What does your motorcycle say about you? [Archive]

jamesdunn

11-07-2009, 05:59 AM

What does your motorcycle say about you? Are you the owner of a GS and see yourself as a stalwart adventurer and wish others to think so too? Or, do you own a K1300S for example and want to express your blitzkrieg bahnstormin' persona? Do ya ride an ol' rusty, but mechanically reliable airhead, and consider yourself a funky retro rider? "Hey! There goes old school!" Perhaps you make use of a scooter these days and wanna be viewed as a thrifty practical sort? Maybe you own multiple bikes and are making more than one statement!
Our motorcycles, whither we have given it consideration or not, are to some degree a reflection of our personality, much in the way our choice of automobile might be. The "cruiser" guy with the do rag, tattoos and leather vest, may be saying, "Hey, I'm a bad dude on a bad bike! Move over home boy!" What are you expressing to the world, or trying to express? Thoughts? Comments?

Oznay

11-07-2009, 08:07 AM

You first...

jamesdunn

11-07-2009, 08:19 AM

You first...
Okay. I have owned three "S" model road bikes in the BMW line. I owned a T model K bike (K75T) great ride but a little staid, so sold 'er off. Bought a K75S. I presently own a R1100RSL and a R100RS. Both have sporty riding positions as did the K75S. I like the racier, more crouched position and equate it with youth, or at least youthfulness. Though no longer young, I feel young and stay in shape, but don't dye my hair! Also, there is a lot of ski racing in my background and work in the ski industry, that is to some degree thought of as a youthful endeavor. So, I guess I want to project a youthful image and stay young in doing so, I suppose the only fly in the ointment may be that I ride BMWs these days, thought of by some an old man's bike, though that may be changing with the likes of the new sport bike and other models. I may yet buy a GS and then that will fit with my mountain climbing side and outdoor adventuring aspect! Or purchase a scooter and express my softer side?

wezul

11-07-2009, 08:22 AM

I don't know they (my bikes) are generally huddled on one side of garage speaking in hushed tones.

That doesn't bode well, does it? ;)

SIBUD

11-07-2009, 08:52 AM

Well I wanted to be a rough, tough GS rider. So I bought one and realized that I really want to ride my RT instead. Not manly enough for the GS is guess. :D

jamesdunn

11-07-2009, 08:59 AM

Well I wanted to be a rough, tough GS rider. So I bought one and realized that I really want to ride my RT instead. Not manly enough for the GS is guess. :D
But manly enough for the raucous RT!

Ridealot

11-07-2009, 09:07 AM

My bikes say that I like to ride. They are dirty from riding much more often than they are clean.

At work nobody even mentions anymore when I ride in cold and rainy weather. But let me show up one day driving the truck and I end up fielding questions all day long from other employees and customers asking where the bike is.

I hope the bike keeps saying the same thing for many more years to come.

kgadley01

11-07-2009, 09:17 AM

I rode Harleys for over 25 years, when I decided to try and relive my youth. as a younger man I did some road racing. so I bought a 1988 R100RS. it didn't take long for me to figger out that at my advanced age, a bike with low flat handle bars was not going to work. so I sold the RS and bought a 99RT. now I can tour some, but when I'm in the mood to play Ricky Roadracer, the RT does a pretty good job. I still have a Harley, but its mostly for longer touring trips. getting back to the original question... I guess my bikes say fun and practical. :thumb

MCMXCIVRS

11-07-2009, 09:24 AM

My 94 R1100RS which has been with me for 12 years says I'm dependable, trustworthy, committed and faithful. :heart :love

My 09 F800GS says I like to have a little romp on the wilder side too. :evil :rocker

osbornk

11-07-2009, 09:29 AM

Both of my bikes say I'm an old fuddy duddy and it fits.

Mika

11-07-2009, 10:51 AM

Walter Mitty ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Mitty) – both of them

Depending on the day, need and my imagination my Roadster can be any class of bike. I commute, off road, adventure tour and long distance ride the thing. My café project is pure Walter Mitty.

Now what does my bike say too me? Loose more weight. :ha

jforgo

11-07-2009, 02:03 PM

I suspect my bikes say I take good care of them. They believe I love and appreciate them, for themselves, rather than for how others look at them. But they also get jealous I can only ride one at a time. The others probably cackle and b***h when I am out with one of them.

glenfiddich

11-07-2009, 03:56 PM

My GS says I have a bike for the love of riding. It's generally not clean, is ridden in any weather until the snow starts piling up, is ugly as sin but fits me perfectly. On the panniers I have a few stickers (generally only the retro-reflective type) and a bottle opener.

It fits my lifestyle and gets me home in mud season when the muck on my dirt road is as deep as the pegs.

Pete

Semper_Fi

11-07-2009, 04:30 PM

Red, Fire Breathing KGT........

Doesn't need explanation :lurk

35634

11-07-2009, 04:49 PM

Doesn't matter. If it's a BMW you're old, conservative, atgatt, and financially well off.
Except me. Well, maybe the old part. :D

R80RTJohnny

11-07-2009, 07:50 PM

I have taste!:D

36654

11-08-2009, 07:33 AM

I don't know they (my bikes) are generally huddled on one side of garage speaking in hushed tones.

That doesn't bode well, does it? ;)

That's why I only have one........ It's a good philosophy for spouses, also.

pffog

11-08-2009, 06:34 PM

don't know what the bike says, but the tires say I like to spend a lot of time leaned way over in the corners!

This set had only 1100 miles on them:rocker

http://www.easy-clan.com/ski/richard/smokies%207-09/DSCN1885(1).JPG

patiodadio

11-08-2009, 06:51 PM

I think my 94' R1100RSL in Ducati Yellow says I am different :)

Maylett

11-08-2009, 07:14 PM

I wanted a bike that I could ride long distances, ride around town, looked the way I liked, was reasonably reliable, engineered well, held its resale value and — very important — tickled my fancy. After looking around, my RT was the best compromise between these things.

The image that other people conjure up doesn't concern me all that much. Well, actually I take that back some — one of the main reasons I didn't buy an HD is because of the image associated with them. That's the only bike, though, that had points against it due to public perception. The image of most other bikes seem fairly neutral to me, but then I don't give these things a lot of thought.

AKBeemer

11-09-2009, 01:26 AM

I have a GS and an RT. I think their collective opinion would be that I am an anal retentive fuss budget.... but they live well as a result.

hlothery

11-09-2009, 08:03 AM

I like ice cream!!:D:nyah

nilsso1

11-09-2009, 08:27 AM

Doesn't matter. If it's a BMW you're old, conservative, atgatt, and financially well off.
Except me. Well, maybe the old part. :D

Whats the Cheapest part on a BMW? The Rider.... that pretty much sums it up for me, well the old part too, and the coservative... and the ATGATT,, 3 out of 4 ,,

Brettendress

11-09-2009, 08:56 AM

Mine says I read Cycle World too much. 04 R1150GS Best bike in 2004 1970 R60/5 Peter Egan Loves, 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan classic wife loves the cruiser, 1996 Honda VFR Cycle World best value and fun, 2009 XR650 L Street and trail cycle world voted great again. I like having one for all occasions and drive a 12 year old pathfinder. I guess I love motorcycles and my OCD leads me to not be able to make decisions. LOL

Brett Endress
Altoona Pa

tommcgee

11-09-2009, 09:09 AM

I don't care what anyone thinks my bikes say. My dog loves me. :D

PGlaves

11-09-2009, 09:42 AM

My current main ride is an R1150R (Roadster) equipped with pencil beam driving lights, Motolights, Jesse luggage and top case, and a 3.5 gallon auxiliary fuel tank. It also is equipped with a Garmin 276c, Garmin III+, and Valentine 1. My previous main ride was a K75T (standard) equipped with driving lights, Motolights, an 8.5 gallon fuel tank, a Harley Davidson, FLHXQYZ or something (big) trunk set where a passenger might normally sit, and a solo seat. It had the same electronic enhancements. My backup and winter bike is a low mileage K75RTP also set up with lights and gizmos for traveling.

The bikes are usually a bit dirty - maybe crusty is a better word. My excuse is I live in the desert with a water catchement system and water is precious. But the truth is when we lived in Kansas with abundant water from the Rural Water District my bikes were crusty then too.

I'm not at all sure how folks interpret my bikes. To me they are traveling bikes, ready to go at the turn of a key, with room for an abundant cache of tools, supplies, camping gear, and clothing for 6 months of all season riding. The K75 even had running water for a quick drink or spray to cool off in the desert.

jimshaw

11-09-2009, 10:03 AM

I'm not at all sure how folks interpret my bikes. To me they are traveling bikes, ready to go at the turn of a key, with room for an abundant cache of tools, supplies, camping gear, and clothing for 6 months of all season riding. The K75 even had running water for a quick drink or spray to cool off in the desert.

Having ridden a few miles behind them, I think your bikes say:

I am a pragmatist; the bike is what I need to do what I want.

I care much less for pretty than I do for function.

I care much more for 'get there' than 'go fast.'

I don't hang crap on my bike to impress others.

I don't wash my bike unless dirt slows it down or makes it hard to work on.

I put stickers all over it to mark it as a traveling machine that's been places.

My bikes aren't red, so I can tell them apart from Voni's.

:brow

KGT1200

11-09-2009, 10:04 AM

It took me awhile to get this one on paper.

My GS says about me:

Caught between to worlds, two loves

A love for the dirt, a love for the street

Both equally sought using an extremely powerful machine.

I have other bikes to race around in the dirt, but none throws a 30 ft. tall rooster when I hit soft dirt, and no other bike I have gives me more muscle when the other bikes are finished. This GS makes it to the top of the hill!

I have other road bikes to high tail it down the road but none who launch three digits in less than 4 seconds, and ride as smooth at 85 as it does at 20.

A bike for a man torn between two loves in a confusing world.

womanridge

11-09-2009, 10:12 AM

Bob_M

11-09-2009, 10:29 AM

I think I overheard it muttering that I am a slow poke and sort of a dork and that it is much cooler and faster than I am. I believe that it sighed in resignation that it will continue to let me hang out with it.

pffog

11-09-2009, 10:40 AM

[QUOTE=pffog;514237]don't know what the bike says, but the tires say I like to spend a lot of time leaned way over in the corners!

This set had only 1100 miles on them:rocker

Did I read this right? 1100 or 11,000 miles? That's some serious riding for 1,100.:scratch

You read it correct 1100 miles!! Showed up at Johnson City in July with new front Pirelli corsa, and rear Corsa 3 (their dual compound sport tire), and 3 days and 1100 miles later, I was back at the Double Tree Inn, changing the tires in the parking lot.

Went through 5 sets this summer, it was a good year for sure!

http://www.easy-clan.com/ski/richard/smokies%207-09/DSCN1882(1).JPG

Rod Sheridan

11-09-2009, 11:52 AM

Lets see,

- 1976 red R90/6 with holstein pattern sheepskin on the seat, and hi viz yellow tank panniers

- middle aged rider with orange modular helmet and Darien in Hi Viz yellow

- camping stuff in ex army duffle across the back seat.

Well it means I'm a colour blind, fashion challenged, soon to be geezer with a bike made weird.

In other words, just plain average in this group:D.

Regards, Rod.

jamesdunn

11-09-2009, 12:25 PM

PGlaves

11-09-2009, 01:09 PM

My bikes aren't red, so I can tell them apart from Voni's.

:brow

Well yes, there is that.

kbasa

11-09-2009, 04:14 PM

[QUOTE=pffog;514237]don't know what the bike says, but the tires say I like to spend a lot of time leaned way over in the corners!

This set had only 1100 miles on them:rocker

Did I read this right? 1100 or 11,000 miles? That's some serious riding for 1,100.:scratch

Some of us are all about quality over quantity. :D

I've got a ten year old VFR with 50K miles, a 1967 R60/2, an 84 R100CS, an R12RT and an R12GS. All of them get ridden pretty hard, with very little unused tire. I'm not sure what that says, especially when I'm out flying around on some of the "old guy bikes". :ha

tourunigo

11-09-2009, 04:42 PM

.... that we like to challenge convention by darkening the green bike down with black faux leather on the tank/seat; we share; we are fast and lean (uh... sorta); we ride alone.... together; we don't have any reason to get a new bike:nyah; our trailer does what we tell it to do whooooosh!; we grin a lot - Bob and Mary

Visian

11-09-2009, 04:55 PM

"we don't care how the hell they do it in california!"

http://www.visian.nu/images/r80gs_2.jpg

ian

henzilla

11-09-2009, 06:58 PM

I like ice cream!!:D:nyah

and Dairy Queens!

Hi Hugh:wave

pffog

11-09-2009, 09:13 PM

[QUOTE=womanridge;514375]............. All of them get ridden pretty hard, with very little unused tire. I'm not sure what that says, especially when I'm out flying around on some of the "old guy bikes". :ha

But the REAL fun is running past the "young guy" bikes, especially at the track:D

sudani

11-10-2009, 09:50 AM

With all the compliments I've been getting of late on my bike, I'm thinking it says, "am I happy to have found her". I take good care of my baby.

Last weekend, HD guy says to me....."do you know what BMW stands for?" Okay....what? Beautiful, mystical woman! .....talking about the bike, right? *L* or not....

What a fun season it has been....

535is

11-10-2009, 03:57 PM

OK; it's a really striking, pretty rare, pretty cool old Airhead - with a big red clown nose. :nyah What does that tell ya? :huh

crazydrummerdude

11-10-2009, 04:55 PM

The left kneepad just fell off my R75 as I pulled into the spot at school today. It's got oil leaks all over and rusty handlebars. It starts (almost) every time, and I can ride it at 90mph all day long, though. Well worn atgatt and a helmet covered in stupid stickers.

I don't know what that says about me.

CTellman

11-10-2009, 05:04 PM

My BMW shows how lucky I am. I wanted an airhead, found a beauty, owned by a great seller, 250 miles away, at a price can afford.
I will try and figure how to post a picture tomorrow.
Because of where I live and my budget I could not afford to own anything but an airhead. I am very thankful to have found my bike.
Campbell Tellman II
'93 R100RT
:thumb

From MARS

11-10-2009, 05:33 PM

My bike tells me that I need to learn to ride better. Its always saying, "If I can do it, why can't you?"

Tom

RTRyder

11-10-2009, 08:49 PM

Three Nortons = glutton for punishment...

Concours = Cheap SOB...

R 1200 RT says maybe there's some sanity left in there somewhere! ;)

wezul

11-10-2009, 09:14 PM

Last weekend, HD guy says to me....."do you know what BMW stands for?" Okay....what? Beautiful, mystical woman! .....talking about the bike, right? *L*
Yup.

2beers

11-11-2009, 09:29 PM

You're going the wrong way!!! Your gonna kill somebody!!!

jdmetzger

11-11-2009, 10:37 PM

"we don't care how the hell they do it in california!"

http://www.visian.nu/images/r80gs_2.jpg

ian

Nice. Right now my GSPD says it can go anywhere, but my body tells me it needs some work. Unfortunately it's a little uncomfy for standing (I end up hunched over) and long highway runs. In between stuff is fine, of course. Hopefully some winter upgrades will sort that out and I'll have the true all-around bike I'm looking for. I know it can ride highway, I know it can ride twisties, and I know it can ride off-road. Now I just need to be comfortable doing it. :)

haughty

11-12-2009, 07:07 PM

SOme would say glutenous, but I dare to say Nay Nay... If life is a buffet line, then I started in the dessert portion:D

01LT, 04RT, 07GS...
01- shes sweet, but oh has a persnickity attitude towards the word slow.
04- THis one is the sleeper to me as I kinda knew it would be a nice all around the town and highway, been taking her on my weekend trips as of late. MIleage will catch up to the LT in about 6 mos.
07- this one is the tweeker of the group as I can have too much fun- no tickets for mikey!

I know of a member her who has a really nice ride and I can see him enjoying the moment as he rides....

I shoulda just kept the LT and not gotten any others, but my car hobby suffered and it has to wait for other things.
The ride gave me new focus on a few things and appreciation of what gifts are out there for us to see. It only took 50 years to see it...

Im really not glutenous, just a little fluffy....:D

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=47604&title=gabriel-iglesias-not-fat,-just