How did you choose your two wheels?

[Lula]

I’m curious to know how some of you have gone about choosing your bike. Did your partner or someone else have influence on the brand and model or did you do your own homework and test ride until you found it?

And what kind of things did the bike need to have or not have?

How much did weight, colour and height factor into your decision?

[scracha]

Drew and Flame got me very drunk and told me Ducati's were ace and never broke down. The deal was done.

[Number One]

1: Must be reliable
2: Must be able to reach the ground! Short leg syndrome - genes are a bitch sometimes
3: Must be able to pick up off ground (just in case!) and wrangle! Must feel I am it's boss and it is my bitch - the bigger heavy whales don't do it for me.
4: Must not be too high maintenance
5: Must be atleast a bit pretty and sexy and MUST NOT be hideous in colour! (My first bike the exception - Puke colour scheme on my RG150 Black with Bright Purple and Orange graphics )
6: Must not be tooo grunty as hubby will steal - I mean borrow it.
7: Must be able to do atleast 120km...I may want to pass someone one day you know...just might happen
8: I Must look hot on it...tall order maybe but a girl can dream can't she - anyone else guilty of checking themselves out as they ride past large glass facades he heheheee - shirley I'm not the only one

ALL THIS SAID - I'd just love to have any bike at the mo...working on one just waiting for all the buerocrats to decide it's fate...let's all pray for write off people!!!! BTW the rider was unharmed so don't hate me for that comment!

[007XX]

Drew and Flame got me very drunk and told me Ducati's were ace and never broke down. The deal was done.

Flame's trying that one with me too, except she just let me sit on her 749 instead of getting me drunk...cunning bloody woman!

Just as well I'm not lawfully ready to trade up yet!

However, when it cam to my VTR, 007XY saw it and heard it at Holeshot and told me to go and have a look. I was always partial to the noise of the Vtwins and he told me she sounded awesome.

So I went to check her out, didn't think much of her at first glance (thought the silver was a bit drab ), but then Jamie (salesman) started her and I just fell in with her...I took her for a test ride (200kms in a weekend ) and never gave her back.

For my next bike, I will be more demanding, and will definitely test ride many more bikes. Ultimately though, I tend to trust my gut instinct and go by: reputation, looks, sound and the way it feels on the road.

[Number One]

I was always partial to the noise of the Vtwins and he told me she sounded awesome.

I love the sound of VTwins...that's why I looooved my slightly naff old Spada...found myself getting off the gas lots too so I could hear that decelleration sound - such a geek

[jrandom]

How did I choose my two wheels?



They just came with the bike.

[sunhuntin]

i was getting my POS ginny fixed for the millionth time in a year, turned around and saw the sexy ass of the 250. i was hooked... went and had a nosey in the window. the guys at the dealer pulled her out and let me sit. i mulled for a weekend, test rode on the monday [also made dad take her out] and bought i think on the tuesday.

asking other virago owners on here also helped tip the scales. and some 15,000k later [in just over a year] she hasnt had nearly as many major problems as the ginny had in 10,000k.

[Nasty]

I blame Yungatart and Mstrs ... they turned up to the track on day with the tart on her bike .. I sat I enjoyed I purchased one off Trade me and its great!!

[rwh]

I tend to buy bikes that will break down around new year, when I want them for holiday riding.

Richard

[Qkchk:Me]

Height - Im lucky when it comes to height (taller than some males) so that doesnt have any influence on my buying.

Comfort - I have learnt in the past that depending on how much riding you want to do that comfort is a big player. If you are into corner carving then a race rep bike is for you but dont expect to do 400+kms in one sitting. The bike I have now (07 VFR800) is on the fine line of being really comfortable and still a bit sporty. I traded my R1 on it because my riding has changed with ageing(so it seems - maybe the word maturity comes into it?), guess Ive done the 'girl racer' thing now and its time to move on. You never know, I may get another crotch rocket someday. (Becides I can always steal Qkkids ZX10R)

Weight - Over the years Ive ridden a huge variety of bikes. Ive have owned a couple of BIG Bikes (Busa and RF900) and a couple of small ones (NC30, ZX2R) the power is nice with the big bikes but usually when you get more power they get heavier (with exception for the R1) and so make manueovability a BIG issue. Not as easy to push a 1300 out of the garage as a 400........

Looks and Manufacture - I havent had any experience with Non-Jap bikes, so I cant comment on exotics. I like the reliablity and cheaper maintenance of Jappas tho. I dont tend to stick to one manufacturer. They are all good at what they do, some models suck whereas some of the other models excell. As for looks - it has to look like a motorbike and not something that ran up the backside of a bus.

Colour - As for colour I had bugger all choice with my current bike - either Black or Burgandy. Must say this is my first Black bike, it looks nice but is a bitch to keep clean and free of scratches. I usually try and buy colourful if I can. (Bit more visability on the road)

Sound - Got to sound nice and not like a bloody sewing machine! I owned a Bernina ZXR for 5 years and now cant stand the sound of a constricted small capacity motor..... Always love a well-piped V2 (SV1000,VTR,TLR,RSVR.......dare I say it, maybe even a Ducati) but I think the V4 would be the bees knees with the right pipe.

When it comes down to the crunch and youre ready to buy a bike, it can depend on alot of other things:

• What can you afford?
• What you are going to get for a Trade-In (if applicable)
• Any bling been through in or already attached?
• What kind of riding are you realisticly going to do? Racer or Touring?
• Are you going to take Pillions at any stage?
• Track Days or Road Rides?

In all there are 2 beautiful words that can make or break a love for a bike:

TEST RIDE

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

The bike choose me... i didn't choose the bike... but being a VTwin helped

[Hitcher]

How did I choose my bike? Bistard told me it was the one for me. "Fair enough," I said. "Here's a cheque then."

[scumdog]

Me?
I just looked around for the type of bike everybody else loves to hate and despise and thought "Yup, THAT'S the bike for me!!"

[Lula]

How did I choose my two wheels?



They just came with the bike.

Thanks for humour jrandom but this question being in the Biker Angels forum was mainly directed at the ladies

[Mike748]

The bike has to have capabilities well beyond my own ............ I need the extra help.