Head vs. Heart

**justsomeguy** · 2nd July 2007, 15:04

Head vs. Heart

I’m interested in reading different perspectives you all would have regarding buying your next bike. Especially seeing how people of different ages and backgrounds think.

Head: Buy a 2-3 year old bike, depreciation will be less, there will be more spares available. Cheaper to insure, more cash left for trackdays, you’re gonna crash it anyway with your dodgy riding. Slightly older bikes can do pretty much the same things that newer bikes do anyway, so apart from a bit of extra flickability what do you gain? Also won't learning to throw a heavier older bike make you a better rider?

Heart: What the heck mate? You’re only young once. Get something new or newish, like perhaps an ex demo. You don’t have a mortgage, family commitments, have a good income and steady job. Yeah I know it’s more money – but so what it’s on finance anyway and do 3-4 thousand bucks really mean that much in the grand scheme of things? You're young and you work hard - you deserve it.

So - Head or Heart??

**ManDownUnder** · 2nd July 2007, 15:10

Mate I am in support of both - but generally go for the head option.

Choose whichever is least likely to make day two begin with the word "BUGGER!"

**Pumba** · 2nd July 2007, 15:15

Little from box A and a little from box B.

Head is a definate requirement cause if you dont have the money you shouldnt be spending it,

However

Biking is a love for me (maybe a few others on the site) and if I didnt go with my heart what would be the point of riding

**Jantar** · 2nd July 2007, 15:18

Also a bit f both. So I haven't ticked either.

**Gremlin** · 2nd July 2007, 15:23

I've said head, because of the scenario you pose. I would normally say both, but seriously, 2-3 years old, as opposed to brand new, there ain't much diff between them.

I could have gone new for a bike I bought, but I liked the looks of the older one, and the new one wasn't much faster. Since I didn't need to be a few seconds faster, I went with the older one, owned her outright, and had dosh for other stuff...

**inlinefour** · 2nd July 2007, 15:24

I put down head, however I would like to retract that and say get what it is that you really want. Thats exactly what I did and now after my accident I think that life is far too short and you should live more for the moment as you never know when its all over rover...

**Big Dave** · 2nd July 2007, 15:27

Heart.
Being sensible is for accountants.

**Joni** · 2nd July 2007, 15:31

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Being sensible is for accountants.

Does it count if both your parents are accountants?

Go for what you want... you know what is right, what you can afford etc etc... You dont need KB for this one hun.

**ZeroIndex** · 2nd July 2007, 15:34

Where's the box that says: I'll get the best value/cheap bike that I can afford because I'm poor. That's how I've done it for my previous 3 bikes and current bike...

**zeocen** · 2nd July 2007, 15:35

I didn't use my head buying my bike.. I looked at it, sat on it and said I'll take it!

But what's this 2 - 3 year old nonsense? Mines 17 years old and it still kicks ass damnit!

**James Deuce** · 2nd July 2007, 15:35

Look with your Heart
Test with your Bum
Buy with your Head

Depreciation is a bitch, but there is something unutterably wonderful about buying new, not having to put up with other people's "improvements", and making a bike your own.