't want to risk a BMW being knocked over in a car park ding. And I couldn't find a suitable two stroke single - either too dear (rare road going off roaders) , too rare (DT230), too sprotsbike and too many cylinders, (RGV, TZR etc) or too old for a day-to-day-ride-to-worker. And if I can't have a two smoker, I like singles. Preferably with a bit of zing. And an SRX250 came along, fitted the bill

And Petal and Phoebe are obvious. The end of an era, the last big touring two strokes ever made (ever will be made). Never be anything like them ever again.

**loosebruce** · 13th March 2006, 11:45

GSXR - own the racetrack

own fucken everything

No need to say anymore

**justsomeguy** · 13th March 2006, 11:49

I got my bike cos I like speeding - onto my 3rd 250 now and it's supposed to be the fastest 250 - apart from those smoky 2 strokes.

**justsomeguy** · 13th March 2006, 11:49

Originally Posted by loosebruce

GSXR - own the racetrack

own fucken everything

No need to say anymore

All your bike owns is workshop space......

**Colapop** · 13th March 2006, 11:59

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

Umm, I saw you out running yesterday?...

I thought I'd be able to get a bike quicker...

**skelstar** · 13th March 2006, 12:01

Broken record but have been riding for 7-8 months.

Had the Hyobag for 7 months and was/is a great bike to learn on.

I spent ALOT of time analysing what I wanted next and to cut a long story short I realised I wanted a bike that did everything: Commute/tour/trackday/nut around the rapa/and be good enough for the rigors of the TRTNR. Having bought the bike and found what it/I can do I love it even more. Im just starting to customise it a bit (something that I may not have been able to do on a sprotsbike). This bike is going to be individual and all mine (and the banks).

**SpeedyGirl** · 13th March 2006, 12:13

With my record of breaking bikes.... I thought that cheap was a better thing to do before pretty and flash

**Keystone19** · 13th March 2006, 12:15

Ahh, where does a wee slip of a lass like myself go after a VTR250? Well, as Skelstar says, the SV650 really is a girls bike, so there you go, that's why I have it, I ride like a girl.

Actually, I wanted a bike that could do everything I wanted to do - commute, track days, twistys, etc - and the SV is a good stepping stone for a newbie rider like me.

It's just that now I've found out what it can really do, I don't think of it as a stepping stone at all, I have other plans for it..........

**skelstar** · 13th March 2006, 12:17

Youre not going to let that go are ya J?

**Marmoot** · 13th March 2006, 12:17

Hayabusa - a one beautiful creature with comfort and pricetag to match.

It can only be better if it is made by Honda, has a '99 Fireblade logo on it and is coloured metalicblue/orange/red/black.

**Motu** · 13th March 2006, 12:24

I was looking for a small dirt bike (I've been trying to get back off road for 10 yrs now,but it's not going to happen until I get out of business,by then it might be too late) ,but all the small bikes have crap suspension and brakes...I also wanted it road registerable so I could do adventure rides,or maybe transport the bike to a nice gravel road,but still be a light enough bike for me to strip and take off road.A tall order,and it was going to have to be some gutless 4 stroke that wouldn't hack it as a road bike.

Then I came across the DT230,checked them out,and then found this one owned by a friend of a friend sorta style.I spent hours on the phone yaking bikes with the owner,and he really went out of his way to make it happen for me.Although I had the money in my pocket after selling 4 other bikes,we had just bought a house to do up,and I was reluctant to commit it all on the bike - so he let me put on a deposit and pay him off,also transporting the bike to Auckland to me before I had paid for it...and on top of all that giving me a GST receipt so I could claim the GST on the bike.

The bike has been so much more than I expected - a street legal semi serious dirt bike that's capable of over 160kph on standard gearing,hard hitting power for twisty sealed and gravel roads,handling good enough for a dummy like me...I couldn't ask for a better back road bike.I still can't use it off road yet as my XT is still not going...kinda frustrating,and I feel like just giving up getting off road again,when I do I'll be so embarassingly out of shape it might be better off not even trying.

Anyway,it's a neat bike,it's a joke having such a small bike with big hitting performance.

**Pwalo** · 13th March 2006, 12:39

I've been riding since I was sixteen, bar the customary break for house purchase, children etc. When I could afford to buy another bike I started off on an old FT400 (remember them), and purchased my first GS as a replacement.

Purchased the GS because it was pretty cheap, comfortable for commuting, and a lot more fun to ride than some of the more 'serious' bikes that I tested.
It's also easy to work on, cheap to get serviced, and in my eyes at least, pretty good looking.

Still like one of the new 06 GSXR 600s though.

**Blackbird** · 13th March 2006, 12:48

I’ve had the Blackbird since October 2001. I was originally looking for a sports bike such as a Fireblade, R1 and the like. However, when Mrs Blackbird sat on the pillions of these bikes, she flatly said that she wouldn’t be coming on the back. As I love her dearly, as well as being slightly wary of retaliation for making a decision which wasn’t in her best interests, we started looking at sports tourers. Now most modern bikes are pretty much bullet proof with very few reliability issues and the Blackbird is no exception. Some of the UK owners have racked up over 200,000 km with negligible engine work. However, the choice of a ‘bird was really made on “gut feel” – what its looks did for me emotionally and I suspect that most people subconsciously make similar decisions.

Four and a half year on, I’ve spent around $3000 on personalising the bike, some of it “bling”, but most of it genuine enhancements. I would put the NZ “Rider” brand custom seat, the Scottoiler, Escort Radar detector and ride height spacer at the top in terms of effectiveness.

So what bike comes next? Haven’t a clue. The ‘bird can munch miles as shown by doing the Southern Cross and Grand Challenge rides, acquit itself pretty well round the Coro Loop at speed and cruise two up in perfect comfort. I like the idea of a Speed Triple because of less load on the wrists but even a great machine like that has its limitations, not the least in the 2 up stakes. Perhaps when Mrs B retires as pillion.

Nope, the Blackbird still fills my “fitness for purpose" requirements in spades!

**TLDV8** · 13th March 2006, 13:01

Originally Posted by Ixion

And Petal and Phoebe are obvious. The end of an era, the last big touring two strokes ever made (ever will be made). Never be anything like them ever again

Thats because they don't put the petrol stations close enough

Current now,current then,the reason never changes.