Something you like about your bike
Discussion
It can be anything. Maybe it's got sentimental value, maybe it's a very competent tool, maybe you like the colour.
My Bike:
Kawasaki EN400 cruiser
What I like:
It's a survivor. I don't mean intentionally rat look, just that it's not a valuable bike, no one's kept it as an investment. Nor is it a cheap bike that someone's treasured for years. It has, in the words of the MOT man who passed it first time "seen a bit of life". At the age it is, 25, it should be either treasured or dead. It's not particularly disireable as a model, the tank has been rattle-can blacked, some bits are missing and it has plates where it should have mouldings in places. Some bits are bodged by previous owners or me. But it's still here. Being a cruiser it's not really my kind of bike, but my Dad was kind enough to give it to me when my bikes were off the road and I had to pull out of buying a new one to buy a house.
It's actually quite fun to ride, being related to the GPZ500S engine, it is actually a bit of a screamer and likes a good thrashing down the country lanes, and it's good fun to make the most of the 40bhp it has. Or you can sit back and be comfy, enjoying the scenery. But that's not "the thing that I like about it". That is it's suvivor attitude. I can park it up at a bike meet and it just looks like it's saying "f
k you, I'm not a classic, a custom, a new bike or a practical commuter, but I'm still here and still riding".
This is Betty (bambalam)
My Bike:
Kawasaki EN400 cruiser
What I like:
It's a survivor. I don't mean intentionally rat look, just that it's not a valuable bike, no one's kept it as an investment. Nor is it a cheap bike that someone's treasured for years. It has, in the words of the MOT man who passed it first time "seen a bit of life". At the age it is, 25, it should be either treasured or dead. It's not particularly disireable as a model, the tank has been rattle-can blacked, some bits are missing and it has plates where it should have mouldings in places. Some bits are bodged by previous owners or me. But it's still here. Being a cruiser it's not really my kind of bike, but my Dad was kind enough to give it to me when my bikes were off the road and I had to pull out of buying a new one to buy a house.
It's actually quite fun to ride, being related to the GPZ500S engine, it is actually a bit of a screamer and likes a good thrashing down the country lanes, and it's good fun to make the most of the 40bhp it has. Or you can sit back and be comfy, enjoying the scenery. But that's not "the thing that I like about it". That is it's suvivor attitude. I can park it up at a bike meet and it just looks like it's saying "f
k you, I'm not a classic, a custom, a new bike or a practical commuter, but I'm still here and still riding". This is Betty (bambalam)
My mate's missus had an EN450, always felt to me like someone had put the wrong engine and frame together at the factory... I know, tall bars, cruiser styling, long bendy forks, half a GPZ900 motor... a bit like the "sporty" Rover 400 that my parents gave me! I know what you mean about these old mongrels tho', in a pinch, a mate sold me a really cheap Z440Ltd - described by Bike magazine as a Mickey Mouse bike - but it was dependable in all conditions and refused to die, even after it was driven over by a skip truck...
As for what I love about this one... dunno. That indefineable quality called character, and sounding bloody fantastic doesn't hurt any...
As for what I love about this one... dunno. That indefineable quality called character, and sounding bloody fantastic doesn't hurt any...
I like it because it’s awesome! Handles like a top notch superbike, more power than I need, amazing noise, looks great, relatively comfortable (did a seven hour ride last week with no real problems) and electronic safety net. What’s not to like (apart from potential to lose my licence)? Perhaps cost to buy and maintain but most good things in life are not free
There are many good things about the H2 SX SE like impressive handing, decent fuel economy, more toys than Hamleys and integral luggage but the thing that sets it aside is the engine. It is simply amazing! With the addition of a decent air filter and a reflash and it delivers steam train like pull form any speed in any gear and offers 220bhp at the top end.
There is nothing else that can do what it can do.
Probably not a bike many (or any) would choose but my CG125 is the one that'll stay forever.
It's not fast, it's not particularly exciting. It's not even iconic or special in any sort of way. But the simplicity and accessibility is what makes me love it. It's perfect for taking on long trips as it forces you to slow down and enjoy where you are a little more and it's more of a sense of occasion because it's a bit like David vs Goliath.
Below is somewhere in West Austria during a 2100 mile trip
It's not fast, it's not particularly exciting. It's not even iconic or special in any sort of way. But the simplicity and accessibility is what makes me love it. It's perfect for taking on long trips as it forces you to slow down and enjoy where you are a little more and it's more of a sense of occasion because it's a bit like David vs Goliath.
Below is somewhere in West Austria during a 2100 mile trip
My pretty much standard Ducati Scrambler. Simple, light, a bit vibey and in some regards, like a big version of the Tiger Cub I started with 40 years ago.
It’s never going to frighten the horses power-wise, but it’s quick enough once you wind it up. And it has enough character (ie flaws) to make it mystifyingly appealing. Authentic Ducati bag-of-spanners engine noise too (maybe a I really should get the Termi race pipe to drown that out).
Had it for five years, which is longer than I’ve ever kept a bike before. But every time I think about chopping it in I try a few other bikes out and they just don’t do it like this one.
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My Deauville
Totally boring yet absolutely reliable in every way, virtually no maintenance needed and I can fit endless amounts of luggage or work stuff in the panniers.
No one will ever try to steal it so I can leave it anywhere without worrying
And the biggest reason I like it.... It kept me riding.
When the kids came along I sold the sports bikes as I wasnt getting out much at the weekends. Changed to the Deauville and now commute all year round.
Perfect commuter bike for anyone needing one
Totally boring yet absolutely reliable in every way, virtually no maintenance needed and I can fit endless amounts of luggage or work stuff in the panniers.
No one will ever try to steal it so I can leave it anywhere without worrying
And the biggest reason I like it.... It kept me riding.
When the kids came along I sold the sports bikes as I wasnt getting out much at the weekends. Changed to the Deauville and now commute all year round.
Perfect commuter bike for anyone needing one
david mcc said:
My Deauville
Totally boring yet absolutely reliable in every way, virtually no maintenance needed and I can fit endless amounts of luggage or work stuff in the panniers.
No one will ever try to steal it so I can leave it anywhere without worrying
And the biggest reason I like it.... It kept me riding.
When the kids came along I sold the sports bikes as I wasnt getting out much at the weekends. Changed to the Deauville and now commute all year round.
Perfect commuter bike for anyone needing one
I bought at the beginning of September this year as I have been taking my son to school on the way to work and have to carry his gear in the panniers afterwards. Totally boring yet absolutely reliable in every way, virtually no maintenance needed and I can fit endless amounts of luggage or work stuff in the panniers.
No one will ever try to steal it so I can leave it anywhere without worrying
And the biggest reason I like it.... It kept me riding.
When the kids came along I sold the sports bikes as I wasnt getting out much at the weekends. Changed to the Deauville and now commute all year round.
Perfect commuter bike for anyone needing one
I'm slowly getting to like it for all the reasons you mentioned. It's something reliable in a stressful world.
Mine's the same colour but the later model NT700, I think is the designation
Love my cbr600fx, I have had about 70+bikes the last one before this was r1100gs crashed into a nice lady that turned right when she should not have, anyway I could not pick it up on my own so I decided the next one had to be light, the cbr has a nitron shock and a ktec fettled front end and pilot Road 5 tyres, lovely thing to ride in the dry or wet
Quick enough for jail time but I can go to work at under 7k
Quick enough for jail time but I can go to work at under 7k
1962 Indian army Enfield. The only original bit is the frame. Engine is a 350cc 1972 lump that I've tuned - retimed high lift cams, lightened pushrods, different valve springs, ported head with no head gasket, high compression piston, revised oiling system...
I've got a few "proper" ie: original classic bikes but this is my favourite bike. It's not a classic, just old.
I like it because it has no historical significance whatsoever. There's no originality, nothing. So I have complete freedom to modify it how I want, get it dirty and rusty, leave it outside, commute on it in the rain, thrash the tatters off it.... I've had it 20 odd years in various guises and levels of tune.
If I can have a bike(s) that give me a certain something special it would be off road and these
The CR125 was my favourite bike I raced when at my best in the 1990s. Last year of the steel frame and 6 speed gearbox. At the time I could really feel what it was doing, the engine pulled well, never let me down, gearbox was slick, clutch wouldn't fade, brakes were sharp and it had enough flex or give to let me know where my limits were. In comparison the 98 1st gen ally frame I had after was a piece of st
The 81 Maico 490 there also because it brings a smile to my dads race when he watches me ride and race it reminiscing his years of racing the famous maico brand in the late 70s and early 80s. He always talked about these and to finally see me at near 40 getting on one I think completes him
Its old school and I'm used to it from my 90s mx bikes. Air cooled, shakey, drum brakes, ste front suspension, rough off the bottom, not a bike to rev out, too much spacing between the gears, a clutch that requires the arm of mike tyson and literally everything on it vibrates loose (+ I snapped the subframe jumping it a bit hard)...but I love it
The CR125 was my favourite bike I raced when at my best in the 1990s. Last year of the steel frame and 6 speed gearbox. At the time I could really feel what it was doing, the engine pulled well, never let me down, gearbox was slick, clutch wouldn't fade, brakes were sharp and it had enough flex or give to let me know where my limits were. In comparison the 98 1st gen ally frame I had after was a piece of s
tThe 81 Maico 490 there also because it brings a smile to my dads race when he watches me ride and race it reminiscing his years of racing the famous maico brand in the late 70s and early 80s. He always talked about these and to finally see me at near 40 getting on one I think completes him
Its old school and I'm used to it from my 90s mx bikes. Air cooled, shakey, drum brakes, s
te front suspension, rough off the bottom, not a bike to rev out, too much spacing between the gears, a clutch that requires the arm of mike tyson and literally everything on it vibrates loose (+ I snapped the subframe jumping it a bit hard)...but I love itGassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff