Author Topic: Need psychoanalysis regarding motorbikes (Read 8736 times)

Desolation Angel · « **on:** May 11, 2006, 11:28:37 AM »

Sort of on a serious note, sort of...

My first two bikes, both bought new, were a '73 GT250 and a '78 GS750E. I had an '80 Lowrider for a year, but I'm still trying to forget that experience. Anyway, after that nothing for 23 years. Didn't go look at bikes, nor look at bike mags the whole time. Every bike I ever saw or that friends owned were GSes, CBs, KZs, etc. Therefore, now that I've renewed my interest, all those bikes I missed out on are fascinating to me! To me, they ARE new bikes, you see? Those six cylinder KZ1300s, the CBXs, the GS1150s, Eliminators, Katanas, etc., really call to me. I never got to participate in the game when they were new and I wish I had.

My poor brain is sort working it like a great TV series that you come across late in the third season.....you really dig the show NOW, but you want to go back and watch season 1, 2, and 3, up until you get caught up. And then continue WITH it! I have trouble getting past all those things I missed out on 20 years ago. And find myself dwelling on them, and I probably ought to let them stay in the past.

What do you think?

Should I be satisfied just looking at the things I never got to own, but leave them in the past? And the '90s! Geez, I don't know anything about the '90s model bikes other than the fetal position sportbike look took over along with shameless Harley cloning. I'm still behind in what I know and think about motorbikes.

Leave the past where it is and concentrate on what is NOW? I don't have the problem with cars, cause I got what I wanted (or could afford) all along.

Help me sort this out before I blow a chunk of change!

Red01 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:09:54 PM »

Don't give up the B12 for one of those oldies, but if you really want one as a second bike, then that would be OK... but you ought to test ride a couple of the ones that you really like from that era and then see if you still feel the same about wanting one.

I was bikeless through the better part of the 80's, but still bought an occasional bike mag and dreamed of being able to afford one. Came real close to buying a couple of times, but every time I thought I could swing it, something would come up that demanded the funds - which happens when you have 4 kids. When I did finally get bikes again, I started out with old cheap ones. Once the last kid flew the coop, I could finally afford something nice. I could have afforded one sooner, but my Jeep addiction was doing a good job of lightening my wallet.

Sven · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:22:37 PM »

My thoughts:

If you can afford a 2nd "antique" bike as a toy, go ahead and indulge yourself. Everyone needs a hobby.

But you can't recapture...and drink...all that water that went under the bridge. That's about as realistic as saying "Gee, I wish I had taken up the trombone when I was a kid, so I'm gonna go buy all those old trombones and learn to play." Instead, you go out and get one of TODAY'S trombones (or bikes) that reflects the lineage that you find intreguing, and move forward with living life.

I *wish* had learned to ride a motorcycle may years earlier than I did. I always *assumed* it would happen. Now, I'm just happy I finally *made* it happen.

PaulVS · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:24:10 PM »

Many times the best bike you every owned is the one you just traded in.

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:39:46 PM »

Speed update me on what I need to know about '90s model bikes. I think I've pretty much got the changes of the '80s. What improvements/advancements took them above and beyond the '80s?

I will say that when I jumped back into the pool and I found all the fairings ugly as sin! I used to refer to the one on the Bandit as the Alien Queen Head! Oddly, over the last couple of years, my distaste for the look of the plastics on bikes has pretty much faded away. I suppose I've adapted, since that is all I'm seeing. Now I even actually like the looks of, say, the GSX-R 1000, although to ride it would cripple me! I ain't built right.

Quote from: "Red01"

Don't give up the B12 for one of those oldies, but if you really want one as a second bike, then that would be OK... but you ought to test ride a couple of the ones that you really like from that era and then see if you still feel the same about wanting one.

You're hinting at something I've been warned about before...that the handling of the 20 year old bikes is atrocious. I don't recall my GS handling bad, but that was before I had ridden a Bandit, which I think handles great!

Quote from: "Sven"

But you can't recapture...and drink...all that water that went under the bridge. That's about as realistic as saying "Gee, I wish I had taken up the trombone when I was a kid, so I'm gonna go buy all those old trombones and learn to play." Instead, you go out and get one of TODAY'S trombones (or bikes) that reflects the lineage that you find intreguing, and move forward with living life.

That is really well said, thank you! Wow, that says it all, can't drink all that water that's passed by. Like trying to recapture your youth...it's gone. No, I don't want a bunch of old bikes around. I can't ride 'em all anyway. One keeps me fairly occupied.

A used V-Strom is sounding like a wiser decision for a second bike for me if I look at things your way, Sven.

Red01 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:54:01 PM »

For the Suzuki side of the equation, go here:

http://www.suzukicycles.org/All-Suzuki/all_suzuki_models.html

Click on the bar on the left that says "All Suzuki 1990-2003" (which actually goes to 2005 right now) and start boning up.

Suspension gets better and started loosing that worthless anti-dive junk on the forks. Tubeless radials become more common, spoke wheels less common. Drum brakes (finally) disappearing from the rear, front brakes getting bigger rotors & dual action, multi-piston calipers. Upside-down forks make their debut in sport & dirt bikes.

jbrough7 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:22:10 PM »

Desolation: I hate to admit it but we're a lot alike. I suppose a lot of guys and gals get into bikes early and then stop and then jump back in again as time and circumstances and money allow.

I had a 1972 Kawasaki Triple that was great. I crashed that and never looked at another bike or a mag till 2005! Then I bought a 1988 Suzuki Savage cuz it was a deal. Boy! That little cruiser was a reliable bike but it handled like sh!t! I remember the '72 was a much better handling bike.

So then in one afternoon I jump ahead how many years to a 2006 Bandit - I find the handling and grip just incredible. It has made me a way better rider overnight.

Love the bandit but would still like to get something from the past that I 'missed out' on - love vfr 750's from the late '80's!

So, is there something wrong with that? I don't think so - as long as you can afford it.

But maybe-just maybe- you will be disappointed as the bike you swoon after will inevitably disappoint you.

Kinda like taking Angelina Jolie to bed and she can't stop farting.

So, in a rounabout way, I'm sorta saying - try it out!!

Have fun, dude!

Jim

Red01 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:35:30 PM »

Quote from: "jbrough7"

I had a 1972 Kawasaki Triple that was great. I crashed that and never looked at another bike or a mag till 2005! Then I bought a 1988 Suzuki Savage cuz it was a deal. Boy! That little cruiser was a reliable bike but it handled like sh!t! I remember the '72 was a much better handling bike.

Boy, that Savage must REALLY be a poor handler!
(Or you remember the Kawi as being better than it really was.)
Kawi triples were (in)famous for bad handling when they were new... they didn't garner comments like "frame is hinged in the middle" or "flexi-flyer" from the moto-press of the day for nothin' ya know. Great in a straight line, wonderful wheelie machines, but cornering was not their forte.

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:39:56 PM »

Quote from: "jbrough7"

But maybe-just maybe- you will be disappointed as the bike you swoon after will inevitably disappoint you.

See, now that would suck royally for one of my dreambikes to turn out to be a disappointment!

Man, this may be like that cheerleader I had...looked mighty tasty but turned out to be a b!tch.

dsartwell1 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2006, 07:01:41 PM »

I feel the same as you D A. I have a real bad jones for a 90-93 VFR. I really like the look of that as well as the older VFR's. I also really like the Yamaha Radian and the Nighthawks with the fairing around the headlight. Can't afford another toy right now but some day I am going to own one of those!

I share your pain.

jbrough7 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2006, 07:47:37 PM »

Wasn't there something freakish reliability wise with the radian?

jim

B6mick · « **Reply #11 on:** May 12, 2006, 02:34:01 AM »

Quote from: "Red01"

Boy, that Savage must REALLY be a poor handler!
(Or you remember the Kawi as being better than it really was.)
Kawi triples were (in)famous for bad handling when they were new... they didn't garner comments like "frame is hinged in the middle" or "flexi-flyer" from the moto-press of the day for nothin' ya know. Great in a straight line, wonderful wheelie machines, but cornering was not their forte.

We called them widow makers.
Shocking things, a mate had one, stripped it and took it to a race engineer, braced the shyte out of it, made it worse.

Magic in a straight line, 142 mph if memory serves me and get there pretty smartly. No not exactly stock.

Atomicmoondog · « **Reply #12 on:** May 12, 2006, 09:15:07 AM »

DA,
My $0.02 on this.
Be very careful, as memories are often grander than reality.

I had a high-school love for 4 years. She was my first for many experiences (if you know what I mean).
After high-school we broke up, drifted apart, and I married someone else for eleven years. The whole time I was married, I had fantasies of my original love.
The eleven year marriage ended and I immediately contacted the high-school love. Sure enough, she was available. The telephone call was passionate, and she was so happy to hear from me that she started to cry tears of joy. Life was perfect and we agreed to meet.
She said that she wanted to spend the evening catching up at her place. She would cook a nice steak and the wine would be chilled. I arrived at her home with roses, at 8:00PM sharp.

She opened the door. What a shocker!!!

She weighed about 400 lbs., Lived with seven dogs that pooped and peed all over her house, and she attacked me and started jamming her tongue down my throat. She told me that she had genital herpes, but she was cetain that they were not active, so we should do it now.

Well, my freind, eleven years of fanatsy went out the window immediatly.
I lied about a sudden personal emergency that must be attended to immediately, and although I didn't intend to, I laid rubber exiting her street.

There were many lessons learned that day.

I think that you would be better off figuring out some way to test some of these dream bikes that you desire before you lay down the cash. Dreams and fantasies are often much better than reality.
The newer bikes made today are truely improved, in many ways from those bikes you recall. Technology has improved. Be as objective as possible with yourself. Stay planted in reality when making your decisions.

Again, my $0.02.

-Rick

PitterB4 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 12, 2006, 10:40:21 AM »

^^^

Good stuff, Rick!

OTOH, my high school sweetie looks as good today as she did 20 years ago.

How'd we get here?

duane · « **Reply #14 on:** May 13, 2006, 01:53:47 AM »

Quote from: "Atomicmoondog"

She weighed about 400 lbs.

So Rick,
In your story, the girlfriend, she's the 80's bike? If she's the bike then what are the dogs in the house? Maybe herpes is analogous to bad carburetor? It's such a hard story to understand.