Becoming a "Brand Snob"

chadhargis · 01-31-2013, 03:07 PM

I've been riding for a relatively short time compared to some of you, but long enough to have owned a number of motorcycles.

One thing I have never been is a brand snob. I refuse to ride a motorcycle simply because of the brand painted on the tank.

But what I discovered is that I have identified with one particular brand more than others. It hit me as I updated my personal website recently. "Dang, I've owned more Kawasaki motorcycles than anything else".

Kawasaki (4)
2012 Kawasaki Ninja 1000
2009 Kawasaki Versys
2002 Kawasaki KLR 650
2001 Kawasaki ZR-7S

BMW (3)
2002 BMW 1150GS
2002 BMW 1150RT
1974 BMW R60/6

Buell (2)
2009 Buell 1125CR
2006 Buell XB12X Ulysses

Suzuki (1)
2001 Suzuki GSX-R600

Honda (1)
2006 Honda GL1800 Goldwing

Yamaha (1)
2004 Yamaha FJR 1300 ABS

Ducati (1)
1995 Ducati Monster 900

When I stopped to think about why I selected the motorcycles I've owned, some were out of pure lust for a particular bike and some were choices made by logic. Interestingly, none of the four Kawasaki products I purchased was out of pure brand lust. They were all a product of, "Hey, this is a damn fine motorcycle for the money". I lost my beloved 1125CR to the great Nashville flood of 2010. If Buell had not been shut down, I'd more than likely still be riding one. I really loved them. They were like a faithful dog wagging it's tail when you get home. Just made you feel good.

The antique BMW was a mistake...I learned that vintage bikes belong in museums and should never be ridden on a public road and you should never race a clapped out Nissan Sentra on an R60...you'll lose.

The other BMW's were great bikes. I pitched the RT 150ft down the Cherohala Skyway and the GS developed a nasty issue of carboning up the heads (even though I rode the snot out of it). I loved the bike though. Just don't race a Dodge Neon, you'll lose.

Best visceral experience...Ducati. Hands down. The sound of that bike alone made my hair stand on end, and it's the only bike that caused a woman to hit on me (and I'm UGLY, so trust me, it was the bike).

The FJR was a fantastic bike, but my riding skill grew past the capability of the bike. I knew this when I was beveling the edges of the mufflers in the turns enough to lever the rear wheel off the ground....on a 600+lb bike.

The Gixxer was a track whore and I seldom rode it on the street.

The Goldwing...oh boy, another mistake. The wife said she'd ride with me if I got one. She went on two rides. Nice bike, but not my cup of tea.

I know I am not the only one who finds themselves in the position of gravitating toward one particular brand of bike for one reason or another? I'm more intrigued with why I ended up that way.

What about you guys? (and yes, this is my "it's too damn cold to ride" thread)

Tork · 01-31-2013, 03:18 PM

79 GS750E
82 GS1100E

02 R1150GS
07 R1200GS

There was a 74 TS250 so I choose Suzuki in the poll.

DAKEZ · 01-31-2013, 03:32 PM

No Harley-Davidson.

DigDig · 01-31-2013, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

No Harley-Davidson.

I think Harley Davidson is spelled "Other" on this forum.

OrangeYZ · 01-31-2013, 03:43 PM

I was a Yamaha guy, until I bought a KTM, a Honda and a Kawasaki. Now I'm a KTM guy.

Begin: YZ125
200XC replaces 125, never ride 125 again
XR600R, which I treat as a street bike
KLR650 to ease the road duty of the 600
Now that the 600 is a dirt bike with plate, it gets abused even more
450EXC replaces XR600, never ride XR again
250XC replaces 200, Brother rode the 200 once since then
Add a Beta Trials bike

Somehow the XR600 is the only one to have been sold though. The YZ, 200 and KLR need to go away. Not sure what to replace the KLR with, maybe a V-Strom, maybe nothing.

Wraith Rider · 01-31-2013, 03:45 PM

Varadero 125
CBF 600
VFR 800 FI
ZZR 1400
VFR 1200 FD

Clearly a Honda fan, because of very good experiences (and very bad with Kawasaki) with build quality, reliability and customer service.

Boon Booni · 01-31-2013, 03:47 PM

Yamaha XS Eleven

Kawasaki KLR 650

Honda Transalp
Honda CB350
Honda CB500
Honda XR80

Suzuki DL650 Vstrom

BMW R90/6

KTM 640 Adventure

There is nothing that Honda Currently makes that I am even remotely interested in, but my favorite sounding bike is a VFR with gear driven cams and a good pipe.

I wouldn't buy a modern BMW. If you gave me one, I'd sell it and buy a Triumph. That said, I would love to get an R100GS.

chadhargis · 01-31-2013, 04:36 PM

Wow, I did leave out HD. I guess I think of them more of a clothing company that makes motorcycles.

If I could edit the poll I'd add it.

JPDenny · 01-31-2013, 04:42 PM

Well, the thread is titled "Snob" so you got to show how cool you are, just like the HD snobs, I have no use for either of you.

It'sNotTheBike · 01-31-2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

No Harley-Davidson.

The OP said snob, not bottom-feeding poser, which other than
a few Hollywood types or the late Malcolm Forbes ( all of whom are outliers
in terms of who the core customers of Harley really are ) are the sort who ride
Harleys.

But this poll is flawed anyway. The absence of bikes like MV Agusta,
Velocette, Norton, Ducati, etc. makes it like a poll which asks which
whether Budweiser or PBR is better. And the answer is that they all
are mediocre but if you want a ride and it's all you can afford
they are just fine because it is the ride that matters, not the bike.

.

blk-betty · 01-31-2013, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by It'sNotTheBike

The OP said snob, not bottom-feeding poser, which other than
a few Hollywood types or the late Malcolm Forbes are the sort
who ride Harleys.

But this poll is flawed anyway. The absence of bikes like MV Agusta,
Velocette, Norton, Ducati, etc. makes it like a poll which asks which
domestic beer you think is best, when the truth is that they are all
horse piss.

.

Speaks volumes.

chadhargis · 01-31-2013, 05:34 PM

Cripes! How could I forget Ducati? Oh man, I suck!

Valimagdon · 01-31-2013, 07:14 PM

Most frequently owned bike brand: Vespa
2005 PX200E,
1987 PX150E,
1981 P125X,
1979 P200E,
1968 Sprint (blue),
1968 Sprint (white),
1963 VBB,

Oh, and my girlfriend has had 2 Stellas.

Other Marques: Aprilia (2), Husqvarna, Honda (3), BMW (2).

Aj Mick · 01-31-2013, 07:39 PM

I have owned five Hondas, a Suzuki and a Yamaha, ail second hand, none costing more than about $US 1,000.

I bought my first motorcycle in 1975, and have continuously owned at least one since then. Obviously. I keep bikes for quite a while; they are cheap transport for me, not an expensive hobby! I started riding as a kid on a Honda farm bike in 1966.

It is not out of brand loyalty that I have owned mainly Hondas. They just fitted my needs and budget, and were available when I was looking for a bike.

preppypyro · 01-31-2013, 07:59 PM

Ive had Yamaha bikes more then anything else, but Im not really brand loyal. I would ride just about any kind of bike, specially if it was the right price!

View Results: What brand of street bike have you owned the most?
Honda	59	20.00%
Kawasaki	22	7.46%
Yamaha	30	10.17%
Suzuki	38	12.88%
BMW	85	28.81%
Buell	2	0.68%
Triumph	17	5.76%
KTM	15	5.08%
Other	27	9.15%
Voters: 295. You may not vote on this poll

01-31-2013, 03:07 PM	#1
chadhargis ^OP Too tall for sportbikes Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Florence, AL Oddometer: 2,043	Becoming a "Brand Snob" I've been riding for a relatively short time compared to some of you, but long enough to have owned a number of motorcycles. One thing I have never been is a brand snob. I refuse to ride a motorcycle simply because of the brand painted on the tank. But what I discovered is that I have identified with one particular brand more than others. It hit me as I updated my personal website recently. "Dang, I've owned more Kawasaki motorcycles than anything else". Kawasaki (4) 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 2009 Kawasaki Versys 2002 Kawasaki KLR 650 2001 Kawasaki ZR-7S BMW (3) 2002 BMW 1150GS 2002 BMW 1150RT 1974 BMW R60/6 Buell (2) 2009 Buell 1125CR 2006 Buell XB12X Ulysses Suzuki (1) 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600 Honda (1) 2006 Honda GL1800 Goldwing Yamaha (1) 2004 Yamaha FJR 1300 ABS Ducati (1) 1995 Ducati Monster 900 When I stopped to think about why I selected the motorcycles I've owned, some were out of pure lust for a particular bike and some were choices made by logic. Interestingly, none of the four Kawasaki products I purchased was out of pure brand lust. They were all a product of, "Hey, this is a damn fine motorcycle for the money". I lost my beloved 1125CR to the great Nashville flood of 2010. If Buell had not been shut down, I'd more than likely still be riding one. I really loved them. They were like a faithful dog wagging it's tail when you get home. Just made you feel good. The antique BMW was a mistake...I learned that vintage bikes belong in museums and should never be ridden on a public road and you should never race a clapped out Nissan Sentra on an R60...you'll lose. The other BMW's were great bikes. I pitched the RT 150ft down the Cherohala Skyway and the GS developed a nasty issue of carboning up the heads (even though I rode the snot out of it). I loved the bike though. Just don't race a Dodge Neon, you'll lose. Best visceral experience...Ducati. Hands down. The sound of that bike alone made my hair stand on end, and it's the only bike that caused a woman to hit on me (and I'm UGLY, so trust me, it was the bike). The FJR was a fantastic bike, but my riding skill grew past the capability of the bike. I knew this when I was beveling the edges of the mufflers in the turns enough to lever the rear wheel off the ground....on a 600+lb bike. The Gixxer was a track whore and I seldom rode it on the street. The Goldwing...oh boy, another mistake. The wife said she'd ride with me if I got one. She went on two rides. Nice bike, but not my cup of tea. I know I am not the only one who finds themselves in the position of gravitating toward one particular brand of bike for one reason or another? I'm more intrigued with why I ended up that way. What about you guys? (and yes, this is my "it's too damn cold to ride" thread)

01-31-2013, 03:32 PM	#3
DAKEZ Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: U-gene, OR. Oddometer: 17,983	Invalid poll. No Harley-Davidson. __________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." — Dr. Seuss “Watch out for everything bigger than you, they have the "right of weight" Bib

01-31-2013, 03:45 PM	#6
Wraith Rider Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2012 Location: Germany Oddometer: 246	Varadero 125 CBF 600 VFR 800 FI ZZR 1400 VFR 1200 FD Clearly a Honda fan, because of very good experiences (and very bad with Kawasaki) with build quality, reliability and customer service. __________________ Into the dark side of our nature to look we all need. The energy, the passion there is. Afraid of that people are. Pieces of us it holds busy denying we are.

01-31-2013, 03:47 PM	#7
Boon Booni Red Clay Halo Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Richmond, Va Oddometer: 11,177	Yamaha XS Eleven Kawasaki KLR 650 Honda Transalp Honda CB350 Honda CB500 Honda XR80 Suzuki DL650 Vstrom BMW R90/6 KTM 640 Adventure There is nothing that Honda Currently makes that I am even remotely interested in, but my favorite sounding bike is a VFR with gear driven cams and a good pipe. I wouldn't buy a modern BMW. If you gave me one, I'd sell it and buy a Triumph. That said, I would love to get an R100GS. __________________ Maybe Old's Cool is a bunch of dirty old men who swear because , let's face it, old bikes run on blasphemy as much as they do gasoline and oil. --Jinx You can be Han Solo, and I can be another Han Solo...

01-31-2013, 03:18 PM	#2
Tork Captain Oblivious Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Duvall, WA. Oddometer: 2,924	79 GS750E 82 GS1100E 02 R1150GS 07 R1200GS There was a 74 TS250 so I choose Suzuki in the poll.

01-31-2013, 03:43 PM	#5
OrangeYZ Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Southern Oregon Oddometer: 341	I was a Yamaha guy, until I bought a KTM, a Honda and a Kawasaki. Now I'm a KTM guy. Begin: YZ125 200XC replaces 125, never ride 125 again XR600R, which I treat as a street bike KLR650 to ease the road duty of the 600 Now that the 600 is a dirt bike with plate, it gets abused even more 450EXC replaces XR600, never ride XR again 250XC replaces 200, Brother rode the 200 once since then Add a Beta Trials bike Somehow the XR600 is the only one to have been sold though. The YZ, 200 and KLR need to go away. Not sure what to replace the KLR with, maybe a V-Strom, maybe nothing.

01-31-2013, 04:36 PM	#8
chadhargis ^OP Too tall for sportbikes Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Florence, AL Oddometer: 2,043	Wow, I did leave out HD. I guess I think of them more of a clothing company that makes motorcycles. If I could edit the poll I'd add it.

01-31-2013, 04:42 PM	#9
JPDenny Adventurer Joined: Sep 2010 Location: Greater Sapulpa Oddometer: 24	Well, the thread is titled "Snob" so you got to show how cool you are, just like the HD snobs, I have no use for either of you.

01-31-2013, 05:34 PM	#12
chadhargis ^OP Too tall for sportbikes Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Florence, AL Oddometer: 2,043	Cripes! How could I forget Ducati? Oh man, I suck!

01-31-2013, 07:14 PM	#13
Valimagdon Scooter Boy Joined: Mar 2011 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Oddometer: 43	Most frequently owned bike brand: Vespa 2005 PX200E, 1987 PX150E, 1981 P125X, 1979 P200E, 1968 Sprint (blue), 1968 Sprint (white), 1963 VBB, Oh, and my girlfriend has had 2 Stellas. Other Marques: Aprilia (2), Husqvarna, Honda (3), BMW (2). __________________ '62 Fuji Rabbit Jr; '05 Vespa PX200E; '12 BMW G650GS Sertao. 30 Days Scooter Gang "Never whistle while you're pissing." --HC

01-31-2013, 07:39 PM	#14
Aj Mick Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2012 Location: Phuket, Thailand Oddometer: 129	I have owned five Hondas, a Suzuki and a Yamaha, ail second hand, none costing more than about $US 1,000. I bought my first motorcycle in 1975, and have continuously owned at least one since then. Obviously. I keep bikes for quite a while; they are cheap transport for me, not an expensive hobby! I started riding as a kid on a Honda farm bike in 1966. It is not out of brand loyalty that I have owned mainly Hondas. They just fitted my needs and budget, and were available when I was looking for a bike. __________________ there are old motorcyclists and bold motorcyclists but you seldom meet an old, bold motorcyclist Aj Mick screwed with this post 02-01-2013 at 12:14 AM

01-31-2013, 07:59 PM	#15
preppypyro Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Canada's Best Kept Secret, Saskatchewan Oddometer: 457	Ive had Yamaha bikes more then anything else, but Im not really brand loyal. I would ride just about any kind of bike, specially if it was the right price!

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