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leolion |
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leolion Scooby Slapper
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 14:22 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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What do you want to do?
What can you afford to do?
What bike is it?
What have you done to it?
What bike do you really think you'd like, given no limits?
What's the nearest to that bike you can have?
How long have you had this one?
How many miles have you covered?
In what conditions have you ridden it?
If you're certain you're not going to click with it, change it for something else, and put it down to experience. Don't spend money on the next one until you're certain you like it. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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leolion |
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leolion Scooby Slapper
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
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Posted: 14:26 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 14:31 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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Nothing to do with the model itself, but change it. It isn't for you, simple.
Money spent is on wear and tear items, which you will spend on whatever bike you have. I was thinking maybe you'd ploughed the cash in for modifying it.
Go and get one of the bikes you think you really want. Get them off the tick list. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Skudd |
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Skudd Super Spammer
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leolion |
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leolion Scooby Slapper
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 15:12 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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leolion wrote: | so im far from the first person to have brought 'the wrong' bike? |
No. I've bought the wrong bike before - one that just turned out to be crap generally.
And, I've bought the wrong bike before - one that was a great bike, but totally unsuited to my needs.
And, I've had bikes that were only the right bike for a limited time. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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leolion |
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leolion Scooby Slapper
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 15:42 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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leolion wrote: | wondering if a track session with someone like the haslam race school would help? |
You might enjoy it, and you might learn something useful. But why race-oriented further training? Why not road oriented?
Quote: | This is my first 'big' bike and i wonder if its a confidence thing since i placed it on the ground during a u turn. |
Shit happens. Keep riding, keep adding to your experience.
Quote: | Maybe the 'on track' session at haslams would help with a bit more bike control? |
If you want to do that particular thing, do it. But do it because you want to, not necessarily for the learning. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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leolion |
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leolion Scooby Slapper
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
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johnsmith222 |
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johnsmith222 World Chat Champion
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leolion |
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leolion Scooby Slapper
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MarJay |
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MarJay But it's British!
Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :
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Posted: 20:47 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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I bought a FireBlade 954 (2002) as I mentioned in another thread. I didn't gel with it.
Everyone said that it's the best road bike ever. There is in fact such a post in the other thread. Journalists said it. Ordinary people said it. Even an old granny down the shops said it... (or she might have been talking about her fireplace? Not sure).
But I did not get on with it. The suspension was too hard, it had too much power and I was constantly looking over my shoulder for the rozzers. It's clip ons were low enough to cause pain, but not close enough to the seat to allow a nice riding position for short-@rse me. The seat was both slippery and hard.
The front end had so little feel that I crashed the bike on the second day I had it. Luckily the damage was not too bad but I never managed to recover the little amount of confidence I had. In fact, I just started to get my confidence back on my Buell when I had a mishap on that and broke my foot and my wrist. It wasn't really to do with the FireBlade, but having the wrong bike meant my confidence took a knock that wasn't worth it for the cachet of having the 'best road bike in the world'.
I suspect if I spent £3000 on suspension parts to suit my weight it might have been better, but the power was still a bit much for me. In fact I've not owned a bike with much more than 100bhp until I bought my 600RR track bike, which I think is only about 115bhp.
I am thinking about buying a 1000cc bike now, but only because my confidence has returned, and I need a heavyweight bike for my long distance commute. I'm sure I'd be happier with a more powerful bike had I not had a bad experience on my 'Blade.
https://cdn.bcf.44bytes.net/files/rightside_155.jpg ____________________ British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another. |
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Bhud |
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Bhud World Chat Champion
Joined: 11 Oct 2018 Karma :
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 22:53 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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Bhud wrote: | testicle-crushing seat...I know it will get me there without trouble...without fear or worry. |
No, no, no! This is all wrong! ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Shaft |
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Shaft World Chat Champion
Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 23:27 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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Happened to me with my VFR750.
Spent 25 years wanting one, bought one and instantly disliked it. I did try and I really wanted it to be a keeper, there were even things about it that I quite enjoyed, but the total experience was not one I got any pleasure out of.
It was all made worse by having other bikes I could use, so it ended up neglected, until I was made an offer I couldn't refuse.
Fortunately, I didn't do a big bundle of cash, but I would've done a lot less if I'd bailed out sooner.
Don't like your bike, get out of it. ____________________ Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035 |
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Pigeon |
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Pigeon World Chat Champion
Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 23:29 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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I might have missed something, but Chickenstrips questions on what it is you want, have tried, how long been riding etc are key.
The shortest answer is, try as much as possible and bikes you wouldn't immediately thinks of. So do a trackday (on someone elses bike, it costs, but its worth it). Try MX. Go cruising on a chopper. Try something light, something heavy, something revvy, something torquey, something old skool, something with a thousand buttons.
Every bike has something to offer, does something well that others do not. But they all do some things not so well. Every bike is a trade-off.
But to appreciate the good over the bad, you have to know exactly what it is you want. Which sometimes you didn't know you wanted, until you try it. |
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Shaft |
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Shaft World Chat Champion
Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 23:55 - 26 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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Pigeon wrote: | I might have missed something, but Chickenstrips questions on what it is you want, have tried, how long been riding etc are key.
......to appreciate the good over the bad, you have to know exactly what it is you want. Which sometimes you didn't know you wanted, until you try it. |
I'm not so sure, I reckon you can overthink it.
Up until a few years ago, I bought most of my bikes because I liked the look of them (and that doesn't just mean the aesthetics) might've read the odd magazine test, but mostly it was gut feel.
More recently, the internet has meant research is much easier, but for me it's still mainly about how I feel about the thing.
I'm also not totally convinced about the test ride obsession - I've said on here before, I've never bought a bike I've tested and I've never tested a bike I've bought.
I'm prepared to admit I've made a couple of mistakes, but I've also had dozens of bikes, so my hit to cock up ratio is pretty good.
I think you can do all the research and soul searching you like, but if you don't feel good about the thing straight off the bat, your chances of growing to like it are quite small. ____________________ Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035 |
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Easy-X |
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Easy-X Super Spammer
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Posted: 00:58 - 27 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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Beg/borrow/steal another bike and see how it compares...
I alternate between my 125 and ebike and they're obviously chalk n cheese. But I find myself riding the ebike much more aggressively now and hurtling down the hills at 30-40mph which I never did before!
Conversely I find myself cornering on the 125 a lot better after riding the ebike for a bit. I think for the month or so I just rode the 125 (motorbikes are more toasty in the winter!) I though it was just because it was a cruiser that it didn't corner well... turns out you can actually turn the handlebars at low speed and you don't have to lean your way round 90 degree junctions ____________________ Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 01:09 - 27 Apr 2019 Post subject: |
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My questions were posed to find out why the OP is struggling to like his bike, and therefore to help me to help him decide whether or not to keep it, not so much to give him things to ponder to work out his next choice, although they might help in that regard.
I think test rides can be useful, but also, the novelty of something sampled briefly can be misleading too. And it doesn't tell you what a bike is like to live with long term, although it may give you some clues.
You do have to think about what you want from a bike. That's why I often don't reply on 'what bike to get' threads. It's too often a personal thing.
My choices have usually been ones of the heart. Practicality has always been a secondary consideration for me, which perhaps makes things easier. If you're looking for a bike to commute on, with good weather protection, good fuel consumption, those kind of things, you perhaps have to be more careful. But if you just want a bike to enjoy, for fun, it narrows things down for you, so you don't need to think so carefully, and you can go more with 'want', rather than 'need'. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Bhud |
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Bhud World Chat Champion
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 4 years, 358 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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