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What do you look for in a motorbike?

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Irezumi aka Reuben
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PostPosted: 10:23 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: What do you look for in a motorbike? Reply with quote

Bit of an experiment and fact finding for something I am doing in my spare time but in three words what do you look for in a bike to be used on public roads?

Realise this is a peculiar question but would greatly appreciate anybody's genuine input. Also aware that it will be very individual but that's what I'm looking for.

Thanks for any help..
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owl
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PostPosted: 11:00 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

petrol, oil, keys
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AshWebster
Brolly Dolly



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PostPosted: 11:02 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

horses for courses innit,

for me a bike is a weekend toy so it needs to be fast, flashy, and loud.

fast - as im an adrenaline junkie

flashy - rolling through town on a decent bike turns pretty girls heads... peacocking some might say, and they're right.#

loud - see above, also acts as a bit of a safety device. they hear me well before they see me.

this is me though. everyone is different.
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Pjay
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PostPosted: 11:02 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

owl wrote:
petrol, oil, keys

/thread
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thx1138
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PostPosted: 11:04 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

legal dirt bike Thumbs Up
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The Shaggy D.A.
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PostPosted: 11:28 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Grinworthy - I need to be able to open the garage door and smile when I see it, and keep the grin when riding it.
Economical - Most of my riding is commuting, so it needs to be a lot cheaper than running a car, at least.
Simple - I need to be able to maintain it myself, and I'm a simple man.
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bigdom86
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PostPosted: 11:50 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: re Reply with quote

a balance between realiability, comfort, fun and looks as I am a year round commuter - went with an 02 cbr00f4i which ticked all the boxes in balance for me
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 11:53 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Shaggy D.A. wrote:
Grinworthy - I need to be able to open the garage door and smile when I see it, and keep the grin when riding it.


Clever answer. Covers lots of bases, which is good because I think most people look for more than that which can be encompassed in just three words, but as I ride for fun, this one works for me.
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DrSnoosnoo
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PostPosted: 12:12 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

just look at my thread recently about tank range and how I wanted something sensible to commute on...

Then my heart went, nah get the (old)big ZZR
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owl
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PostPosted: 12:16 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Re: re Reply with quote

bigdom86 wrote:
a balance between realiability, comfort, fun and looks as I am a year round commuter - went with an 02 cbr00f4i which ticked all the boxes in balance for me


..until April 2019?
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SDFarsight
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PostPosted: 12:45 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Re: What do you look for in a motorbike? Reply with quote

Reliability- There's no point looking great and having the speed advantage over someone if you're spending half your time waiting for an AA van.

Look-backability- Even if you buy a bike for less than 1K it should still make you want to turn around for another look before you walk back into your house thinking- that's my bike. Bye bike! I love you bike...who's a good bike...you are!!

EFI- I just can't stand carbs. Even if you have the patience to maintain them well (I don't) all they reward you with is worse performance, a delayed start on a good day or a non-start on a bad day. Yes they're easier to fix but their lower reliability cancels that out IMO; and unless you're living in some Mad Max wasteland then EFI replacements shouldn't be *that* hard to find. And don't give me that "proper bike" nostalgia; the Jerrys were using Fi systems over Dover in 1940.

Irezumi aka Reuben wrote:
Realise this is a peculiar question


No it's good, a nice change from the ultra-specific technical threads.
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redeem ouzzer
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PostPosted: 13:00 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Electric start and a rev counter. Always has been.
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notabikeranym...
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PostPosted: 13:00 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

build quality, speed, handling

also must be power ranger looking
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redeem ouzzer
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PostPosted: 13:05 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh can’t stand EFI either. Too heavy (needs a fuel pump, 20 miles of wiring and an ECU the size of a house), complicated to work on and can only be fiddled with electronically (if the ECU allows). Also still not found an injection system that can match the throttle response of a perfectly set up bank of carbs.
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bigdom86
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PostPosted: 13:12 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Re: re Reply with quote

owl wrote:
bigdom86 wrote:
a balance between realiability, comfort, fun and looks as I am a year round commuter - went with an 02 cbr00f4i which ticked all the boxes in balance for me


..until April 2019?


why April 2019? is this something to do with the ULEZ? on the current ULEZ map i commute just outside of this near hyde park I think Rolling Eyes from October 2021 if the extension goes ahead and they include motorbikes yep im screwed so will need to find a ULEZ friendly bike then, will most likely just upgrade to a blade or R1 just in the date
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sickpup
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PostPosted: 13:31 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Re: What do you look for in a motorbike? Reply with quote

SDFarsight wrote:
EFI- I just can't stand carbs. Even if you have the patience to maintain them well (I don't) all they reward you with is worse performance, a delayed start on a good day or a non-start on a bad day. Yes they're easier to fix but their lower reliability cancels that out IMO;


Carbs are probably more reliable than EFI right up untill some uneducated twat decides they need work. I can't remember the last time I had a carb problem as opposed to a person didn't know what they were doing and screwed it up problem.
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 13:53 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Carbs are ok if they're properly set up. Mine need a balance once in a while and that's it. They're smoother at low revs than many an EFI set-up, don't have that snatchiness.
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Polarbear
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PostPosted: 14:18 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Comfy

Lots of surplus power

A barn door fairing

A stereo

Cool
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WimbleHJR
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PostPosted: 14:41 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pretty (F800st is maybe an acquired taste but I would argue she's pretty)

Upright (F**ked shoulders means anything too sporty just isn't going to work)

Tourable (maybe not a word as such, but I like to be able to cover the KM's on motorways when necessary and still be able to enjoy the twisties)
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Howling Terror
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PostPosted: 15:15 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Red.
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Holdawayt
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PostPosted: 15:25 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Uni students take note - this is how you ask for our opinions and get results.

Personally:

It needs to look good
Not kill my wrists or back
Enough power to lighten the front wheel when rolling on.
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 15:42 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Howling Terror wrote:
Red.


I said most people Laughing
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ThatDippyTwat
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PostPosted: 15:44 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Must be-
Reliable.
Cheap.

Otherwise, I look at these criteria.
Fast? Nice, but I'm not that bothered any more.
Unusual? Hell yes, if I can get parts.
Looks - Muscle/Naked bikes, but Anything will do (I currently ride a VFR)
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WD Forte
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PostPosted: 17:40 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

BEADED SEAT COVERS
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stevo as b4
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PostPosted: 18:23 - 10 Aug 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Light weight is good for a fun bike.

Simple is good for when you keep messing with it and have to keep taking it apart/fixing things.

Anti social is good for zero fucks given. Be that a carb fed Litre twin on race cans, an off road dirt digger, or a smelly blue smoking hooligan tool.

Things like the three R's:

Reliability
Rideability
Residuals

Are however great if you actually use your bike and want to do A-B to be able to earn a living.
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