My bike..

[L-Jam]

And how I completely don't use it for how it was probably intended, brool story co.!

I was thinking the other 30 minutes ago, about how I own a GSX-R 750 K7, yet have never set foot on a track, don't that regularly go out for a hoon (mainly because of the weather at the moment) and actually could quite do with what I have spent on it, considering it cost the best part of 5k and I'm off to university in less than a month.

But I wouldn't sell it for the world. I just thought it was interesting that I completely have bought this bike with my heart rather than my head; my job means I ride around for about 5 hours a day about 2-3 days a week, I regularly commute everywhere and that commute will soon become a lot longer going back and forth to Bristol as and when I please, yet I chose an extreme sportsbike to accompany me on those tasks, when to buy something like a KTM Superduke, a Ducati Monster or even keep my old bike, a CBR600F, would make a lot more sense.

Biking isn't about making sense though, and though I believe some point in the future will see me purchasing an all round hack aswell, I have so much fun doing these things on a fucking racebike that I don't know quite when that will be.

Anyway, did you lot buy with head or heart? By head I mean considering

insurance - was 370 a year for me
consumables - not sure yet, haven't had to buy anything
what you use the bike for - probably not what Mr Suzuki intended
MPG - 40ish is still better than majority of cars
comfort - not that I find that Gix uncomfortable at all, and I'm 6 ft 4
practicality - I get two tank bags on the bike and a rucksack when I've needed, wouldn't get much more on though without some monies, not that I would need the space anyway
Other head shit I've forgot.

and by heart

buying the fucking bike because you want one.
____________________
Journalist, student, egotist.
Click here if you're a young biker, wondering what to do after a moped/125!
Skp 50 --> GS 500 --> CBR600F with custom HRC paint jobby --> GSX-R 750 K7, beautiful!

[dogbot]

I've never taken the R1 on a track, either. And until last Sunday, it was exactly 3 weeks since I'd so much as moved it, never mind ridden it. So despite what it costs me (and it's quite a bit), I'd managed about 20 miles on it in a month.

In my defence, I've moved house in that period and been at work 5 days a week.

But it was definitely a heart/want purchase, rather than a head/need one.

[pinkyfloyd]

I bought mine because I wanted a V Twin and couldnt afford the SP2. So ended up with a Firestorm. Honestly say though, having ridden if for almost a year, I love the machine and cant see me parting with it any time soon.

Of course if I was rich I'd happily get rid of the VTR in favour of the Suzuki B King. For some reason I want one.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[garth]

I’m off touring in a week. 9 days ago I sold my versys (Hard luggage, comfy seat, big tank range, 65mpg) and bought a ZX9R.

That was clever wasn’t it.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Jayy]

Well I definiteley didn't buy it for it's fuel economy or practicality. I bought it because it was more bonkers than the R1 to ride and I liked the fact is was a bit of an animal.

I don't do a daily commute, I work from home as well so usually the bikes I buy are bought with my heart and "because I fucking want one".

[CoolBanana]

I hadn't owned a bike in 15 years or so and one day 3 months ago I said to my wife: "think I might buy a bike".

Felt like getting a sports bike and looked at the 600cc variety.
Looked at some pictures and offers and went and sat on a Triumph Daytona...loved it but couldn't see myself getting comfortable.

Went and sat on a GSX-R600 L1 and bought it.

It was delivered 2 weeks later and the day after I went for my first ride on a bike in many years.

It's done 146 miles now. I use it to commute to my local office when it isn't raining which is only 4 miles away. I use my Land Rover for site visits and everything else.

Love the bike but very much a toy bought on a whim and an impulse. Most definitely not as Mr Suzuki intended!
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Bike: Ducati Monster 1100 evo
Previous: Suzuki GSX-R600 L1; Yamaha RZ350RR
Car: Range Rover Evoque Dynamic Si4 Lux

[ajbsmirnoff]

It cheap commuting.

Free parking, high mpg, cheap to maintain, and its a motorbike and therefore cool, even with me on it.

The sport of filtering is just the best bonus ever.

[N cee thirty]

lol, bought the fazer as its the fastest thing i can afford to insure
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[ThoughtContro...]

[L-Jam]

Chris, you don't count. Making a turbo for your bike requires a whole new thread... oh, wait there, 60+ pages now isn't it?

Rob, that's what I did for my first 3 bike purchases, I think a vast majority of bikers want to chase the speed for a while. Certainly what I'm doing!

Ajbsmirnoff, the free parking is SUCH a bonus, didn't really think of that!

CoolBanana, congrats on having huge balls and going balls out and buying a brand new 600

Jay, I think R1 is one of the ultimate 'bought cos I fucking want one' bikes

Garth, bikes are what you make of them!

Pinky, I will definitely at some point in my life own an SP-2, it just seems right.

Dogbot, fair play, I use my bike a lot more than you.
____________________
Journalist, student, egotist.
Click here if you're a young biker, wondering what to do after a moped/125!
Skp 50 --> GS 500 --> CBR600F with custom HRC paint jobby --> GSX-R 750 K7, beautiful!

[Germ]

Bought my first big bike with my brain....GPZ500 then got bored and bought an FJ1200 with my heart.Hated the thing after about 3 weeks and traded it in for another heart buy....GPZ900R Ninja and loved it till I killed her

[pinkyfloyd]

[Rogerborg]

Look at the bikes in my .sig and see if you can work it out.

Quixoticism: it's a perfectly cromulent word.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[pinkyfloyd]

[HD]

How many miles you doing on your gixxer? Cos it may make it depreciate a fair bit if you spent 5k on the thing

Don't want to piss on your fireworks as I'm sure you love it and miles doesn't come into it

Oh, dream bike btw
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[Biker Alex]

[Fizzer Thou]

The best part about being a biker is choosing to ride whatever you want/can afford/what the missus will allow you to buy.

I must admit to having a good think about what I wanted to buy before I have laid down the cash - but whatever I have I thoroughly enjoy.
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[Benson_JV]

[Rogerborg]

[Biker Alex]

[totalllama82]

Now riding a ZX9, Thundercat previously and most of my miles are commuting.

Bought the ZX9 because I wanted

1. A bit of extra speed.
2. Its reasonably nimble for its size.
3. I needed a big bike because i'm built like the hulk.

It actually turns out its MPG isn't much less than the Thundercats due to the lower gearing (as most of my miles are motorway). The cat would be screaming at around 7-8k rpm. ZX9 now sits at around 4-5k rpm.

Really pleased with the ZX9. Its great all round for moseying along. Drop it a few cogs and you can go back to the future in seconds
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Gone: Haotian HT125-8 / Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat / Kawasaki ZX9R C2
Current: Kawasaki ZZR 1400 A7F

[L-Jam]