Self-gratifying/investment?

[Maha]

New or Second Hand Bike Mods:
(This is a genuine question and not related to any personal experience, or a dig at any in particular)

You buy a brand new bike, why not leave it as it is?
Surely, spending anywhere between $13K and $20K+ you would expect the bike to be able to perform exactly how you want for that money right?
Is there an expectation that spending a few grand extra is the done thing?
Obviously, when the time comes to trade up (or whatever) you bike is now worth alot more to you than anybody else.
Is it false economy to own something that owes you $25K but market value puts it closer to the $ 16K mark?

Its it looked upon as an investment or is it more self gratifying?
Will leave expenditure out of it now.

[CookMySock]

Is there an expectation that spending a few grand extra is the done thing?

I think its the kiwi way to personalise it a bit. Then theres the purely practical side of it - the lights need improving, and the brakes and suspension - how to do that without breaking the bank.

Other than that, I like a new bike to look factory standard. Hrm, maybe a few blue LEDs..

Steve

[Maha]

I think its the kiwi way to personalise it a bit. Then theres the purely practical side of it - the lights need improving, and the brakes and suspension - how to do that without breaking the bank.

Other than that, I like a new bike to look factory standard. Hrm, maybe a few blue LEDs..

Steve

A good reply.
Gald you brought up brakes and suspension.
Manufactures try to keep costs down by using low spec suspension (in most cases) ...I find that a little misleading on their behalf.

[skidMark]

I doubt i will ever find a bike that is that complete perfect package the exact right looks etc....

thats why ya tweak it to how ya want it,

people say putting an exhaust power commander etc on a bike adds no resale value, i do not think this is true because i know i would be willing to pay that bit extra to have the goodies. (saves me putting em on right?)

[marioc]

An investment in happiness for sure,which is what bikes are all about.
Money wise though unless you a buying an appreciating classic a motorbike is a very bad investment.
But who gives a shit about that!

[R6_kid:Me]

Manufactures try to keep costs down by using low spec suspension (in most cases) ...I find that a little misleading on their behalf.

I think you'll find that they actually try to meet the needs of the broadest range of target customers that they can. For instance the suspension on your bike may be suitable for me, but not for you, or the next guy. Bike's aren't like cars where one setup will meet the needs of 99% of the market.

If you buy a bargain bin bike you get bargain bin parts. And if you want top line suspension standard on your bike then you will pay for it. You can't expect any manufacturer to make the same bike in skinny/average/fat person suspension options, or to have a bike that has suspension to cater for every person that will every ride it as it is out of the box.

[wysper]

New or Second Hand Bike Mods:
(This is a genuine question and not related to any personal experience, or a dig at any in particular)



Its it looked upon as an investment or is it more self gratifying?
Will leave expenditure out of it now.

Leaving the dollars of the original purchase out of it and also the cost of the mods.

Things are built to a budget - usually across the board. So for a bike, engine, brakes, suspension, chasis etc

So if you pick up one where everything suits you except say the exhaust system, you buy that then change the exhaust. Becuause looking at the model that had the exhaust you liked - everything else was higher spec'd than you wanted or needed.

So subsequently the cost would be higher.

The other reason is coz you want to

Plus Kiwis seem to love to tinker with things.

[Cajun]

TOTAL RUNNING COSTS
Fuel Cost $4,295.76
Services $1,028
Maintenance $2,637
Hot up parts $3,236
Dress up parts $1,309
Tires $2,890
Suspension $892

TOTAL RUNNING COSTS $16,287.81


Cost of Buying bike $16,349

TOTAL OUTLAY $32,636.81
--------------------------
thats in 4 1/2 years ownership 50,000kms

Why do mods? many i have picked up cheap/second handy, some i wanted to do, some i didn't really think about doing, but found cheap so did them.
Were they all needed? No. (some yes)
Have some made difference to bike performance/handling? Yes some have, some have not.
Some mods have just to tidy up looks, and not made any peformance in area, of the bike.
Am i gonna get anything extra when come to sell it? No
i could recover some of money if i decided to sell some parts of later.

But meh, i have done all the work on my bike myself, some input by friends or other forums for some things. My bike is very unquine, and different.

[Rosie]

The nature of bike modifications varies quite a lot, so obviously the reasons for doing the mods will vary as well.

I bought my bike brand new, and starting changing things around almost straight away, and am continuing to plan further mods. They are generally comfort/touring related things (nice seat, big tank, luggage racks), rather than performance/bling type mods

I couldn't find a bike that was going to do exactly what I wanted it to, so I bought something close enough, and started fiddling with all the bits that needed improvement.

I don't expect any of the mods would increase the value of the bike, but, I didn't buy the bike to sell it, I bought it to go touring on gravel roads, so I'm happy to throw away a little bit of money to make the bike better at doing that.

[Maha]

I doubt i will ever find a bike that is that complete perfect package the exact right looks etc....

thats why ya tweak it to how ya want it,

people say putting an exhaust power commander etc on a bike adds no resale value, i do not think this is true because i know i would be willing to pay that bit extra to have the goodies. (saves me putting em on right?)

Correct/incorrect.
Correct in your first sentence, no argument there (still erks me that that cant be so)
Incorrect (to me anyway) on the resale bit. A bike is worth how much you sell it for, does not matter what it has on it, that only envokes more interest.

[skidMark]

TOTAL RUNNING COSTS
Fuel Cost $4,295.76
Services $1,028
Maintenance $2,637
Hot up parts $3,236
Dress up parts $1,309
Tires $2,890
Suspension $892

TOTAL RUNNING COSTS $16,287.81


Cost of Buying bike $16,349

TOTAL OUTLAY $32,876.81
--------------------------

All the modifications and then realising it wasnt the bike that was useless...

...Priceless.

[Cajun]

All the modifications and then realising it wasnt the bike that was useless...

...Priceless.

hey knew that long before modifications started.

[skidMark]

hey knew that long before modifications started.

Midlife crisis?, i assume the tassles were part of the dress up parts?

[Bass]

New or Second Hand Bike Mods:
Its it looked upon as an investment or is it more self gratifying?
Will leave expenditure out of it now.

While for some, the bike is everyday transport and so just a tool of sorts, for most on here, the bike is a toy. Now most bikes are built to a price - I know that mine surely are and so there will have been compromises made.
We often are unwilling to accept compromises in our toys and are prepared to spend some extra to get something that better meets our wants.

Bling appears to have almost no resale value ON THE BIKE. It seems that to get your money back on the additions that you have made, one has to take it back to standard and sell the bling-bits separately. It follows therefore that it's not an investment and falls into the self-gratification or wanking category.

The Triumph is wanked in the seating and suspension areas and I get sufficient gratification from that. The DR however is a complete kaleidoscope of solitary sin.

[AllanB]

One of the attractions of the Hornet 900 to me was that it is a good and easy platform to personalise.

Handlebars first..... turn signals (Honda ones were severely gay) ...... mirrors (goodbye Mickey Mouse)...... remove the stickers (I know I need to wear a helmet)..... muffler tips altered (good grief there is now a noise)....tail tidy in the works......hmmm seats a bit plain..........hmmm a wee hand beaten alloy flyscreen would be a nice project........then there is fancy springs .....

I enjoy it - my wife does not understand it.

Remember the factory made your bike as a mass produced item to met a budget and global regulations. Go on change a few things to make it yours.

If its done carefully you can always change it back to stock when selling (I have a growing box of Honda parts).