Stuck in a rut

[Swim41]

I've had my Diversion 600 for three years now. In that time it's served me well: it's taken me to work everyday, done a couple of modest European tours, lapped the Nurburgring, attended various rallies and cost me relatively little in time and money to keep running.

I haven't got any sentimental feelings for the bike, as you'll know it's a basic, underpowered UJM. I really should sell it and buy something more exciting... but... I've had a long ride on a few fairly varied bikes recently (borrowed off mates) and not been particularly enthusiastic about any of them. F800GS - meh, TDM 900 - OK. Had a 30 mile blast on a 58 plate R6 last weekend and wasn't overawed by that either, although it is a beautifully put together piece of kit and the acceleration is pant-wetting as I'm used to a wheezy plodder.

I reckon I like riding the bike and bike camping and rallying and fettling more than I actually like the bikes themselves. The way I feel at the moment, if I sold it and bought something else I'd just be doing it for the sake of it. So many riders though change their bikes as often as their socks, or so it seems!

Hopefully it's just a phase... or should I be taking a long, hard look at myself?

Anyone else ever felt like this?
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Yamaha XJ600N

[snomag]

Biking is about having fun and enjoying the ride.

Since you're doing it, I wouldn't say that there's anything wrong with you. Although I haven't been riding for too long I've already seen quite a lot of people who buy new bikes just because it's considered cool in other's eyes. Some enjoy that in biking I guess, some others enjoy the ride itself .

[Gazz]

I feel the same way.

Only want to change my bike when something goes wrong with it.

[NickD]

There's nowt wrong with you, quit yer whinging!

Different strokes for different folks I guess, but you can have good and bad rides on anything, whether it's ideal or totally unsuited to the task..... the bike is almost incidental, it almost doesn't matter.

When we return from Holland this Easter the Blackbird's going on the market 'cos I need some quick cash, and I'll be left only my dull old CB750.... But we'll still be off to all the rallys and festivals we've got booked, will still be doing the Round Britain Rally stuff that we do and we'll still just bugger off out on the bikes when the mood takes us. Some rides will be a laugh, some will be shit.... Some days I'll just not be up for it, and some days I'll just want to ride and never stop, it will still all be an adventure. We'll still be excited on the way to parties, and hungover on the way back, just like always, for as long as I can remember..... The bike has changed over the years, but most other things are pretty much the same.

There are those to whom it's all about the biggest, fastest, coolest or whatever, and whether that's down to an appreciation of awesome engineering, ego, low self-esteem doesn't matter much. People get different things out of stuff, and it's all good.
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[doggone]

Suddenly something will catch your eye and you will start to want it - always the same...
With me it's this, but not sure I really want it yet.


https://www.bikesandscooters.com.au/forum/attachments/members-lounge-general-discussion/1838d1207621668-2008-speed-triple-matt-black-triumph-20speed-20triple-20matt-20black.jpg

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Sport tourer...thats what your post is telling me.

Ducati ST2...Simple to service. Grunt. Practical and not bad looking.

Triumph Sprint ST..More sports than tour. Grunt. Agile for a thou. Again lookin' nice.

Muse on those babies.


Pat
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[swiftb]

Ive had my bike around a year and a half now and cant see me considering changing it in the next year. It does everything I want it to, granted, it could do certain things a little better but not enough for me to want to change it. Theres no way I could get anything better for the money anyway so every time I think of changing it I soon decide against it when I realise how much more money Id have to plough in.
Id consider changing it in maybe a year but only for something drastically newer/better. (nice k7/8 gsxr750 maybe )
However my bike does have sentimental value too and I often think when it comes to the crunch, rather than replace it I may get another bike to 'compliment' it instead.

[Swim41]

[neatbik]

You arent alone mate. I've had my Speed Four for coming upto two and a half years now and i fancy a change. Its an excellent bike, it does everytthing i want it to but im tempted to sell it and try something different - its just difficult to know what to go for, and there is the worry that whatever i get next wont prove to be as good the Triumph...
So far my possible 'next bike' list is a bit varied - Ducati Monster, 750ss, ST2 or Multistrada. Or a Buell....

[Noxious89123]

I feel somewhat the same.

My issue is that I want to keep my bike perfect. But with a 10 year old bik, time is working against me, and the amount of money it is costing to keep it looking immaculate is a bit of a bitch sometimes.

Best solution would be to just buy a brand new bike, but without having a great wad of cash, or a garage to store it and keep it nice, there seems little chance of that happening.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[iooi]

[dotti2009]

I understand completely and I am in the same boat. I've had my GS500 now for 5 years, it was my first project bike and has given me wonderful service. It's getting to the stage where it needs 500 quid or so a year just to pass the MOT, so it is soon to be replaced with a newer bike.

I've looked at several bikes, and despite being better overall packages (faster, smoother, better handling and better brakes), it feels like there is something missing.
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Dotti is back!

[dodgydog]

I feel the same way, can't see me swapping the speed triple anytime soon, or anytime ever!
I just enjoy getting out and it does everything it has to do.

dog
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I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not exactly what I meant

[Blau Zedong]

My old GSXR leaves me in a similar conundrum. It's old, high miles and is no doubt on the cusp of failing an MOT in the next couple of years on stuff like head bearings or shock linkages. The problem is that I like the breed (simple engineering, brutal image, bit of character) and I don't really know what I'd get to replace it. Likelyhood is it'll have a year's sabbatical at some point and get stripped to the frame and reborn. From a financial point of view it's a stupid idea but I'll be able to spread the cost and I'll have the bike I like but freshened up.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[panrider_uk]

[quote="Swim41"

Anyone else ever felt like this?[/quote]

Yep.

My bike's now 15 years old and I've owned it for 13 of those.

For me it does what I want and I can't see anything on the market to make me want to part with a wadge of cash to replace it.

A couple of years ago a Benelli Tre did catch my eye as a possible sunny weather toy but camchain horror stories put me off.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel