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Why is Your Bike Perfect for You or Not

VicTim

VicTim

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2010
Location
Alameda
Moto(s)
2023 Indian Pursuit
2024 Indian Sport Chief
Name
Tim
Here's your chance. Everybody here seems to love recommending their bike whenever asked for recommendations whether it fits the description or not. Tell us why you have the perfect bike for your needs or if not what would make it so.
 
My bike is not perfect, nor am I one to recommend it at every turn. Suspension is mediocre, engine is under powered and it's overall pretty boring.

I like it for it being utilitarian and a good all around bike. Solid 7s across the board.

I came across some videos of my street triple and my heart weeped a bit. Another imperfect bike.
 
RightCoastBias said:
My bike is not perfect, nor am I one to recommend it at every turn. Suspension is mediocre, engine is under powered and it's overall pretty boring.

I like it for it being utilitarian and a good all around bike. Solid 7s across the board.

I came across some videos of my street triple and my heart weeped a bit. Another imperfect bike.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the f800gs?
 
It is not.

Top speed is inadequate.
And.....

The rear brake is weak.

And....

It is not aero enough

And....

Still love it.
 
None of my bikes are perfect. :cry I can't even identify one that would be. :cry :cry
 
As my tastes are changing, and have accepted my style of riding, my bike is not perfect. Am strongly considering selling it to by something that I think would be.

Have a sport bike now, and want to get something more along the lines of a standard.
 
No one bike is "perfect" so if you plan on owning one, it will be a compromise that satisfies most but likely not all, of your needs/wants/desires.

Individual results may vary... :ride
 
redtail said:
No one bike is "perfect" so if you plan on owning one, it will be a compromise that satisfies most but likely not all, of your needs/wants/desires.

Individual results may vary... :ride
Click to expand...

...and, if you own say 2 or more, chances are good at some point
on any given ride, you'll wish you were on "the other one." :laughing

WWWobble
 
I'm not going to claim "perfect" either, but the two bikes that I currently have meet my needs very well.

The Honda XR650L is great for the shorter rides of 100-200 miles that don't include freeway. I love to explore new roads in the Sierras including a lot of dirt roads. I can truly go anywhere I want to on it and enjoy the ride. I ended up doing about 15 miles of freeway a few days ago because the sun was in my eyes and I didn't want to have to deal with twisty roads coming back home, but it kept up with freeway traffic no problem.

The KTM 990 Adventure can go nearly everywhere I would take the XR, but it's more work and less fun when the dirt gets tight and/or rough due to the extra 100 pounds and reduced suspension travel (only 8"). But it can do 100 miles of non-stop freeway no problem and works better for longer distances up to 500-600 miles in a day.

Both bikes are fun on twisty roads and can achieve decent lean angles without worrying about traction. The KTM has more power than I need and great brakes. The XR has fairly weak brakes and probably less than 40 hp. So I have to plan ahead to pass slower cars and spend more time with the throttle wide open. I'm not tempted to try to get more power out of it, though.

I've gone back and forth from dual sports to pure street to pure dirt, to pure street again and back to dual sports one more time. Those are the kind of motorcycles that I enjoy riding the most right now and I'm not currently tempted to get some other street-only bike.
 
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Mine is so versatile I struggle with making the decision to get another bike. If I had a sportbike it would be easy to think I need something with better ergos. If I had a pure touring bike it would be easy to think I need something sportier.

It's not "great" at either, but it's pretty darn good at both. I can slab it for 200-300 miles in a day, and I can beat the hell out of it on Stage, Tunitas, 84, 35, etc..

Someone recently said to me it's the Swiss Army Knife of bikes. They weren't far from the truth.

Edit: Also really cheap to buy, cheap to run (65 mpg), and reliable.
 
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For me, right now, my bike is almost perfect for me . It is the right size, weight, it goes where I need it to go, and it is solid a a rock. The only complaint that I have after 22K miles on it, is that it is a bit under-powered for freeway and long distance rides. Would I recommend it it to everyone that I meet? I would not, because it fits *my* needs, and it probably would not be the right ride for someone else.

My two cents, fwiw...
 
Mine is perfect because whenever i get off it i am suddenly extremely happy and content with life.
 
Only have had the current ride for 2 days & 110 miles. It is a lot more perfect than the last one.
Smoother, quieter, more comfortable, quicker, and sexier. And the GF likes it better too. :teeth
 
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