Why do you love your bike?

Hey all, I was taking a pretty long ride in the country yesterday and thinking of what made this motorcycle so different than the others i've had (bike in sig). I think I decided its mostly the visceral nature of engines and almost unnecesary heavy-dutiness of the frame and other components. Along with the sound, the smell of the exhaust, and the great mystery of the bikes history, it seems like you get a feeling on a different level than just riding a motorcycle, almost meditation like.

Anyways, after that ride, I was curious if others notice and take joy in the same thing. Also, what is your favorite thing about your daily driver, or why do you choose to ride that bike every day. I apologize if this all sounds a bit loony, it is early yet lol. Thanks in advance for any replies!

 

Nice question.

I like bikes in general because 5 mins into any ride, my head clears and concentrates on nothing but the ride. Any problems I have, any trouble I am in just dissapear for that ride, and I kinda go into a meditative state.
Helps me find answers.

That and I love speed!


Since I started riding, I've had over 20 bikes and I can tell you things I love about each of them, but I still haven't come accorss my perfect bike.

My XJ, I love because it handles well, is very easy to ride and has a decent turn of power. can really be thrown around
But to be honest of all the bikes I have owned so far I really miss my FZR750. Proper power and suited me perfectly. ironically I sold it to by the XJ from my Dad. (XJ was in better mechanical condition)

 

I forget about my problems............ lol

 

Every morning I wake up, get a cup of joe, smoke a cig, pull the bike out of the shed and ride for an hour or 2 before work.
No matter what my mood is, no matter how the day is or what stresses or worries I have, everything changes as soon as I kick it into gear.
Why I love it? It's fun. It handles so nice and it's something not for the timid. It takes a certain skill but you always learn something.
I love working on it and improving something or changing something. I just got OEM side covers for it (screw the home-made ones) and they are in the shop being painted to go with the tank.
It's a 550 but will smash any harley out there off the line.
I can't really describe why I love it so much but out of everything in the world, as long as I have the bike, I could lose everything else.
Nobody has one like it. Most of us here can say that. You'll never find another like the one you're riding.

 

In truth I guess I don't. But only because I had
made a promise to myself never to own a small bike again.
I broke that promise because I wanted to get back in the
saddle and this bike only had 23+k.
I'm very proud of the work I've done between turning
wrenches to taking the autobody class ( auto airbrushing this
fall :twisted: )to learn prof. painting tech.
It's a love/hate thing I guess.

 

It's very easy to work on "IF" something does go wrong. It has comfort AND power. Just twist the throttle and hold on. It has more than enough power to ride 2-up and you NEVER have to drop a gear to pass. But the best part of all is.... IT'S PAID FOR!!!

 

For me it's not so much the bike as it is the ride. It is definitely a mind clearing experience for me. I enjoy the smell of lilacs and honeysuckle when riding on backwoods roads, the smell of water when going by a pond or over a river, salt air when riding near the beach, the cool feeling when entering a tree shaded road from the open fields, the oneness you feel with the outdoors, and of course the feeling of freedom.

And other stuff, too.

 

Im with gitbox on this one.

But as far as street bikes go, I have ridden R1's and Ninja's and a couple Harleys and a Honda Shadow Sabre 1100.. They were all great, but I love my XJ because its mine, not one of my friends or family members so I dont have to ask to ride it. lol

 

Nice and interesting comments, thanks guys!

 

Interesting topic. Had been talking with my buddy about bikes because he just bought a super motard - that's what he calls it. I just bought the savage for my wife and I drive the 750 seca. I keep looking for a replacement for my bike. The seca is not "pretty" and the speedo and odometer don't work. However, it does what I want it to do. I is responsive for city driving and I can take it on the highway without getting blown off. A biggie, it cost me little to nothing and its a nice ride. I test drove some bikes for sale, they just don't compare and they cost money. I guess I will keep the seca for now. It's strong and running well, but if I had to stick $ into it, I would need to consider checking out the options. Hopefully, not for a while.

 

CHARACTER

My XJ has character.

I've been riding on and off(kids tend to make for more off than on) for close to 35 years. Everything from trail bikes to big twin cruisers. My Seca is possibly the most original(even when it was bone stock) bike that I have owned. Unless you are willing to spend a fortune on a custom built V-twin they all look the same. The same goes for the crotch rocket sporty set. They're a kick in the hind quartes to ride but very common and vanilla these days.

The Seca 750 is a nice mix of power, comfort and eclectic looks.

 

I totally forgot to mention the issue of money. The coolest thing about these bikes is how much bike you get for the money! the only reasons I can think of are #1: due to their age, country of origin etc. these bikes are considerably underrated by your average motorcycle buyer and #2: most people either don't have the time these days or dislike tinkering with an old bike to keep it running good. Not to judge people who want a new bike of course, just to each his own

 

-like luvmy40 said, the xj's are the "rocky road" in a world of vanillas, peopple put tags on stupid harley riders with loud pipes, or stupid kids on crotch rockets
people dont know what to think when they see the 4 exposed pipes and dual square headlights coming at them.

These xj's will put out as much lovin as you put into them, like you have to work hard for your reward, new bikes will just put out with oil changes, and like kid's when they're given everything, you become a brat and are afraid to turn a wrench and dont want to.

they're a great handling (with some work) and smooth running bike that keeps everyone satisfied.

 

I just love the way it sounds and feels on the street. It's my first and only bike, so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I am still very pleased. I also feel very blessed that it has been a reliable bike with few issues, and has been easy on the upkeep.

 

Every time I get on it, I am 22 again - just like when I first bought it. 15 years, two mortgages, two kids and a wife ago. It is my great looking, cool sounding, time machine.

 

Well only had it on the road for about 35km after I bought it and then began the tear down...but I love that its completely different from my Honda Shadow ACE....both in appearance and attitude. I anticipate it will give me the sport bike (albeit *older* sport bike) feel without dropping thousands...not to mention that with 73hp, it will go like stink! Per the previous post...hordes of bike for the money (paid $500 for mine) and will render huge enjoyment. Just got the tank and side covers back from painters and its looking sswweeeeeeet! Just need some new intake manifold bolts to arrive from Chacal and will get to mount the carbs back and fire it up. In addition, have really enjoyed working on it...it wasn't a wreck in dire need of repair, but the pleasure its brought me repairing/refitting/rebuilding/cleaning etc has been amazing...doing it all myself, manual in hand and the help of the ppl here. Cannot wait to ride.....

 

Twisting road
Bug strikes
Splat!

Exhaust note cracks
I twist back
This summer night

Lightning!
Pavement cry's
This bike is

Sick this journey
Over painted asphalt fields

How about a Haiku

Four pipes no plastic
Is awesome and beautiful
The Yamaha

These bikes do give back what you put into them and then some they are great.

 

Reliability. It's getting on for winter now, and I only ride on the weekends. The temperature is getting down to 0 degrees at nights, so the XJ sits for a week in a deep freeze. Today was a nice day, just a glance at the oil level, and about 1/2 second of cranking, and it fires right up, and runs without stalling. Thanks for all the tips on this site for tuning it to run right.

 

+30 on all of the above.

-Reliable as a stone once properly recommissioned.

-Goes like stink.

-Crisp handling, rock stable at speed.

-"Four pipes, no plastic" it LOOKS like a motorcycle should, like motorcycles all used to...

-Comfortable. My '83 with the recontoured and "up-foamed" seat is the most comfortable bike I've ever owned.

-Great fuel economy in the bargain, even though not really a consideration.

-Well engineered, made to be disassembled and repaired, reasonably easy to work on.

-Popular in their day, so good healthy aftermarket (thanks, chacal) and lots of bits on eBay.

-It'll run with the modern plastic rockets, and it only cost a quarter of what a new bike would have.

-You can't buy a "standard" motorcyle anymore. At least not here.

 

This is an easy one. It's the closest thing to flying.

 

because my bike is cheaper than a shrink lol just kidding, I love my bike because it gets me into the outdoors, I love it because of all the broken knuckles (and now a toe), that I've gotten learning how to work on it, I love it because its a "Frankenbike" made from a half dozen different bikes put together, I love the size, the gas mileage, and the freedom it brings.

 

Haiku's are easy
but sometimes don't make sense
refridgerator

Ha Ha just jokes I had to throw that in there!!!

the bike doesn't matter to me so much as the ride, but if I had to say I love something about my bike I guess it's that it's mine!!! I mean that it's payed for so all I have to do is take care of it and enjoy it.

Shaun

 

I really like what seaguy said. That says it in a nutshell.

I'll remember that the next time someone asks me why I like to ride.