Bike character: Do you prefer Anodyne or Exciting?

[MarJay]

Hello,

Myself and Rookie were having a minor argument on IRC about the sorts of bikes we like to ride. When I was younger, I thought I wanted a japanese 1000cc sportsbike. When I got a Triumph Daytona 955, I thought I had my dream bike. And it was for a long while.

Until I rode a Triumph TT600.

It wasn't my dream bike, but I realised I could go faster on it than on the Daytona. So I bought a good one (after my rebuilt one dropped a valve).

Then after a while I noticed I didn't want to ride it. I realised that was because it didn't excite me. It didn't inspire me.

Then I rode the Buell.

This does excite me. It does inspire me. It doesn't go as fast as the TT600, and it doesn't do high speed as easily. On the TT, 150 feels almost the same as 100. On the Buell, 90 feels like warp power! I argued that any 600cc inline four sportsbike is pretty much going to feel the same as another. I argued that it felt more fun to ride the Buell, than it does say a Thundercat.

Sure, the Thundercat will get you from A to B quickly, but would you have more fun on the Buell?
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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.

[Wave2k]

When buying a bike i consider these things

Does it look good ?

Does it handle well ?

Is it Fast ?

in reality a 250 would probably be fast enough, but for me i like the rush of a fast bike, i also like a nice looking bike, the feeling you get from riding.
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[Rookie]

Whilst I did take part in this banter, given my riding experience I don't feel qualified to make a proper decision.

What I will say is that I find the Cat (and going by MarJays logic, any other IL4) exhilarating enough to be a very good bike, in the general scope of things. I also feel that specifically, the Cat has enough low-down pull and a smooth enough power delivery that it carries many qualities of a V twin.

It is an interesting debate though; if, as Marj says, something like the Buell feels faster at lower speeds and is more 'fun' to get to these speeds because of the required effort, it's got to be a good choice, purely in the interest of your licence. Now I've gotten used to the speed of the Cat, I find cruising at 60 effortlessly easy, which is perhaps what the Buell does so well - managing to make anything exciting.

[MarJay]

The trouble I had with my 600cc bike was that I felt like I had to do over 100mph on the motorway (for example) to even feel like I was making progress. The bike's natural cruising speed was over the limit.

The buell likes 80mph, which is much more license friendly. But, to be honest, it isn't a motorway bike!
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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.

[Wave2k]

so when is my go mark .
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[Rookie]

[craigs23]

I like a balance. It has to feel fast, has to go fast, but also be capable and comfortable at legal speeds. It needs to look good, handle well and be somewhat rare. It needs to be reliable and well put together. It needs a hint of character as well, I don't like bikes that feel disposable.

I'm now getting used to what my bike can do (with my inadequate limbs attempting to control it anyway). Offer a test ride to a willing pillion and they're amazed at how quick it feels (even mates who've been riding for a similar amount of time I have). No throttle to the pin trickery, I didn't even break the ton - low down grunt has become very welcome, as has a low(er) rev ceiling.

[colin1]

i prefer bikes that feel fast which is why i kept my rs125 but I also like bikes which can be riden in a lazy style with no stress. I can get a similar effect on the tt600 by just riding everywhere in first but then if i want to cruise in a lazy way, i just put it in top gear and glide around.

I dont ride the tt600 any faster than I ride my rs125, but that may change.

I do accelerate faster on the tt600 than i do on the rs125, tho, even if i dont go much faster.

The thrill of quick handling and high revving is more fun for me than pure gliding around tho. I found a vfr750 too smooth I felt insulated from the road rather than connected to it. That would be good for stress free riding on long distances and it was easier to ride fast than the tt600 as it had plenty of mid range grunt. (Im talking me fast not real fast).

I did like the vfr750 but i needed something with a bit of rs125 to it.

I had thought about getting a 250 2 stroke instead of a 600 which would have been ideal for my little 1 hour blasts around back roads, but the 600 gave me the option of glidey cruising too.

I could mess around with the tt600 by dropping the yoke down the forks to make it turn quicker for my country blasts, and put it back up for longer distance, higher speed cruising.

I doubt I will do it though.

Another idea was connected with something G said to suzuki. He suggested having two back wheels. One with a hard touring compound for distance stuff and commuting, and the other with a soft grippy compound for weekends. If you are doing that, you might aswell have different back sprockets. Small one on the grippy tyre for acceleration and big one on the touring tyre for fuel economy and low rev cruising.

I doubt I will do that either.

I quite like the idea of downgearing the tt600 so much that 1st gear feels like first on a yzf450, so that the max speed isnt much more than 100mph, as i dont go that fast.

I doubt I will do that either.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Bendy]

Exciting is relative. Exciting changes from day to day, or even minute to minute. Same goes for fun, soul, character, feel...

People like what they like, for their own reasons. One person's 'soulless' is another person's 'characterful'. Bikes are all just a collection of metal and plastic at the end of the day, any emotional experience you attach to them is generated by your own mind.

[EDBANGER]

I own a Thundercat and have ridden a Buell. I bought the cat coz I wanted something fast and fun but also something that I could stick the missus on the back of without her comnplaining too much about comfort. The Buell was great fun, nice and loud, easy to throw around & really tourqey, but there was no way you could take a pillion on one. Both are exciting bikes for different reasons. I'd ride either. God I love bikes. Not sure I had a point
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[colin1]

[dodsi]

me and my group of mates are allways swapping bikes about. amonst each other.

Now If I ride ricks (black knight) Blackbird (big bruiser hyper bike) its VERY powerfull, smooth refined and did I mention powerfull so is exciting in that respect and also you have to make it handle, its not as light as my ZX6R or as confidence inspiring but certainly a good handling bike if you make it handle.

Jimmy's (extreme3d) SV650 (nifty little Twin) on the other end of the scale, if all you want is straight line acceleration you may aswell not bother putting the key in it as an SV650 will never set the world alight in a straight line. However its a lovely bike to ride, flickable smooth and is quite quick, easy to overtake on. Then you get to the twisties and the bike makes sense so nice to ride flicking it from corner to corner.

Now my dads fazer (de-tuned 600 IL4) is a nice bike to cruise around on, hastle free plenty of power for the overtakes, good handling doesnt scream at you to go as fast as possible around each bend but is smooth, predictable and safe feeling yet a nice bike to ride.

My ZX6R (600 IL4 sports) straight line power aplenty if thats your thing so great on the sweeping A roads, Nice in the twisties effortlessly flicks from corner to corner (not as "easy" as the SV650 but not far from) Certainly very good suspension, better than the SV which can feel a bit soft on the front end. Confidence inspiring handling allowing you to ride spirited but be nowhere near the bikes limitations as its so capable yet has the laid back side of the fazer where you can bimble along taking in the world or be screaming down the A/B roads at silly MPH.

All the bikes excite me here in very differant ways depending on mood/time of day.

The ZX6R seems a comprimise between a lot of things which is why I am a fan of the J model (this is the second I have owned).

It really is opinion and personal preferance, i cant say my ZX6R is more exciting than an SV650 with 30hp less because its not all about out and out power as that would make the blackbird win hands down.

[killa]

For me my NC30 has it all, an absolutely gorgeous bike in my eyes with the ability to turn heads, get you to work and make you feel safe.
The machine does over 120mph, it sounds gorgeous with a large can and holds the road.

I’ve ridden a Gixxer 750, I didn’t like the build and the colour scheme wasn’t me at all which to me are factors I take seriously, as said above, someone will like its style. I must admit though when someone yesterday mentioned the R6 felt like a mass produced toy it made me think that maybe you can pick up a lot of ideas from other people reviews.
If I had the money, I’d be riding a Ducati, which brings in another aspect of this debate which is, more money means a more exotic bike, I’m sure if some of you could afford the maintenance you’d be riding something like a 999 or a MV for example.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[MarJay]

[spinglass]

All I now is that if a bike is fast then it certainly looks fast and feels fast.
Looks are subjective but fast isn’t.

[craigs23]

Some good points there Killa, agree with you on the mass-produced front, however

[killa]

Sorry I forgot about that machine, possibly because it's too perfect.
Of course I would own that bike, i am pretty obsessed with the NC30, lol.

Someone told me the Gixxer was all that, I rode it and instantly thought, wow that’s quick. It didn’t turn me on though, it could never feel like my bike.
I like flat nosed bikes for one, bulky bikes, no flashy colours and heavy deep sound, most of the time.
The R1’s, the new Ninja etc are pretty but that’s not what I’m after.
My ultimate bike would probably be a matt black RC30 or 45 with a few red stickers to say its Honda.

For me, experiences and meetings with other riders that ride many bikes have put me off, sometimes I don’t like the riders, ha, which then puts me off the bike.
Every Ducati rider has seemed to look down on me and my little Honda,.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends on the mood I am in. To be honest top speed is pretty irrelevant, and it is unlikely many people have really hit the top speed of a bike over 250cc on the road (95% of it maybe, but the last bit will require such tucking in they would probably hit something first).

I like to have an interesting power delivery, and 2 strokes provide that. Even better would be an older non power valve 2 stroke which (when in a suitable state of tune) tend to have the power come in with a bang.

Opposite end is something like Charlottes Triumph Thunderbird. That has smooth power the whole way through and loads of torque. Can't say I like the power delivery.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Hotdog]

I test rode all the Buells - then bought an inline four.

Not because the inline four was 'better' but because the Buells are too expensive for what you actually get.

For one thing they overheated on the test ride on a cool day in April !!

When I got off, my honest thoughts were, not bad, could be really good if they put a motorbike engine in it.

The engine and gearbox in the Buell is just too nasty for day to day use.

Number of cylinders aside, no modern bike should have an engine and gearbox that unpleasant.

I also bought a CCM R30, every bit as good as the Buell and with a decent engine - and a lot cheaper.

Hotdog.
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He's a gentleman, a scholar, he's an-acrobat, he's the one and only truly original.......
Hotdog....(Defender of the weak, the poor and the innocent)
He's The Ace - He's Amazing...He's the Strongest... He's The Quickest.... He's The Best!

[Hotdog]

[killa]

What is, my Honda?

It's a small, light, easy to ride bike, i see your point there.

But you are wrong
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Hotdog]

[McGee]

[Hotdog]

[colin1]

ok hotdog, but instead of focussing on the negative, how about telling us what bikes you like and why
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colin1 is officially faster than god