Evolution of you as a biker
So, you've past that 45 plus mark in your life at last. Kids have grown up and moved out, decent job, good income, outgoings have reduced and you're in a position to start thinking about re-living the glory days of the 80's and early 90's (maybe earlier)
No, I'm not talking about heading in to town on a Friday and Saturday night, all scrubbed up and smelling of Brut 33. I'm talking about the days of 2 strokes, charging up and down the road without a care, open faced helmet, no speed cameras and basically just having a laugh with your mates. Sports bikes were what we aimed for when we grew up, CBR600s, GSXR 750 or maybe even the R6 or R1.
But you met a girl, got married, kids came along and some of us put our sensible heads on, hung the lid up and put the boots at the back of the wardrobe. But now you find yourself in the position were you can think about getting back on 2 wheels and get out of the house and from under the feet of your beloved. Well hopefully this blog might be helpful to you when considering what bike to look for.
First thing to remember though is that we're not as young as we once were ! So those aches and pains may get in the way of those dreams of being all crouched up on those gorgeous Italian sports bikes. I can also guarantee that that old jacket will be a bit snug as well.
This blog isn't here to have a laugh or poke fun at us getting a bit older though, you'd actually be really surprised how many people walk through the showroom door as a B2B as we call them (Back to Biking) and ask us for advice on what they should look at to get back on 2 wheels. Well let's see if we can help in some way.
The first question we ask is .... What style of bike are you after ? The list seems endless. Naked, Cruiser, Sports, Sports Tourer, Adventure, Classic .... Manual or DCT.... Luggage or no luggage .... Then there's the question of New or Used .... So confusing
Take a step back, let's not run before we can walk. The first hurdle that needs to be got over is what kind of journeys do you intend doing on the bike eg sunny Sunday afternoon ride out for a couple of hours or a 2 week tour of Portugal. Let's face it, why spend big money on a fully loaded BMW R1200RT if you're only planning on the odd ride out for 25 miles on country lanes, but then again a Royal Enfield Classic 350 wouldn't be ideal to do the Scottish 500 on.
So after considering what style of bike would suit your intended future journeys back on 2 wheels it's time to consider which brand you look at and more importantly, how much you want to spend. The thing to remember in 2024 is that no one really builds a bad bike. We hear the comments all the time about Indian brands, it's built in China etc etc.....
Take a moment here to consider what it was like 20 years ago in car world. Back in 2004 would you have bought a Hyundai ? and no one had really heard of Kia to be honest, but look at them now. Well the same is happening in bike world, read the independent reviews about the likes of Royal Enfield, Voge, Benelli and Sym. Ok the build quality of the Enfield Interceptor for example may not be as good as the Triumph Bonneville T100 but when you take in to account they're about £3000 cheaper the Interceptor shouldn't be ignored, plus it's won buckets of industry awards and gets a 3 year warranty.
Still confused ? ....... Yes I hear you say. Good, because it means you're thinking about what you've read.
In all honesty there is no one who can help you choose which bike suits your needs when it comes to wanting to get back on 2 wheels. The answer as to what suits you lands on one persons shoulders, and that's you. Don't be a sheep and follow everyone else, just because you know 10 people who love their Ducsati Multistradas it doesn't mean it's the bike for you. The best advice is find a dealer who will listen to you and what your thoughts are about getting back on a bike. They should, as we do, let you sit on as many bikes as you want to see what fits you and what you're comfortable on. Going in to a bike dealership is like walking in to a shoe shop. They all look good on the shelf, but then you put it on your foot and that when you know what's comfortable, and if it's not comfortable you won't wear it. Same with a bike. If it doesn't fit you comfortably you won't use it, and then that becomes an expensive ornament.
So, back to the advice that we give to the B2B customers that come in to the showroom. Take your time, ask questions, sit on as many bikes as you can and don't be bullied in to buying something you don't fancy. You have to choose something that you want to ride, that puts a smile on your face and when the weekend weather forecast says dry and fine you can't wait for the weekend to come around.
Enjoy your bike and ride safely.
