Does the way you want others to see you influence your choice of bike?

[Pwalo]

Most of my choice was governed by what I could afford.....the rest was governed by what I liked.
What other people might think of it didn't even come near my rattling brain...and never has. Fashion? Pah!

You must ride an SV650S then!!

[RC1]

NO dont give a rats about what others think

[Dodgyiti]

I nearly always customise my bikes, so I would have to say no- I change things to how I want them, I may however do a few things to rile people up- like when I flamed a rare bike and then took it to a marque rally
And I bought a BMW this week, if you care what others think I don't think you would buy a BMW eh? Of course I am stripping right back to a bobber look and matt blacking it

[desmo dave]

I ride Ducatis because i allways have & i dont know any better.Do i give a shit what you ride, no.Just enjoy what ever makes you smile.

[jetboy]

My answer would be no - Im just under 2m tall and ride a 250 (it looks pretty rediculous)...and it's a Honda!

Plus...aren't all bikes cool?

[Mom]

I ride the bike I do because my feet reach the ground

I guess what that says about me is I am a shorty

[yungatart]

My bike is gorgeous, sexy and racey red (what does that say about me?).....I don't care what others think of me (or my bike)....its what I think that matters!

[Nasty]

I don't really care a lot about what others think .. but my bike is beautful to look at and comfortable to ride. Best thing is that it is heavy enough in the wind that I don't feel dragged under trucks on it .. and that suits me down to the ground!

[MIXONE]

My bike suits my personality perfectly.
Old,beaten up but still a good ride.

[vifferman]

Do I consider others when I choose a bike?
No.
Apart from the vifferbabe - I wouldn't have bought the VFR if hse hadn't forced me to. (Does that count? )
However (but!) I can't help but sometimes be aware of what other people think about other things: how my bike looks and sounds, what 'bits' it has, and so on. I guess that's because I'm a bit insecure and that sort of thing.

[dogsnbikes]

its all about what I want not what others think....my steeds are all different

CB250RS, great for chasing down bigger bikes in the twisties better still when I pass them

CBX750 BOLD'OR, gives me that sense off being old and responsible like other touring bike riders

DAYTONA955i,in my hands it cuts through twisties like a hot knife through butter am totally at one

but all give me the same thing satisfaction freedom and Farking big smiles but its not what you ride its how you ride

[Devil]

Dont particularly care what anyone thinks. I buy my bikes for what they do, not what they look like!

Dont care about "fitting in".

[Hazza]

I buy bikes to suit me and my riding style and if it looks cool well thats bonus. TBH I dont give a F*ck what other people think about my bike. I'm not one of them posers who goes and buys the coolest looking bike and gears to try and impress. The majority of people that do cant even ride there bikes

[wysper]

Something F5 Dave said earlier on got me thinking. Alot of people have said the wouldn't choose a bike because of what someone thought of them riding it.

But what if you took a slightly different view and said, I won't buy one of those because of what I think of the people or the bike associated with it.
The Harley example is almost perfect here,

eg. I wont get a Harley because it is ridden by gang members or old farts who take the bike out on sunny weekends only - not real riders

eg. I wont buy a Harley because they are shit and can't go round corners, my uncles massey fergusson is better!

This could be done for Gixxer 1000s too so I am not picking on Harleys at all.

The above is a perception and I think definitely influences buying decisions.

Me - apparently I ride a girls bike so what would I know LOL

[The Stranger:Me]

Presumably your choice of anything is influenced by how you want others to perceive you (it'd be hard to sell fashion otherwise), so I imagine it's the same for your choice of two wheels.

Personally I think my choice of bike was more to do with what I didn't want people to perceive me as.

One only needs to ask why do people buy sport bikes for the street?
It's not for practicality, speed or cornering, why then?