How do you choose your bike(s)

**R1** · 3rd February 2005, 15:16

Originally Posted by Biff Baff

Well Aaron had some radical new operation. I think it was called a strapadicktome or something similar. Thinkng about it, he started pulling the ladies around the same time he stopped wearing skirts. There may be a link there. I dunno :spudwhat:

Look buddy i told u they are called kilts, not skirts, and now that i no longer wear it there are no more BIG scary things for the ladys to see, so they are more willing to jump on the sack. ooooppps i mean back

**jrandom** · 3rd February 2005, 15:19

I boughted my Zeal because it was red.

Although my favourite colour is black.

But there wasn't one in black.

So I got the red one instead.

**Paul in NZ** · 3rd February 2005, 15:32

I do hours and hours of research, read books, magazines ask opinons, perform complex calculations to estimate the optimum balance of weight, capacity, power and fuel economy and then totally ignore it all and leap on the first brazen hussy that flashes a sexy exhaust pipe in my direction and makes me go Phrooaar! I fancy a bit o dat!

A bit like dating really...

Paul N

**White trash** · 3rd February 2005, 15:38

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

I do hours and hours of research, read books, magazines ask opinons, perform complex calculations to estimate the optimum balance of weight, capacity, power and fuel economy

....and then it's thirty years after the bike was released and you buy it......

**Mongoose** · 3rd February 2005, 15:47

Originally Posted by White trash

....and then it's thirty years after the bike was released and you buy it......

Still makes it a young bike when compared to the owner

**ching_ching** · 3rd February 2005, 16:45

Eenie Meenie Minie Mo...

**inlinefour** · 3rd February 2005, 16:45

I take it for a ride, feels good and handles well?
I check for problems, sometimes getting others to check it out mechanically also.
Funny thing is that so far they have almost all had the Honda badge on them

**Rainbow Wizard** · 3rd February 2005, 17:53

Around 1972 I bought a 125 Honda, I was convinced by the dealer (Collison?) that it would be much more appropriate than the cheaper 100cc model after I told him I was likely to be doing a fair bit of Auckland/Tauranga weekend commuting! 30 odd years later I figured I'd limit myself to 600cc, and I'd recommend anyone in a similar position follows suit.

I love naked bikes, V twins, shaft drive, low maintenance, and reliability... AND I'm a tight bastard that's sometimes happy to wait for the right thing to reveal itself to me. I downloaded pages & pages of reviews from the UMG site and read & re-read the comments (that dude whitewashes most of 'em) and also walked up and down those rows & rows of bikes at Paeroa a few times and got a feel for what felt right. But the rarity of a fit to most of those criteria found me eventually buying the Yamaha Radian 600. Boy was that ever a wolf in lambs clothing!

A few years later at my first Puke Track Time I eventually tracked down the owner of a 600cc Honda Revere (V twin, shaft drive) and when I suggested he sell it to me when the time came to quit it he looked up into the sky in false contemplation and said "Never!", that he'd sold a BMW to buy it and that it had done 132,000 with only a head job at 100,000! What better recommendation. But he did point me in the direction of an older cheapy that I've since replaced with a stolen/damaged/recovered 1995 NTV650cc version I brought in from UK. Despite now owning the Voxan it's still my favourite bike: heavier but feels lighter, reliable, handles brilliantly, plenty of power & torque (only marginally sedate), comfortable and very forgiving. Now where can I find a woman like that?!!!

The Voxan on the other hand was an ankle tap from seeing an ad photo that Lindsay of Chch M'cycles placed. Voxan? What's that? Who makes it? From where??? How many cc? The questions keep coming and they're always the same, only they aint mine any more. After months of net research (with only 2yrs of schoolboy French under my belt) and lots of chats with Lindsay I was convinced that "these guys have got it right". And my suspicions have proven correct, if only they made it in shaft drive.

How do I love thee, let me count the ways:
A Vincent reborn 50 years later, a Ducati without problems, a Guzzi with the motor pointing the right way and without problems, the spirit of naked Pommie bikes from the late 50's & 60's touched by years of experience, a Yamahonda that's arrogantly French & stylish. Sure I've only done 6000 odd km but those froggies have clocked up heaps of trouble-free miles. OK I admit it, since I've joined the voxan messageboard I've discovered the earlier versions were a bit fussy in the fuel injection and White Power forks have replaced Paoli. Now I reckon these babies are going to turn a few more heads here once people realise what they've been missing. Get in while the dollar's high I reckon.

OK, I'm a raver, I admit it. Hope you were entertained.

**Monsterbishi** · 3rd February 2005, 17:54

Bikes I buy speak to me, we all know the feeling, when you rock into a bike shop, and there it is, for some reason, more obvious than any other ride in the shop...

**R1** · 3rd February 2005, 19:21

Originally Posted by Honda

I take it for a ride, feels good and handles well?
I check for problems, sometimes getting others to check it out mechanically also.
Funny thing is that so far they have almost all had the Honda badge on them

Spot the dude that hasnt riden an R1, GSXRthou, ZX10, RSVR,

**Jackrat** · 3rd February 2005, 19:27

Gott'a be a twin,a vertical twin.
Should be black,but we can repaint it the proper colour late if need be.
Electronic ignition,Carbs,Chain drive.
NEVER any fairings,no electric start.
Prefer spokes over mags, but can live with the poxy things if I have to.
Bloody hate stepped seats, an it's going as soon as I get a replacement.
Need more power,gott'a have more power,I got a plan!!

**Skyryder** · 3rd February 2005, 19:38

Went in looking for a Hog walked out with a Goose. Just fell in love with the Guzzi

Skyryder (rides a Drake)

**Sensei** · 3rd February 2005, 19:54

Originally Posted by R1AaronKDX

Spot the dude that hasnt riden an R1, GSXRthou, ZX10, RSVR,

You hit that one right on the head Arron . Get the same SONG every time
I suppose you only go " FAST IN A STAIGHT LINE " What ever . Haven't meet anyone !! that own's a 1000cc Sport's bike that cann't ride it like it was meet to be , {black line's in black line's out } AMEN
SENSEI :sly:

**Motu** · 3rd February 2005, 20:13

I don't look for bikes,they find me,kinda like stray cats...and I'm a sucker for a homeless waif.I don't care about looks at all,two wheels and an engine,that's all it takes.I bought the XLV750 because...well shit,who wouldn't! I bought the XT400E because I sat on it and it was cheap - I think it was the bike I was looking for before the XLV750 wagged it's tail at me.