Why do you have your current bike?

[Oakie]

Needed something bigger than the FXR to carry the combined weight of Mrs Oakie and myself around. The CB400 was suitable, affordable, comfortable, low mileage, shiny, had some gold bits on it and it just looked at me and said "take me home big boy" How could I say no?

[SuperDave]

Started off with an FXR150 towards the end of 6th form which was in 2004. Took me a shitload of time to convince my parents to let me get a bike, tried everything to convice them - told them I couldn't afford the running costs of a car and a bike would be great when I go to uni etc etc. Finally after a few months of hounding them they gave in and I got the FXR.

Sold the FXR around last Oct and bought the ZXR. Compared to the FXR the ZXR is one fast monster, but I'm beginning to tire of it and would like to move onto another bike now, but that is dependent on funding.

Agree with much of the other comments on why I like bikes in general.

[aff-man]

Started off with an FXR150 towards the end of 6th form which was in 2004. Took me a shitload of time to convince my parents to let me get a bike, tried everything to convice them - told them I couldn't afford the running costs of a car and a bike would be great when I go to uni etc etc. Finally after a few months of hounding them they gave in and I got the FXR.

Sold the FXR around last Oct and bought the ZXR. Compared to the FXR the ZXR is one fast monster, but I'm beginning to tire of it and would like to move onto another bike now, but that is dependent on funding.

Agree with much of the other comments on why I like bikes in general.

come own up you got the zxr cause it is the mother of all bikes....... plus we had just run it in nicely.... By the way have you finished painting the fairings would like to see how it came out??

[far queue]

Cool thread, it's interesting to see others backgrounds.

I've always loved bikes. Loved push bikes as a kid and still ride mountain bikes today.

I've been riding motorbikes for 27 years now.

Started in 1979 with 1973 Suzuki A50 while at school - that was ideal because Dad bought it for me I had a ball on that bike. My mates had trail bikes and I used to tag along with them, eventually blew a hole in the piston and had to learn how to fix engines.

Next - 1980, had a job by now so traded the A50 on a 1976 Suzuki TS185N trail bike and got into some decent trail riding with my mates. But wanted to go faster on the road, so ...

Next - 1980 still, got a 1979 Yamaha RD250F and had a ball on that. Had a few off's on the road through inexperience and going too fast for my ability at the time. Eventually got bored on the road and had a hankering to get back on the dirt. So, and remember I was only 18 at the time, so got bored and moved on easily ...

Next - 1980 still, got a brand new Suzuki TS185ER - great bike in its time. Had a ball on the dirt again for a few more years - I was happy with this bike. Eventually marriage and mortgage came along and I ended up only using it for commuting, so ...

Next - 1987, I had really liked the Suzuki GN400 when it came out in 1980, so when I spotted one in a shop, and as the ER was now only on commutung duty, I had to have it. Really enjoyed that bike. Eventually it crapped out and as kids had now joined the marriage and mortgage, the bike languished in the garage for a couple of years. The wife said I may as well sell it since I wasn't using it. I pointed out to her that I couldn't use it as we couldn't afford to fix it, but at least I've still got a bike and there was no way I was going to sell it as I'd never get another one approved by her. Eventually got it fixed up and on the road again. A guy at work had been regaleing me with stories of bike rallies, so I took the bike to one - that was fun. Then the misses did a runner, so ...

Next - 1998, unencumbered by the ball and chain I traded the GN on a 1993 Suzuki GSX750F and travelled all over the South Island going to rallies for the next few years. Really enjoyed the power, the speed, and the handling and can only imagine what a GSXR1000 must be like. The cops eventually made it harder to have fun at speed on the roads and the bike was getting used less and spending more time in the garage, so ...

Next - 2003, traded the GSX on a new Suzuki DR650 and am fun all over again. Still do all the rallies, but now have as much fun at 110kph as I used to at 140-180kph. Now travel the back roads, explore the back country areas, and am back into the good old trail riding again. I now ride everything from the local twisty sealed roads to the local riverbeds to the same thing anywhere else in the island. The DR is a true jack of all trades and master of none. I'm still having a ball.

I've got a 50 & 80cc kids bikes, which I'm teaching the kids with. They love getting out on them too.

mmmmmmmm, I may have got a bit carried away there, sorry about that

[Matt Bleck]

Couldn't find a ZX7R at the time.

[Edbear]

Finally managed to get outta the wheelchair and as my wife had said, "If you ever get out of the wheelchair you can get another bike". Well, I did, (long hard story!), and a mate said he had the GSX-F and offered it to me at a price well under valuation. After expressing my desire, she said, "Well, why don't you buy it?" (What can I say, she's a gem!). It wasn't my first choice of bike; as a "middle-aged returning biker" I'd been considering a cruiser, but as I said the price was really too good to pass up and as I knew the extremely fussy type of owner he was, and after seeing how immaculate the bike was with only 30,000k's on it, I just couldn't pass it up! Now I've got used to a 'sports' bike, I don't think I could be satisfied witrh a cruiser, not enough cornering clearance!

[magnum]

got mine cause it was cheapish and goes like fark.

[sAsLEX]

Wasn't allowed a bike at home, so left and joined the navy.

K14 was buying a CBR250RR so I got one to, had for a yearish then got nicked.

K14 wanted me to look at a NC30 for him as he had got his full, he never did get it........

[Insanity_rules]

Had a few bikes but no licence, so I decided to go legal and buy a 250. But which 250? Liked the look at Hyosungs until I rode one (Yukkkk).

Well after the licence I was left wanting and I found a forum post about a member selling my current bike. It reminded me of an old favourite bike from my past and it rode like it too.... So long story short its now in my driveway, little work needed but fun to ride and going to be a great custom.

Why ride what everyone else is riding?

[robnz]

been around bike's most of my life. got photo's of sitting on the back of my uncle's cb750. my first bike was br250 have owned gsx's, gsxr's and now own a sv1000. great bike to ride, although it seems to have developed an attraction to gremlins kwaka

[crash harry]

Always wanted a ZX-7R because I think they're the sexyist machine ever made, and they're a kawasaki so they're a bit mad as well...

The 9R came up at a really good price, and it's ALMOST a 7R... just about 1000 tons heavier and with a bit more wick...

[APPLE]

riding for 7 years,first bike woz 91 RGV,mount eden motorcycles,2nd bike.97 TL1000S,black,had that 4 couple years,now hav 99TLR1000,red.

[classic zed]

In 1976 I bought a new Kawasaki Z1000.

3 years later the Z1300 came out, I just couldnt afford one. Finally 26 years later I managed to get one, in fact I bought 2 of them.

[Gremlin]

...great bike to ride, although it seems to have developed an attraction to gremlins kwaka

Told you already... twas you and looking down... maybe paying me back for almost taking you out before we began??

The 9R came up at a really good price, and it's ALMOST a 7R... just about 1000 tons heavier and with a bit more wick...

The zx9r c series is actually lighter I think, with a bit more power, but not the sporty riding position.

For me, the bike added up as the next bike, by fitting my requirements best, and it does have an awesome reputation. I thought it was gorgeous, and loved riding it. The test ride alone halved its chicken strips, while being only my second experience of a big bike.

Loved the test ride, felt confident, and bought it :spudbooge

[oldrider]

Well I bought my first bike when I was 14 living in Masterton. (1953) A small James 2 stroke hand gear change. Not much of a bike even then but it was mine!

The old man took it off me and used the law to make the guy take it back, boy was I embarrassed and really pissed off.

We moved to Petone and I bought my second bike, a Royal Enfield 350 rigid back with tele's in the front. Again not much of a bike but it was mine! I was 15. The same thing happened the old man locked it in the shed and I wasn't to ride it.

I chopped the door down with the axe and pissed off on the bike. He was not happy! Fuck him I said and there was much unpleasantness. He was a big bugger and he won that round but the bike didn't go back so I kept cutting the door down and getting the bike out and pissing off for the week end.

I joined up with the original "Milkbar cowboys" in lower Hutt in the fifties and stayed with that "terrific" group of guys until the start of the sixties when I went to sea as an engineer in the merchant navy.

The last bike I had in the fifties was a BSA 500 with Gold Star cams etc not a very exciting bike by today's standard but it made a lot of noise and used to get a lot of MOT/ City Council Officers attention, who issued me with a lot of invitations to spend my money. Actually I wrote that bike off against a pile driving truck in Nelson Street Petone and there is a monumental compulsory stop there now to this day.

Got married in 1964 and had various home made bitsa bikes until Honda started turning out great little trailbikes so just progressed with kids and me as we grew up.

My last two bikes before this one were Honda ST1100's and they proved to me they did not like going slow so with the new attitudes towards law enforcement and my retirement budget not being large I bought my current bike (possibly my last) as a bike for all occasions.

Jack of all trades master of none is probably an apt description for the TransAlp but we like it, it's not too heavy for us and we can still catch the attention of the "Darkside" (lol) if we push it.

It's a funny thing but I still long for a bit more stick and a bit more attitude (noise) out of the back end but I guess I will grow up eventually. Cheers John.