What is "character"?

**Bonez** · 24th December 2006, 15:06

In relation to motocycles what is character? An often mentioned term on KB forums. Personnally I think it has more to do with personnal emotional bias than anything else. Your thoughts please.

**vamr** · 24th December 2006, 15:12

Partly it is the personification of the machine and partly the unique attributes that differentiate it in relation to others.

**nudemetalz** · 24th December 2006, 15:13

Well, (I might sound biased here, but..) I think my Guzzi has "character".
The way I had to learn to ride all over again when I got it. It has quirks that no other bikes have, and from what I believe, no 2 Guzzis are made the same from the factory.
You have to be the boss of it when you're riding, it's like it communicating back to you "if you slacken off, I will bite you !!".

Okay, enough B/S.

My thoughts.

**Gremlin** · 24th December 2006, 15:28

To me, its when the bike talks to you, and you respond emotively to it (ok, so mates think I'm nuts, but I swear some bikes talk to you). Like it is an entity in itself.

Also, its the sort of bike you want, and while it doesn't stack up on paper with other bikes, you want it for something you can't quite put your finger on.

To me, the TLR1000, and ZX-7R are two of those bikes. Not the best on paper against others... but they have ... something

**Lou Girardin** · 24th December 2006, 15:28

Character is not as common as it was before the advent of Japanese reliablity.
Basically it means breaking down a lot.

**Patch** · 24th December 2006, 16:10

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

Well, (I might sound biased here, but..) I think my "Guzzi" has character.
The way I had to learn to ride all over again when I got "it". "It" has quirks that no other "bikes" have, and from what I believe, no 2 "Guzzis" are made the same from the factory.
You have to be the boss of "it" when you're riding, it's like "its" communicating back to you "if you slacken off, I will bite you !!".

Sounds like your discribing a woman or a version of

**nudemetalz** · 24th December 2006, 16:34

Well, it's funny you should say that...........

**onearmedbandit** · 24th December 2006, 16:45

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Character is not as common as it was before the advent of Japanese reliablity.
Basically it means breaking down a lot.

Biker1 "Went to start ol' bettsie last Sunday morning"
Biker2 "Yeah, what happened"
Biker1 "Well she just wouldn't fire. Pulled the carb down, checked the spark, everything seemed fine. Ran fine the day before"
Biker2 "Aye, they've a lot of character those bikes. So what did you do?"
Biker1 "Ahh, got the CBX out and went for a run on that instead"
Biker2 "Yeah they're reliable those Jap things, no character though."

*ducks from the abuse and red-rep*

**Paul in NZ** · 24th December 2006, 16:53

Character?

Those who hear not the music think the dancers mad.....

However.....

If you hear the music? Thats character.

**Paul in NZ** · 24th December 2006, 16:55

Character?

Those who hear not the music think the dancers mad.....

However.....

If you hear the music? If it 'speaks' to you and you are prepared to put up with all the crap just for you fix. If you sit in the garage and just look at it for the pure pleasure of it, even after 18 yrs, Thats character.

**Finn** · 24th December 2006, 17:00

"Character" is rarely found in Japanese bikes but always in Italian (except Guzzies).

Thank you.

**Bonez** · 24th December 2006, 17:03

Originally Posted by Finn

"Character" is rarely found in Japanese bikes but always in Italian (except Guzzies).

Thank you.

No thank YOU!

**Pixie** · 24th December 2006, 17:03

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Character is not as common as it was before the advent of Japanese reliability.
Basically it means breaking down a lot.

As a generalisation,this is true,but it is also much more complex than this.
Character can be an inability to perform like a modern design,an inability to stay in one piece for long,electrics that don't work,oil that doesn't stay in or many other idiosyncrasies.
Ultimately it exists in the minds of those that put up with shit quality,or would like to own such a piece of crap.

The ability to justify anything to oneself is what separates us from the animals.