Are you proud of what you own?

[Deviant Esq]

For most of us the answer is yes, even if the bike is a bit old, or has a few quirks or whatever, we love our bikes. Hell, we wouldn't keep hold of them or even buy them in the first place if we didn't, right? But do you ever find yourself talking about your bike as though it's more like an exotic superbike? I would think most of us, despite liking what we have, wouldn't go quite to that stretch.

Just saw an auction on TradeMe for a bike where it would seem to my humble opinion that the seller thinks his bike is more than what it is. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's clear he loves his bike and that's great, you gotta love your bike... but from the asking price and the last comment: "No test rides unless I have the cash in my hand. Genuine reason for sale.", he seems to think he needs to convince people it's a special bike. I mean sure, it looks to be in pretty good condition given its age and mileage, and he sounds like he's maintained it well... but at the end of the day hundreds of thousands were made and it was never a "special" bike.

I don't know if I should post the link to his auction because he's only trying to sell his bike at the end of the day, and didn't ask for this, but it raises an interesting point I think. Do you or anyone you know sometimes talk of your bike as though it's more than it really is?

[kiwifruit]

yes, i'm proud of my bike, but not as proud as i was of my 1980 xr200 when i was 13-14 (mid 90's)

[Taz]

I'm proud of mine. Sometimes I find myself thinking that something sexier would make my life complete but then I ride my bike and it astounds me just how competent it is at tackling all modes of motorcycling and all roads. Adventure bikes rock!

[Conquiztador]

put your personal touches on her she becomes more and more part of you.

And what do you mean talk about the bike? I talk TO her.

[nudemetalz]

Well and truly.
Oddly enough, the more I did to put her back to factory condition, the better I liked her.

[The Lone Rider]

Go on, you know my cruiser is a bit of a sex bomb and is like riding a soft recliner. Yeah you know it ryan.

Should put red flames on it next time, make the bike go faster and all. Wouldn't want to paint the whole bike red though - dont want to go THAT fast.

[KoroJ]

It would hard to own an ST and think it wasn't special.

Just today I left home having already done 50 km out of a full tank and rode about 400 km before filling again, and the gauge said it still had 80km to go. I rode comfortably in temps between 1 and 9 degrees and over a long period of time at a wide range of speeds....I just didn't want to STop.

[Ghost_Bullet]

My bike... MMmmm my bike Yeah it is love, not the quickest machine, but it does it's thing and looks good doing it.
I loved my second bike a heap to... Honda VLX400 , my first step after learners and all. (I wish I never sold it... )

The bike I loved to hate was me previous Nevada 750, great bike for what it was, but it just become blah! Had some great time on it all the same.

[imdying]

A bike is a major asset to a lot of people. If the deal on your next bike hinges on selling your current one, the last thing you want is some numbnuts to waste it on a test ride.

[trumpy]

My bike's ugly but then so am I, so we fit together rather nicely......................

[Hitcher]

There's nothing like the occasional spirited perambulation from home to Martinborough for an afternoon hot chocolate at The Fush and then home again to reacquaint oneself with and FJR1300's more aggressive side. Tee hee!

The world's best sports tourer? I still have to ride the Concours...

[007XX]

Most definitely...

My babe is only a 250, but I love her
Sometimes, I'll lean over the tank to hug her...

She's special and I don't care what other people think...except when they say that she sounds horny because of her combined Vtwin engine with dual exhaust carbon pipes...then I'm really proud!

We look good together,and DAMN I absolutely LOOOOOVE riding her

Right, please excuse me while I go in the garage and give her a kiss...

[dogsnbikes]

Yeah love all my bikes for one reason or another but love the lines on the Daytona....gotta love those hips

And I see know problem with asking for the cash before a test ride save's problems later on if the bike your selling is binned on a test ride

But everyone will up talk there bike as a recollection of memories their bike has given them regardless the reason too sell

[Deviant Esq]

I know it's fair enough to want the cash in hand before allowing someone take the bike for a test ride, that's just common sense, plain and simple. What I didn't get was him feeling the need to tell people he had a genuine reason for selling it. Eh? It's not like it's collectable, or you just wouldn't part with it, or it's too new, or something like that...

For the curious (or if you want to buy such a clearly well loved bike), here's the auction.

[T.W.R]

Certain bikes you'll own over your motorcycling lifetime will hold special places in your memories Some you'll idolise during the time you have them and regret the day you moved them on

Sometimes you don't know how lucky you are to own certain bikes until years later when they come up as the 'Genuine Classics' or when your on a ride somewhere or at a rally when people gather around just to have a close look at your bike because of it's rarity & class.

I've been lucky enough to have a couple of bikes that have been well and truly within those realms, one of which I saw at the March Hare rally and it made me proud just seeing the old girl again in almost the same condition she was when I moved her on over a decade ago, she's now owner's club registered as 1 of 3 remaining in NZ of her kind The other was 1 of 6 in the country when I had her and also made into an overseas mag.

Always be proud of the machine that you've got even if it gives you grief now & then because even whilst you've got it someone somewhere will be dreaming of owning a bike just like it and one day in the future you'll be having thoughts about that bike because of what it was.