People with multiple bikes
Discussion
How did you decide what to buy? Is there a theme to your collection (e.g. all Sportsbikes) or do you like to have one sportsbike, one naked, one cruiser etc?
The reason I ask is that I'm selling my Ninja 125 and I know the Ninja 400 will want a garage-mate so I'm weighing up options...
The reason I ask is that I'm selling my Ninja 125 and I know the Ninja 400 will want a garage-mate so I'm weighing up options...
For me the main theme is 1990's 750 Superbikes.
I currently have a late Suzuki GSXR 750 SRAD and a late Kawasaki ZX-7R but will prob get an early 7R and a Yam YZF750 of some sort to complete the collection (RC30 aside!).
I also have a road legal 450 Euduro for blating around the farm and IOM TT week.
Other than that, I have a few other projects (Aprilia Futura and Honda Pan Euro) that need to be sold this year.
I currently have a late Suzuki GSXR 750 SRAD and a late Kawasaki ZX-7R but will prob get an early 7R and a Yam YZF750 of some sort to complete the collection (RC30 aside!).
I also have a road legal 450 Euduro for blating around the farm and IOM TT week.
Other than that, I have a few other projects (Aprilia Futura and Honda Pan Euro) that need to be sold this year.
Excitingly I have a spreadsheet with types of use along the top. E.g. Touring, fast/fun weekend bike, commuting, off-road, mid distance pub, local pub, events, etc. Down the left are the bikes I have. Any category that is underrepresented I tend to keep an eye out for.
If I have too many that do the same thing I can almost end up riding them because I need to as opposed to really want to. So, key for me is they all do something slightly different.
Saying that, if something rare comes along I've wanted for ages, or something (old) new I've never seen before, the spreadsheet can FRO and I'll buy it anyway.
If I have too many that do the same thing I can almost end up riding them because I need to as opposed to really want to. So, key for me is they all do something slightly different.
Saying that, if something rare comes along I've wanted for ages, or something (old) new I've never seen before, the spreadsheet can FRO and I'll buy it anyway.
I've got:
Honda VFR800 VTEC - my regular ride for commuting/touring
Kawasaki ZX7-R - bought when I was single and cash rich, saw it on eBay and had to have it
Triumph 955i Speed Triple - bought with a small inheritance from my grandfather, I'd always wanted one.
For years I rotated my riding on all three depending on the weather and journey. Then just at the time we had a baby the Speed Triple holed its radiator and promptly blew its head gasket then a month later the ZX7-R dumped all its clutch fluid on my boot on the local ring road, forcing me to limp home in one gear without stopping, which was quite a feat.
I don't know if you have kids, but dealing with a young baby is quite the life change. We were a bit overwhelmed by it tbh, the sleep deprivation was terrible for the first six months,I was exhausted most weekends . So, I stuck the two bikes in the back of the garage and promised to get round to fixing them as soon as I could. Guess what? The baby is 10yrs old this coming Friday!
Real life - work, family commitments, other stuff has just got in the way. Back in my single days I would have had both of these fixed within weeks, but it has just been easier to ignore them. I've really got to do something with both this spring/summer.
What I would say in hindsight is that multiple bikes are a bit of a time/money hoover. Three sets of tax, insurance, MOT, tyres, servicing, it all adds up, more in time than money. In hindsight I should have stuck to just one bike. Trouble is, when you love bikes, you just want more!
Honda VFR800 VTEC - my regular ride for commuting/touring
Kawasaki ZX7-R - bought when I was single and cash rich, saw it on eBay and had to have it
Triumph 955i Speed Triple - bought with a small inheritance from my grandfather, I'd always wanted one.
For years I rotated my riding on all three depending on the weather and journey. Then just at the time we had a baby the Speed Triple holed its radiator and promptly blew its head gasket then a month later the ZX7-R dumped all its clutch fluid on my boot on the local ring road, forcing me to limp home in one gear without stopping, which was quite a feat.
I don't know if you have kids, but dealing with a young baby is quite the life change. We were a bit overwhelmed by it tbh, the sleep deprivation was terrible for the first six months,I was exhausted most weekends . So, I stuck the two bikes in the back of the garage and promised to get round to fixing them as soon as I could. Guess what? The baby is 10yrs old this coming Friday!
Real life - work, family commitments, other stuff has just got in the way. Back in my single days I would have had both of these fixed within weeks, but it has just been easier to ignore them. I've really got to do something with both this spring/summer.
What I would say in hindsight is that multiple bikes are a bit of a time/money hoover. Three sets of tax, insurance, MOT, tyres, servicing, it all adds up, more in time than money. In hindsight I should have stuck to just one bike. Trouble is, when you love bikes, you just want more!
Edited by Shooter McGavin on Thursday 20th February 14:31
Always had a soft spot for Kawasaki since I started riding in the early 80s, My first 4 bikes were AE50, KE125, Gpz550 and Gpz900. During that time I was offered a Z1B but turned it down. It always played on my mind as the one that got away.
Many years later I have succumbed to nostalgia with a Z1B, Gpz750a, Gpz900 and a Z900RS plus a modern Indian Chief and Norden 901
Many years later I have succumbed to nostalgia with a Z1B, Gpz750a, Gpz900 and a Z900RS plus a modern Indian Chief and Norden 901
I have the following.
CBR650F for riding to work (when it gets warmer) and general use
Thruxton for localish rides only when the weathers nice and i fancy a gentle rumble
GSXR600 SRAD because I had one on my 20's, only gets ridden once or twice a year
FZR600R again because I had one in my 20's, got it 2 years ago and only been out on it once
Several GAG bikes, I cant seem to stop buying them, the youngest one is all taxed and insured and I pop out to the shops & local meets on it
CBR650F for riding to work (when it gets warmer) and general use
Thruxton for localish rides only when the weathers nice and i fancy a gentle rumble
GSXR600 SRAD because I had one on my 20's, only gets ridden once or twice a year
FZR600R again because I had one in my 20's, got it 2 years ago and only been out on it once
Several GAG bikes, I cant seem to stop buying them, the youngest one is all taxed and insured and I pop out to the shops & local meets on it
Wololo said:
How did you decide what to buy? Is there a theme to your collection (e.g. all Sportsbikes) or do you like to have one sportsbike, one naked, one cruiser etc?
The reason I ask is that I'm selling my Ninja 125 and I know the Ninja 400 will want a garage-mate so I'm weighing up options...
You don't want 2 bikes it's a pain in the ass. Buy one decent bike that can do it all.The reason I ask is that I'm selling my Ninja 125 and I know the Ninja 400 will want a garage-mate so I'm weighing up options...
1x 1098S road bike
1x 1098 track bike
1x 748/1198 Hybrid abomination
1x 998S track bike
1x KTM 1190 S
1x Aprilia RS250
1 x Beta 390RRS
1 X Beta Evo 300 4T
1 x Yamaha TTR 50
Love them all but maintenance is a constant and costly undertaking.
Basically, buy what you like, enjoy them and try different things, you never know what floats your boat until you try it
I have an xjr1300 based custom lowrider thingy and a Sportster that I need to pick up from the guys who got it MOT ready and then sell.
I have a strong, perverted desire for a sidecar outfit like a Ural or similar. Will get this when I sell the Harley.
Also want to get something modern and light that I can just jump on for the occasional commute and maybe try a track day at some point - thinking sv650/Ducati scrambler/street twin/xsr700 etc.
More bikes make sense to me if you're someone who likes older bikes or more niche things - get a mainstream one to sit alongside it/them.
I have a strong, perverted desire for a sidecar outfit like a Ural or similar. Will get this when I sell the Harley.
Also want to get something modern and light that I can just jump on for the occasional commute and maybe try a track day at some point - thinking sv650/Ducati scrambler/street twin/xsr700 etc.
More bikes make sense to me if you're someone who likes older bikes or more niche things - get a mainstream one to sit alongside it/them.
My H2 SX pretty much does it all. Mega performance, good handluing, touring capability, reasonable economy and easy to ride. I don't need another bike ... but ...
My R1250RT provides Mrs k1 with a comfortable long-range pillion perch and gives both of us plenty of luggage space.
My R100CS is a nostalga trip.
My R1250RT provides Mrs k1 with a comfortable long-range pillion perch and gives both of us plenty of luggage space.
My R100CS is a nostalga trip.
Bob_Defly said:
One for road, one for off-road, one for fettling/restomodding.
All safely tucked up as it's -20C outside with three feet of snow. I did have two more but insurance and maintenance was too much of a PITA.
Insurance here in Canadia is a fecking joke.... no multi bike policies etc, All safely tucked up as it's -20C outside with three feet of snow. I did have two more but insurance and maintenance was too much of a PITA.
I don't understand how it is possible to insure my enduro bike on a blue plate for $130 a year but they want $2800 for the KTM????
I have 6 bikes and have generally found over the years that when I have a lot of bikes, if two are too similar, I just prefer one and always use that. Hence for me, it's about variety of purpose, engine configuration and style of bike.
Hence currently I have a 270 degree parallel twin ADV, an IL4 litre sports bike, a crossplane crank IL4 super naked, a Monkey bike, a big scooter and a small scooter.
I have loads of NCB on multiple policies so insurance is fine. I do all my own servicing work (which I enjoy) and now even tyre changing on the bikes, so biggest ball ache is generally the frequency of MoTs!
Hence currently I have a 270 degree parallel twin ADV, an IL4 litre sports bike, a crossplane crank IL4 super naked, a Monkey bike, a big scooter and a small scooter.
I have loads of NCB on multiple policies so insurance is fine. I do all my own servicing work (which I enjoy) and now even tyre changing on the bikes, so biggest ball ache is generally the frequency of MoTs!
Firstly one for each type of riding
Lightweight off road
Longer distance off road
On road local fun
On road touring
I constantly watch ebay and if anything looks cheap that I haven't tried, I buy it
Then if I see a thread etc and someone mentions a bike, if it looks interesting I'll keep an eye out for one of those too
My main criteria is that I'm unwilling to lose money (doesn't always work out that way) but I won't buy anything I don't think is a good deal at the time
Lightweight off road
Longer distance off road
On road local fun
On road touring
I constantly watch ebay and if anything looks cheap that I haven't tried, I buy it
Then if I see a thread etc and someone mentions a bike, if it looks interesting I'll keep an eye out for one of those too
My main criteria is that I'm unwilling to lose money (doesn't always work out that way) but I won't buy anything I don't think is a good deal at the time
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