Why am I so fickle about bikes?!

[inditx]

Rant ahead! 

I do not know what it is that makes me want to change bikes so quickly. Kev can chime in here too cause he seems afflicted as does Kurt and others. (not calling you all out just crying for understanding) 

My insurance man calls me a connoisseur, of course he would cause he writes all my coverage!

Seriously, I am not quick to change other things and I do realize there is no perfect bikes or combination thereof however.........

I say all that to say, I’m likely to pick up a new V7 850 from our pal Enzo. Thanks to Greer, Beowolf and others who “tempted” me. (just kidding of course) 

Tell me I’m not alone and speak to me please!

indtx
p.s. There are much worse addictions......

[Guzzi Gal]

Goldilocks syndrome? Maybe you haven't found the right bike. I'm happy we could afford what we have, and they continue to serve us well. If money weren't an issue, I might play the field a bit, too.

[Caffeineo]

You are not alone. I have this.......problem. It starts by seeing a new bike and reading about how others think it is great. This leads to me discovering some "reason" that the new bike would better suit the kind of riding I want to do. I got a 2019 Bobber Sport a little over a year ago as most of my rides were just day rides around home. The Bobber is great fun and I really like it. But...now I have convinced myself that I would do some dirt road riding and the V85 is what I need. So now I am looking at getting a new V85. Talking to a dealer I joked that when I find I am not doing as much dirt road riding as I thought I would get a V100.  So I have already planted the seed for replacing the new bike I do not yet have with another new bike. :O I rationalize this by the logic that it is easier and cheaper to swap bikes than wives. LOL

[usedtobefast]

Sounds expensive if you guys buy new, ride a short while, and sell.

I mostly buy used bikes in pretty decent shape ... ride for ~1 year and move on to next bike.  On some I break even, some I make a few hundred, others I lose a few hundred, but pretty small amounts. 

For me, I've found the mechanical bits of the "new to me" bike are as interesting as the ride.  Meaning, I've already ridden all over the roads where I live (like maybe a 500 mile distance from home).   So to take a bike I've owned for ~10 years and ride the same roads again, still kind of fun ... but picking up a new to me bike and seeing how it works, see what I could tweak a bit, how this different bike reacts, etc, makes the rides more interesting to me.

And every once in a while it fun to go back to an older bike ... a friend has suggested we both get Honda 500 Silverwings (not the Silverwing scooters), sort them out a bit, and go on a ~10 day trip on them.  Sounds like fun. 

[Guzzistajohn]

Maybe you should start fishing???

[jackthebiker]

I have purchased 44 motorcycles in the last 54 years from 11 different manufactures.  When asked why I don't keep a bike long I reply, "because it costs to much to change wives"

[Beowulf]

I too have a problem with motorcycles. The bike I rode the most was my V7 ii. I loved every minute and succumbed to the siren song of low mileage roadster which I ended up regretting as it was no where near as fun in the curves. Ive found the V7 just does it for me after riding Honda, Kawasaki, Harley, Yamaha, Indian, Royal Enfield(love it).

So off I traded for a new V7 850 which I love but desperately want to see back from being repaired due the faulty ecu. Luck of the draw and now going on my second month of it being in Austin and four months almost I think of the initial problem being fixed. Parts are majorly backed up. This weather is increasing my frustration added on with I really need the bike as it’s my daily.

I think overall the V7 850 is great and that I really did just hit the unlikely one that had a problem. The ride and feel imo is amazing. I still love it.

[80CX100]

     Like most passionate pursuits, emotions rule, rather than logic.

     I used to search for and buy guitars on a regular basis. Luckily, I stumbled across a very special, sentimental guitar, that means a lot to me, sounds great, and after investing in an expensive world class set up to address inherent issues, plays well. Depleting the herd is a work in progress, but I'm very content with that one guitar now.

     For some riders, any bike is a bike, like any car is a car, or any truck a truck. It's just a tool, an inanimate object to perform a function; but for a lot of riders, I would guesstimate most guzzzi riders, it's different and a much more owner involved relationship.

      I've had bikes that logically were great motorcycles, but they made my blood run cold, once they let me down, or proved impossible to work on to perform simple maintenance.

     There are so many different types and aspects of motorcycles, it's extremely difficult to get one to cover all the bases, provide the different adrenaline & dopamine highs and still ring all of the emotional bells.

     No matter how large the herd is, or the frequency of rotation, the perfect motorcycle is an elusive object,

     

   

     

     

[Huzo]

It’s a very interesting question.
I was shocking for all of my biking life, I’ve had about 40 bikes in as many years.
But something has changed since I bought my last two bikes, one in 2007 and one in 2019 and will never sell either.
 One thing I can say that separates my last two from the others, is that I have modified them a bit, this I think makes them feel more like “ mine”.
I believe it can be possible to own a bike and still not feel like it’s “yours”.
There’s another thing too, If I totally destroyed my Norge, I would get another identical one same colour. Also I think if I be really honest and I’m trying to be, we like our bikes to reflect our identity and I am enough of an attention seeker to enjoy it when someone sees my Norge which is nothing special at all and says...
“Oh, those red Norges are nice”
and his mate says....
“Oh yeah, that one’s Peter Hughes’...”
“How do you know..?”
“Ahh, ya’ can just tell...”

Now the above is fairly self illuminating and Dr Phil would say it reflects an aspect of my personality that is not particularly attractive, but my two bikes are undeniably “mine” and more significantly, would still be “mine” if I sold them to someone else, they would always be the new owner of “Huzo’s old Norge” or, “that modified V85”.
Try applying that test...

[inditx]

Goldilocks syndrome? Maybe you haven't found the right bike. I'm happy we could afford what we have, and they continue to serve us well. If money weren't an issue, I might play the field a bit, too.

Too funny, I’ve called the 850 the goldiblocks of small block Guzzi’s! Maybe it’s now in the right frame for me?....
inditx

[inditx]

You are not alone. I have this.......problem. It starts by seeing a new bike and reading about how others think it is great. This leads to me discovering some "reason" that the new bike would better suit the kind of riding I want to do. I got a 2019 Bobber Sport a little over a year ago as most of my rides were just day rides around home. The Bobber is great fun and I really like it. But...now I have convinced myself that I would do some dirt road riding and the V85 is what I need. So now I am looking at getting a new V85. Talking to a dealer I joked that when I find I am not doing as much dirt road riding as I thought I would get a V100.  So I have already planted the seed for replacing the new bike I do not yet have with another new bike. :O I rationalize this by the logic that it is easier and cheaper to swap bikes than wives. LOL

I have done this as well especially with the V100 yet to come.
Thanks!
inditx

[inditx]

Sounds expensive if you guys buy new, ride a short while, and sell.

I mostly buy used bikes in pretty decent shape ... ride for ~1 year and move on to next bike.  On some I break even, some I make a few hundred, others I lose a few hundred, but pretty small amounts. 

For me, I've found the mechanical bits of the "new to me" bike are as interesting as the ride.  Meaning, I've already ridden all over the roads where I live (like maybe a 500 mile distance from home).   So to take a bike I've owned for ~10 years and ride the same roads again, still kind of fun ... but picking up a new to me bike and seeing how it works, see what I could tweak a bit, how this different bike reacts, etc, makes the rides more interesting to me.


And every once in a while it fun to go back to an older bike ... a friend has suggested we both get Honda 500 Silverwings (not the Silverwing scooters), sort them out a bit, and go on a ~10 day trip on them.  Sounds like fun.

Buying new all the time would be too expensive for me as well.
I think this is like the 4th brand new bike I’ve purchased in 50 years and at least as many bikes.
I understand the making it interesting while riding the same basic roads.
Let us know how the Hondas work out
inditx

[inditx]

Maybe you should start fishing???

Hah, no patience for fishing John!

[inditx]

I have purchased 44 motorcycles in the last 54 years from 11 different manufactures.  When asked why I don't keep a bike long I reply, "because it costs to much to change wives"

Hah, too funny Jackthebiker.
inidtx aka Jack

[inditx]

I've bought almost a dozen bikes since the big thing we are not allowed to mention started a in 2020. Why? Boredom, good buyers market, good sellers market, I like to work on them, something to do, better than watching TV, gets me out of the house, fun buying and selling and on and on.

Agreed!

[inditx]

I too have a problem with motorcycles. The bike I rode the most was my V7 ii. I loved every minute and succumbed to the siren song of low mileage roadster which I ended up regretting as it was no where near as fun in the curves. Ive found the V7 just does it for me after riding Honda, Kawasaki, Harley, Yamaha, Indian, Royal Enfield(love it).

So off I traded for a new V7 850 which I love but desperately want to see back from being repaired due the faulty ecu. Luck of the draw and now going on my second month of it being in Austin and four months almost I think of the initial problem being fixed. Parts are majorly backed up. This weather is increasing my frustration added on with I really need the bike as it’s my daily.

I think overall the V7 850 is great and that I really did just hit the unlikely one that had a problem. The ride and feel imo is amazing. I still love it.

I must admit that I’ve been following your saga. I hope that they get it right and it returns many a happy miles to ya. I think you did just get a bad one and hats off to your patience with it and the dealers.
inditx

[Huzo]

I've had at least 5 or 6 I'll never sell bikes that have gotten sold. It started once I implemented the 1000 mile a year minimum mileage. If a bike doesn't get ridden 1000 miles a year it gets sold. Its made the what were once hard decisions very easy.

Hmmm.
My Norge has averaged 13,300 km a year since new and the V85 is cooking along at 10,400 km a year.
At that rate I should die before they do...(hope so).

[inditx]

     Like most passionate pursuits, emotions rule, rather than logic.

     I used tp search for and buy guitars on a regular basis. Luckily, I stumbled across a very special, sentimental guitar, that means a lot to me, sounds great, and after investing in an expensive world class set up to address inherent issues, plays well. Depleting the herd is a work in progress, but I'm very content with that one guitar now.

     For some riders, any bike is a bike, like any car is a car, or any truck a truck. It's just a tool, an inanimate object to perform a function; but for a lot of riders, I would guesstimate most guzzzi riders, it's different and a much more owner involved relationship.

      I've had bikes that logically were great motorcycles, but they made my blood run cold, once they let me down, or proved impossible to work on to perform simple maintenance.

     There are so many different types and aspects of motorcycles, it's extremely difficult to get one to cover all the bases, provide the different adrenal & dopamine highs and still ring all of the emotional bells.

     No matter how large the herd is, or the frequency of rotation, the perfect motorcycle is an elusive object,

     

   
Well said!
Thanks,
inditx
     

     

[inditx]

It’s a very interesting question.
I was shocking for all of my biking life, I’ve had about 40 bikes in as many years.
But something has changed since I bought my last two bikes, one in 2007 and one in 2019 and will never sell either.
 One thing I can say that separates my last two from the others, is that I have modified them a bit, this I think makes them feel more like “ mine”.
I believe it can be possible to own a bike and still not feel like it’s “yours”.
There’s another thing too, If I totally destroyed my Norge, I would get another identical one same colour. Also I think if I be really honest and I’m trying to be, we like our bikes to reflect our identity and I am enough of an attention seeker to enjoy it when someone sees my Norge which is nothing special at all and says...
“Oh, those red Norges are nice”
and his mate says....
“Oh yeah, that one’s Peter Hughes’...”
“How do you know..?”
“Ahh, ya’ can just tell...”

Now the above is fairly self illuminating and Dr Phil would say it reflects an aspect of my personality that is not particularly attractive, but my two bikes are undeniably “mine” and more significantly, would still be “mine” if I sold them to someone else, they would always be the new owner of “Huzo’s old Norge” or, “that modified V85”.
Try applying that test...

Absolutely agree Huzo!
That said, once I get the mods and such right I start seeing the bike in it’s totality, warts and all. I really do know that I can make one or 2 mine and be happy, at least that’s what I keep telling myself and the Mrs. 
inditx

[LongRanger]

I don’t think you’re fickle — I think you get easily bored and allow yourself to be convinced that a different bike will reignite the passion. I think at some point you’ll come to realize that you’ll never be perfectly content with the latest and greatest and will instead find ways to appreciate and enjoy what you already have, for better or for worse. It’s mindfulness.

I’ve been down the same rabbit hole and have since learned that just because I can doesn’t mean I should.

[Huzo]

I don’t think you’re fickle — I think you get easily bored with what you have and think a different bike may reignite some passion. I think at some point you come to realize that you’ll never be perfectly content with the latest and greatest and instead find ways to appreciate and enjoy what you already have, for better or for worse.

Yep.
Get on it, go somewhere and create some memories and mutual history...
Here’s the thing...
I can park my Norge next to a group of Ducati Multistradas, BMW 1000 RR dual purpose things, or other fancy stuff and she looks “fat” in all the wrong places.
Then when I stare at it on the shore of Lake Como in the twilight after a warm day, enjoying a wine among the crackling banter of congenial Italians and the smell of a thousand pizzas......
She just looks and feels........right.

Now how can that possibly be..? 

[Bulldog9]

I started adding multiple bikes to help alleviate the itch. My problem is I find acquiring easier than parting these days.

I bought my first 'real' street bike a 79 XS11 in 1984, loved it and still have it. Swapped out about 20 bikes due to the itch between then and in 2015 when I rode my first Guzzi, a Griso. I've had 6 Guzzi's total, the Griso, a Norge, Stornello, MGX-21, Convert and 1200 Sport.  Sold the Norge after 2 years and the MGX in 9 months. Still loving the Griso even though it is rough on my body, the 1200 Sport, Stornello and Convert. I'm scratching the itch by doing a cosmetic refresh on the Convert. But I am very happy with what I have and though I 'look' few things temp me. Right now that 75th Anniversary Carabinieri V85 is calling my name...... The V100 is a future option as well, but we will see.

Right now, there is nothing outside Guzzi that interests me with the 'right' formula for a motorcycle. Air Cooled, Shaft Drive, standard riding position.......

[nick949]

We're all different.  I think I might start to know my 72 Eldorado when I've put another 100,000 on it - but probably not. But I'm willing to give it a chance to convince me it should stay. New bikes hold no interest for me.





Nick

[JJ]

Having owned and ridden 34 bikes in 55 years...it call comes down to wanting "a new toy" occasionally...and that's OK!

 

[Scout63]

I love both the buying and the selling, and even more making them better in the process.  The ones that are hard to sell are the full rebuilds. I’m stuck in the 70s and early 80’s but really enjoy seeing the new bikes as they come out.

[Shorty]

I just did a count. ( I keep records) From the first 2 stroke Suzuki dual range enduro that I blew up a block from the dealers to my current 2021 RE Meteor, 62 bikes. A lot of them were bought merely to sell and make a dollar on. 3 brand new ones: A Sportster, A BMW K75, and the Meteor. I kept my nose to the market, and it's a hobby to try and make a deal, enjoy the differences between the different models, then sell . I try to keep my expenditures limited to insurance, expendible parts, and any farkles I buy. It has been fun, but I'm not finding the energy to keep it going.  My last 3 bikes I bought, rode them between one and 5 years, then sold them for a "gain" of a few hundred bucks each. Yes, I have lost money on a few of them,  but overall, I did not take food out of my family's  mouths to ride. These days if I see a deal, I pass it on to WG. Then, everyone can pick it apart and say what a POS it is...   

[krglorioso]

I have purchased 44 motorcycles in the last 54 years from 11 different manufactures.  When asked why I don't keep a bike long I reply, "because it costs to much to change wives"

"Nice girls are a dime a dozen but a good motorcycle is a thing of beauty and a joy forever", is what you tell women when they get "uppity".  My wife never gets uppity; she just suggests I get any motorcycle I want and that is one reason why we've been inseparable for 50 years (come June 10) and have had 87 motorcycles since 1953.  I guess I can't blame my wife for my addiction, but she is a contributing factor (thank heavens!).

Ralph

[JohninPA]

I confess - I have the 'sickness' also. In my 45 or so years of riding, 66 bikes have passed through my hands. I tend to gravitate towards European twins, having owned 21 Guzzis, 13 BMWs, and 13 Triumphs. A smattering of Ducatis, Laverdas, Royal Enfields, make up the rest. I admit to having owned 6 Harleys as well, mostly influenced by riding buddies who also owned Harleys at the time.

And now, this is calling to me, but it would mean parting with one or both of my Guzzis, so I'm trying to not heed the siren call.

[Beowulf]

I confess - I have the 'sickness' also. In my 45 or so years of riding, 66 bikes have passed through my hands. I tend to gravitate towards European twins, having owned 21 Guzzis, 13 BMWs, and 13 Triumphs. A smattering of Ducatis, Laverdas, Royal Enfields, make up the rest. I admit to having owned 6 Harleys as well, mostly influenced by riding buddies who also owned Harleys at the time.

And now, this is calling to me, but it would mean parting with one or both of my Guzzis, so I'm trying to not heed the siren call.

.   

I’m glad that I’m not the only one with a real bend towards European manufacturers( I know I’m among similar company). I’m somewhat young so I have a bit to learn but that bmw has admittedly been on my radar. Beautiful bike. If you do succumb please post pics and a ride report. You know that way I can blame it on you……

[SIR REAL ED]

Rant ahead! 

I do not know what it is that makes me want to change bikes so quickly. Kev can chime in here too cause he seems afflicted as does Kurt and others. (not calling you all out just crying for understanding) 

My insurance man calls me a connoisseur, of course he would cause he writes all my coverage!

Seriously, I am not quick to change other things and I do realize there is no perfect bikes or combination thereof however.........

I say all that to say, I’m likely to pick up a new V7 850 from our pal Enzo. Thanks to Greer, Beowolf and others who “tempted” me. (just kidding of course) 

Tell me I’m not alone and speak to me please!

indtx
p.s. There are much worse addictions......

When a lot of women want to save money, they change shoes rather than motorcycles.....