Author Topic: The question: How many motorcycles do you really need? (Read 4332 times)

Tretnine · « **on:** September 05, 2009, 05:42:11 AM »

I was recently reading a Peter Egan article (from leanings, a collection of PE's Cycle World greatest hits) and he said 5 is the magic number. I'm not entirely convinced of the number or his breakdown. What IS the magic number and what's the breakdown? (This question comes on the heels of me selling my first bike, a lovely [read ugly] 1985 nighthawk cb450sc last night and just prior to my leaving to pick up ANOTHER 78 cb550k this morning.)

bucky katt · « **Reply #1 on:** September 05, 2009, 05:50:23 AM »

like Bob Weir said in the Grateful Dead song "i need a miracle" "too much of everything is just enough" one can never have too many motorcycles

Tretnine · « **Reply #2 on:** September 05, 2009, 06:05:41 AM »

Well, I tend to agree, but will you use all the lovely gems once collected? I really only have space (and not even in a garage) for a few. One would definitely be a 550k. Maybe 2. I guess I'd like to have a sport bike, small, for zooming around in town and maybe something big and comfy for long rides. I don't do enough riding to do justice to splitting my time on multiple bikes like that, though. If I had more, some would often be idle, and I would feel like a neglectful parent or something.

verboten1 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 05, 2009, 07:31:31 AM »

I have 3 right now.

the CB, who knows what that will be yet.

The KLR, which is the long distance, off road, and chore bike.

the Virago, which seems to have become my school commuter

Magpie · « **Reply #4 on:** September 05, 2009, 08:17:20 AM »

One more than I currently have.
Cliff.

kghost · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2009, 08:24:06 AM »

After careful research....

Including a trip to Houston to consult with top NASA scientists.

Including complex and expensive computer modeling

Including dizzying computational dynamics....

The number is 3,412.5.

I asked the wizz kids about the .5 and the decimal place...after all how does one have half a motorcycles.

They shrugged and said....get a project or buy a moped

mlinder · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2009, 08:40:45 AM »

All of them.

bender01 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 05, 2009, 09:35:52 AM »

5 could be @ right.
Tourer
Sport bike
Commuter
Dual Sport
Screaming two stroke
OR
cb350f
cb400f
cb500
cb550
cb750.
Thats better!!
Sorry 650 guys.

coldright · « **Reply #8 on:** September 05, 2009, 09:37:47 AM »

Mlinder, how many? I loose count sometimes.

kghost · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2009, 09:52:55 AM »

That looks like my shop...well ok it doesn't....

Mines cleaner and better organized

coldright · « **Reply #10 on:** September 05, 2009, 09:59:06 AM »

Well organized is a matter of opinion. I can always find what I need!

TwoTired · « **Reply #11 on:** September 05, 2009, 10:14:43 AM »

How many needed or wanted?
To the former, clearly the answer is zero. I can't think of anyone that couldn't live without one. Even if that puts them in an unhappy state.

"Wanted" requires a different answer.
I believe the answer to that is related to or a variation of Parkinson's law.
Motorcycles will accumulate until the space to place them is exceeded.

IMO

Steve_K · « **Reply #12 on:** September 05, 2009, 10:30:17 AM »

My problem is I have wandering eye. Almost every bike I have owned I wanted to keep. I came back to CB550s.
I also need a hard core sportbike, too. A cafe racer is good. Stock CB750 is good. Old bikes mean to me that I can have more for the price of one new bike. Older bikes mean that you don't follow the crowd.
Steve_K

bucky katt · « **Reply #13 on:** September 05, 2009, 12:06:13 PM »

42 , you douglas adams fans will know where i'm coming from.

ff154 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 05, 2009, 12:25:24 PM »

I have 4 1/2 right now, and am always looking for another! I have my cb750 chopper, a 78 FLH, a 78 Yamaha GTMX, an 80 Yamaha TT250 (blown motor), and the 1/2 bike is an 80 model Honda NA50! I don't know what the magic number is, but I have fun with all of my bikes, they are just different kinds of fun!

bucky katt · « **Reply #15 on:** September 05, 2009, 12:38:50 PM »

i have 2 right now, my k4 750 and a 72 suzuki titan. the k4 is finally done after a year and a half of rebuilding and the titan is ready to start being rebuilt. the titan will be at least a 2 year project, probably more

Gordon · « **Reply #16 on:** September 05, 2009, 01:54:51 PM »

Need? = Zero

Want? = Three: which is what I currently have and can maintain to my satisfaction at this time in my life with small children to take care of. I had four bikes for a year, and they were too much to keep up with, and took up too much space.

Perhaps later in life with more time, and a larger garage to store projects, that number will increase.

azuredesign · « **Reply #17 on:** September 05, 2009, 03:05:22 PM »

Quote from: Gordon on September 05, 2009, 01:54:51 PM

Need? = Zero

Want? = Three: which is what I currently have and can maintain to my satisfaction at this time in my life with small children to take care of. I had four bikes for a year, and they were too much to keep up with, and took up too much space.

Perhaps later in life with more time, and a larger garage to store projects, that number will increase.

I agree that it's more a question of how many you can take care of. You can have a jillion projects, but keeping them all running well is the trick.

Tretnine · « **Reply #18 on:** September 05, 2009, 05:59:27 PM »

Peter Egan says five. I don't necessarily agree with his breakdown, but dammit I love buying bikes. I think I need a 250 street bike, 550 cafe, 550 massive overbore ready for touring (and as a working sleeper, vroom vroom!) and, well, i don't know, there's plenty of room around here...

CBGBs · « **Reply #19 on:** September 05, 2009, 06:19:33 PM »

I'm happy with 3. But would love to buy another, but then I'd have to sell one to maintain 3, and I couldn't do it.

Tretnine · « **Reply #20 on:** September 05, 2009, 07:38:21 PM »

I just sold my first bike... 1985 nighthawk 450. It's one of those sentimental things, you don't really want to sell it, but I'd rather have a second 550, really. So, 12 hours or so after selling one, another is bought. Now it runs. Kinda feels like christmas, or the birth of a child.

DammitDan · « **Reply #21 on:** September 05, 2009, 07:45:34 PM »

I want a late model Ninja 250, an early model stock CB750, and an early model naked GL1000.

I'm already 33.34% of the way there!

Flying J · « **Reply #22 on:** September 05, 2009, 08:09:49 PM »

i like 3 at this point. its all i can manage. 2 that run but still need tweaking and 1 project. Now when i have 3 running i will likely find #4, which i have already decided is going to be a chopper/bobber. that should give me 2 cafe, 1 stock and 1 chopped. Im good with that.

Frankenkit · « **Reply #23 on:** September 05, 2009, 10:45:28 PM »

I'd say two, but three is the magic number.
One comfortable tourer
one quick little 'round town ride,

...not sure what that third one is but I'm sure it'd have its own appeal.

Tretnine · « **Reply #24 on:** September 06, 2009, 06:52:51 AM »

I feel like I make lists for these things... but the correct answer is always one more.

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Author Topic: The question: How many motorcycles do you really need? (Read 4332 times)