What ticks your boxes bike wise?

[Bri w]

Handling first, then acceleration (not speed), the ability to stop. Then looks, cost to buy and insure.

And size isn't everything Something too big is a real pain on the twisties

[Jayneflakes]

Chose my bike because it was beautiful. I loved the fairing, the silver colour and the pointy frame. Would I trade her in? No, she is my baby. I sit on that saddle and she feels like she was made just for me, a perfect fit and the purr from the engine just hits that magic spot.

I tried a Yamaha XJ600, it felt comfortable, but it lacked the feel of the SV.

I like something old and abused that I can fix up. Don't really care if its fashionable (in fact I prefer it not to be so I can get it cheaper). I like it when people think it's going to be slow and rubbish...then it isn't.

Next performance and handling - and for that it has to be an IL4 for me personally.

Now, that would depend on which bike I'm making tick boxes for. If I won the lottery I'd have at least 5 or 6 bikes in the garage, each would meet it's own set of tick boxes.

[wattyfred89]

may sound strange but i dont think it matters for me, because what ever it is its mine nobody elses but my bike and thats coooool!

looks and price for me. IMO a race rep isn't for the road. I prefer the naked look. The SV was purchased due to it being cheap reliable and a good work horse. My mate has a Guintoli Rep GSX-R and says he can't get it on the stop. Way to powerful. Looks the dogs though. Even on track its hard to put power down. (178bhp at rear i think)

Ideal bike if I could only have one

• loads of grunt
• not to be ugly, otherwise I don't care too much
• all day comfort
• handles along back roads and keeps up with the sports bikes
• decent suspension
• geared sensibly so you can use that grunt at road legal speeds
• can take luggage
• has a bit of character and individuality about it
• Reasonable pillion

Fazer 1000 is a likely candidate, but I'd have to do some modding to make it tick the individuality box. I'm not sure it would ever tick the character box, but you can't always find it all. Maybe an older K1200S instead.

Was much the same when I bought the SV except

• More than enough grunt
• Cheap insurance, my bike no claims had expired, so it had to be mid capacity, so had to be a twin to get aforementioned grunt
• seat looked comfy (even though it isn't)

When I bought the XT600

• Capable of motorway cruising and going off road when it gets there
• All day comfort
• Dead simple bulletproof air cooled engine that can be fixed by any mechanic anywhere
• Parts available anywhere
• Can take luggage
• Cheap enough to drop or crash without crying afterwards

OK, I'd have 11 bikes in the garage if I did win the lottery, though any of these could change after a test ride

Sports Tourer: BMW K1300S
Sports Bike 1: BMW HP2 Sport
Sports Bike 2/Track Day bike 1: Triumph Daytona 675
Sports Bike 3/Track Day bike 2: Ducati 1198S
Adventure bike: Probably keep the XT600 actually, not many bikes tick those boxes
Dedicated off road bike: Don't know, probably a KTM 450 or 530 EXC, or a Honda CRF450
Dual Purpose: New Ducati Multistrada 1200
Winter Hack and Commuter: Fazer 1000
Cruiser 1: Electraglide
Cruiser 2: Fat Bob
Muscle Bike: MV Brutale

[fizzwheel]

It depends, it can be many or anything.

I'd always wanted a GSXR, and to be honest I know I know, they are all generic, they all look the same, its a Universal Japanese motorcycle. But theres something about it I cant put my finger on. I like the look of it. I like the way it rides. I like the way it makes me feel when I ride it.

I like the look of mine, I like the way that there arent that many of my particular model in the country, I know in the grand scheme of things its not, but to me it is a little different and a little bit special... ( Liz would say not to different to its owner at this point )

I know what I want next, but when I get to the point of actually seriously thinking about changing, well TBH I wander if I would regret it...

I bought my 675 cos I wanted a triple and cos I love the looks. Being British was a significant plus.

And riding it, it gets even better, it's simply a joy, I forget about work and stress and stuff and it takes me outside myself, I do things on it that most people would simply never guess

Anything that is reliable, handy round a track straight out of the box, comfy enough for 3000 miles round the Alps in just over a week, does reasonable mpg and doesn't look ghey, if only it could go off road too.

So I bought this:



Sorry, i mean this: