Chosing a bike

[Blind_Io]

Originally Posted by Sauer Grapes

It's not like you can argue with their comment about scooters though.

Anyway, I'm being pretty hard on Harleys so I'll try and be nice. After all, 95% of all Harleys made since 1970 are still on the road. The other 5% made it home.

I think scooters are fun as hell! I would love to have one along with my Magna. Actually all my moto friends want a scooter in the stable - we decided it would be incredibly fun to go tearing around town dressed in our full motorcycle leathers.

Ahh, the age-old battle between Modders and Rockers.

[vicvitola]

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

I think scooters are fun as hell! I would love to have one along with my Magna. Actually all my moto friends want a scooter in the stable - we decided it would be incredibly fun to go tearing around town dressed in our full motorcycle leathers.

Ahh, the age-old battle between Modders and Rockers.

I could almost hear the intro to "Real Me" at the beginning of "Quadrophenia" when I read that"

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by vicvitola

Can you please add Ducati as the third choice?

There's a tattoo artist near my house, who did some work on me, whose entire shop is a shrine to Ducati.

I am not joking; he is bald and the entire top of his head is the Ducati logo and the front of his face is flat from the metal plates put in after he ran into the back of a truck that stopped before he could. Once you add in the multiple face piercings, he's interesting to look at and fun as hell to talk to.

This guy is a hardcore rider and I don't know what model he rides, but it flies.

We go back and forth about how mine is for old guys and how his looks like he's humping a dog taking a dump when he's riding.

I would never be a billboard for a motorcycle company, but if I was, he'd be my choice to put the bar and shield on me.

[vicvitola]

Originally Posted by floydpink

There's a tattoo artist near my house, who did some work on me, whose entire shop is a shrine to Ducati.

I am not joking; he is bald and the entire top of his head is the Ducati logo and the front of his face is flat from the metal plates put in after he ran into the back of a truck that stopped before he could. Once you add in the multiple face piercings, he's interesting to look at and fun as hell to talk to.

This guy is a hardcore rider and I don't know what model he rides, but it flies.

We go back and forth about how mine is for old guys and how his looks like he's humping a dog taking a dump when he's riding.

I don't currently own a bike but I love both. If I had my druthers I'd have a Harley/Buell and a Ducati. They are different bikes made for different types of riding/riders. All good stuff.

[Joan]

Originally Posted by weak_link

Ooooooo... PRETTY! Everyone LOVES a red duck!

[Joan]

Originally Posted by weak_link

I'd love to own a Buell but everyone I know that's had one got rid of it because it was a pos.

My fave motorcycle shot ever is of my buddy on his Buell Ulysses, out dual sporting together in the Olympics...




He actually slid it halfway up this icy road before deciding his dual sport tires weren't toothy enough for it:


LOVE my little green Swiss army knife bike, KLR650!

[AZrider]

The Sportster is a pretty good choice for an all around bike, but I went on a ride once with a guy who literally had to pull over and leap off of his borrowed Sportster after about 170 cumulative miles because his backside hurt so bad! The GSXR600 would be a good city bike, but it's maybe a little narrowly defined with a high power band. A GSXR750, with it's greater torque might be a more versatile choice. The Suzuki SV650 or the Kawaski Ninja 650 would both be excellent choices.

I'd also recommend the VFR800, or similar, but I'm biased - I own a VFR800! It's a great all around bike for every day commuting and long distance. I've done 750 mile days on mine; although, honestly, when I'm slogging long days down the super slab, I find myself wishing I had a full bagger.

Ultimately, with today's technology, you can hardly go wrong with whatever you chose. Get what excites you. But, (as has been said) do wear ATGATT (all the gear all the time) and if you don't have formal motorcycle training, get some.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by AZrider

The Sportster is a pretty good choice for an all around bike, but I went on a ride once with a guy who literally had to pull over and leap off of his borrowed Sportster after about 170 cumulative miles because his backside hurt so bad! The GSXR600 would be a good city bike, but it's maybe a little narrowly defined with a high power band. A GSXR750, with it's greater torque might be a more versatile choice. The Suzuki SV650 or the Kawaski Ninja 650 would both be excellent choices.

I'd also recommend the VFR800, or similar, but I'm biased - I own a VFR800! It's a great all around bike for every day commuting and long distance. I've done 750 mile days on mine; although, honestly, when I'm slogging long days down the super slab, I find myself wishing I had a full bagger.

Ultimately, with today's technology, you can hardly go wrong with whatever you chose. Get what excites you. But, (as has been said) do wear ATGATT (all the gear all the time) and if you don't have formal motorcycle training, get some.

That was probably the most unbiased and intelligent thing said in this whole thread, seriously. Falling hurts.

[nozero]

I've always wanted a Harley, but that's me. Get what you have always wanted...

[weak_link]

Originally Posted by floydpink

That was probably the most unbiased and intelligent thing said in this whole thread, seriously. Falling hurts.

This is an excellent point and worth quoting. Even if you've ridden in the past it's a great idea to sign up for a class. Depending on your skill level and your desire, a track class is also fantastic. You will learn theory in the classroom and then go out and physically apply it. The usual pattern is alternating between 'chalk talks' and 20 minutes track sessions.. I've taken many of these track classes and the two I'd recommend most for non-track oriented riders would be the Keith Code and Reg Pridmore schools. Don't take Jason Pridmore's s.t.a.r.s. unless you really want to get into track riding, his dad does a much better job of targeting street riders needs. It's nice to know what to do when something starts to go bad. If you have no tools in your toolbox it's impossible to recover and the price for failure on the street is extremely high.


Joan- those are incredible photos! I can see why you are on a KLR.