Choosing a bike: Heart, Head, or Wallet?

[bpreynolds]

Another thread which I am participating in made me think of this, but I believe we need a whole heart versus head thread to hash this out a bit and maybe just make silly conversation on an ugly Autumn day. 

It’s common to hear folks say always go with your heart in terms of choosing a motorcycle.  I hear it so much it's almost cliche.  And there's a lot of truth in it per se.  But then how does that explain the Vstrom? 

Me, I agree with this statement when considering two or more bikes that are comparable; however, I actually don’t agree that one should go with your heart all the time when choosing a bike.  In fact, I would say trading in my beloved V7 Stone for the lusty and gorgeous Griso was a really super bad heart decision on my part.  There have been other examples as well in my bike history.  And there have been examples where I didn’t go with my heart and was later glad I didn’t.  And then too, my garage generally turns over once every year and a half so maybe my heart is just too big?  But anyhow, that’s a different thread.   

So yes, yes I’m sure a mere “within reason” addendum would capture most of what folks mean when they say always buy with your heart.  And as stated previously, it would definitely hold a great deal of truth.  But.  When choosing between two or more motorcycles, I never let the heart be the sole and maybe not even the driving force.  In fact, I find that if I find a good enough mechanical, functional, or financial reason for one bike over another that my “heart” will sometimes move with that head decision.  Maybe I’m splitting hairs here on a discussion that is too ridiculous to even have.  But hey, my coffee is warm and it’s nasty outside so someone here entertain my ridiculous question.  When buying a bike, what has been your experience with regard to this?   

[normzone]

I don't feel it's a head, heart OR wallet decistion - it's more like a priority stack.

Your garage turns over every couple of years? Log me in as envious. I get a vehicle and drive it until the wheels fall off, based on income. So wallet is at the top of that decision tree.

Only then can head and heart be applied. And in that zone, there is a lot of overlap.

[et18]

For me, buying my MG was all heart, the first time I saw a Cali 1400 Tour I knew I had to have one.  Italian motorcycles are more dangerous than shotguns (apologies to Godfather superfans).

I bought a prior bike with my head:  A BMW R1200CLC.  I liked everything about it except the look from the front.  It was really comfortable, handled better than it should and was a great cold weather bike.  The problem was I never loved it like I do my oilhead RS and my Cali.  You can always get more of anything except time, why spend time with a machine you don't love?

[oldbike54]

 

 Personally , I let my coccyx decide , since it isn't doing anything important .

 Dusty

[RinkRat II]

 Well sir, since you asked, this by far is a vicious cycle for me. (pun intended).  I would like to say it's my head making the best decision however my wallet still overrides most of the time. My heart still wants a special bike or two and if my wallet has been replenished towards that goal my head must now rule the decision process regarding condition and logistics.  So in the final analysis, My heart gets first input, My wallet dictates to my head yea or nay. My $.02
        Paul B

[roadscum]

If it doesn't make me smile when I ride it I won't buy it. For me it about the pleasure of the heart, not the $$, not the head. I own a couple of big $$ bikes, and bike with lot's of technology, they all make me smile, so does my V7 III.

Paul

[PJPR01]

How often do you go to the garage to look at your bike after you first bought it?  If several times on the first few nights after buying it...your heart rules the day.

It has to draw you in with its looks, after all there has to be some sort of aesthetic appeal...who wants to ride an ugly bike after all?

If it rides and fits you and you look back at the bike after parking it...you've got a winner.

BP...it sounds like you have a bad (relatively speaking) case of Moto ADD - sort of like a friend of mine who is constantly buying a new tennis racket every few months - he now has about 20 of them...in search of that elusive combination of power/control/looks...and never quite finding it, but hoping that in the "next" racket he'll have found the elusive elixir he has been searching for. 

Maybe it's the buying and selling of the motorcycles that gives you more pleasure than the riding, in which case...keep going!   (Pure speculation on my part here!  :) )

[Kev m]

I've bought bikes on all counts:

Heart - many of them including my first RK - usually good decisions.

Head - R1100, it was "superior" to my RK in all ways on paper, except the most important - it didn't speak to my heart.

Wallet - Breva 1100, it was a screaming deal - it wasn't right for me. I'm many ways it was just like the R1100 (albeit with more character).


But I think more often than not it's a combination of all 3 that gets me.

Like I really tend to only look at the bikes that speak to me at some level (heart). But I then pair those down and only look seriously at the ones that are practical to me (head). 

I look at bikes that have or can have bags, a windshield, comfortable riding position, and easy maintenance (no or simple valve adjustment, belt or shaft, etc.).

And if after all of that, if I can find one that's a deal which already met the first two requirements then I'm all over it.

And really, that's probably how I bought the Jackal and it is definitely how I bought the latest RK.

So there you go it's an order of priorities:

1. Heart
2. Head
3. Wallet

[alanp]

Another thread which I am participating in made me think of this, but I believe we need a whole heart versus head thread to hash this out a bit and maybe just make silly conversation on an ugly Autumn day. 

It�s common to hear folks say always go with your heart in terms of choosing a motorcycle.  I hear it so much it's almost cliche.  And there's a lot of truth in it per se.  But then how does that explain the Vstrom? 

Me, I agree with this statement when considering two or more bikes that are comparable; however, I actually don�t agree that one should go with your heart all the time when choosing a bike.  In fact, I would say trading in my beloved V7 Stone for the lusty and gorgeous Griso was a really super bad heart decision on my part.  There have been other examples as well in my bike history.  And there have been examples where I didn�t go with my heart and was later glad I didn�t.  And then too, my garage generally turns over once every year and a half so maybe my heart is just too big?  But anyhow, that�s a different thread.   

So yes, yes I�m sure a mere �within reason� addendum would capture most of what folks mean when they say always buy with your heart.  And as stated previously, it would definitely hold a great deal of truth.  But.  When choosing between two or more motorcycles, I never let the heart be the sole and maybe not even the driving force.  In fact, I find that if I find a good enough mechanical, functional, or financial reason for one bike over another that my �heart� will sometimes move with that head decision.  Maybe I�m splitting hairs here on a discussion that is too ridiculous to even have.  But hey, my coffee is warm and it�s nasty outside so someone here entertain my ridiculous question.  When buying a bike, what has been your experience with regard to this?

Well put, and I agree with you completely.  There is a place for head, heart, and wallet in a bike decision, but the relative weight given to those factors is a function of where YOU are with respect to them.  For example, if you just won the lottery, then wallet plays a pretty small role.  If you already have a bike that completely speaks to your heart in the garage, then maybe a second bike should be more of a head decision.  Etc. 
When comparing 2 otherwise "equal" bikes, then heart should probably be the decider. 

By the way, I had a vstrom650 and it is probably my favorite bike of all time.  Don't need to go into why its gone, but despite its complete lack of character and butt ugliness, it holds a place in my heart because it worked flawlessly, and did everything you could reasonably ask it to do without complaint or drama.  That is "head" stuff, but it can turn into "heart" stuff as it endears itself to you with its reliability and functionality. 

[Triple Jim]

First motorcycle: my 1972 Kawasaki H2, because it was the fastest production motorcycle on the road at the time.  I was 20.

Second motorcycle:  1989 Mille GT about four years ago because I wanted to try something different, and since I was a kid, I've thought Guzzis were cool, and this one was a classic looking "standard".  This one has taught me that longer trips are fun, and that scary power isn't necessary.

Third motorcycle: 1978 Yamaha DT100 because it was free and made a good candidate for rebuilding into a small road racer specifically for the Dragon.  It's the most fun motorcycle I've ever ridden on that road.

Fourth motorcycle: 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250 so my daughter would have something to ride after she got her motorcycle endorsement.  I chose that bike for its reasonable power and  excellent handling, and relatively small size and light weight, as well as its low cost.  I ride it more than she does because good handling light bikes are a ton of fun in the twisties.

The next motorcycle I buy, probably in the next year or so, will be chosen purely for features I like, such as light weight, decent power, great handling, and good fuel economy.  One candidate is the under 400 lb. Yamaha FZ-07.  It's relatively ugly from my point of view, but I tend not to notice the looks of a motorcycle when I'm riding it, and this one will be purchased purely for riding.  I guess in my old age I'm getting to the point that looks are irrelevant.

[bpreynolds]

 

 Personally , I let my coccyx decide , since it isn't doing anything important .

 Dusty

I like this response, Dusty.    But let me say they are always warning you to not let it make decisions for you.  So when yours was doing important things, did it make good decisions then?  Until I met my wife, mine sure didn't!   

BP...it sounds like you have a bad (relatively speaking) case of Moto ADD - sort of like a friend of mine who is constantly buying a new tennis racket every few months - he now has about 20 of them...in search of that elusive combination of power/control/looks...and never quite finding it, but hoping that in the "next" racket he'll have found the elusive elixir he has been searching for. 

Maybe it's the buying and selling of the motorcycles that gives you more pleasure than the riding, in which case...keep going!   (Pure speculation on my part here!  :) )

You know, when I was a younger fellow I definitely did enjoy buying and especially selling bikes.  I loved seeing happy folks drive off on a bike that for whatever reason was leaving my garage.  Nowadays I hate it.  I hate putting up with the kickers.  I love shopping bikes but I generally do not like the process yin/yang of buying one.  And I do think some of what you describe earlier would likely fit me, sadly, as well.  But I do love, love, love to ride bikes and am often intoxicated by any new shining object in my garage or just beyond my finger and wallet tips.

Like I really tend to only look at the bikes that speak to me at some level (heart). But I then pair those down and only look seriously at the ones that are practical to me.

More often than not, I would say this describes my shopping experience.  Something will catch my eye and then I go looking at practicalities like price and so forth.  But it usually, usually I say, has to do something visually for me before it even becomes a contender, this regardless of price and/or capability.

[Sheepdog]

My problem is that I never met a bike that I didn't like...at least at some level. However, I always appreciate the best ones "in the moment." It is the reason that myVintage remains in my shop despite the newer road-burner just beside it. I've dug that bike since the first time I sat on one (see the moment in the photo below) and hope that I will always have it.

[drw916]

I just wish there was a lease program for bikes.  I buy one because it speaks to me in some way or another.  Then a year later another bike does the same.  I am a medium quantity bike owner having had 30 over the years.  All of them were the apple of my eye at some point, but not one would I buy again when there are so many new experiences out there.  I have started letting my wallet speak more as I realize I don't need a $20,000 bike to be happy.  But then again, the Motus is looking real nice.  I have learned I don't need as much horsepower as before.  But the KTM Super Duke GT is looking real nice.  Or maybe a Royal Enfield to putt around on.

[drums4money]

. . .But I think more often than not it's a combination.

So there you go it's a order of priorities:

1. Heart
2. Head
3. Wallet

This discussion almost reminds me of the product design rule.  Good/Cheap/Fast - you can only ever have two.  That said, my bike acquisitions have been mostly "Heart" driven.  Luckily there's been a good enough deal that the wallet made out OK.

[Testarossa]

I like that Venn diagram. In the bicycle business they say you can have it cheap, light or strong, but not all three.

For many years, when I had a kid and a mortgage, it was the wallet, and I kept the 850T running with Guzzi Content. There were times when it was my sole transport. Despite that it made me happy -- like a lovely low-maintenance girlfriend.

When i could afford to have more bikes, I rebuilt the Triumph -- pure heart. I bought the F650 because I need something stone reliable for when the T and the Triumph were inop -- pure head. The Mille is a nice blend. And keeping the T for another rebuild is heart, heart, heart.