Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge How anal are you?

I had read Adey's post about Holiday / Hire Bike and he responded to a loan offer with "I'd be s*** scared riding another guy's bike!! It's just not right! "
No offense Adey, hope you know I mean anal in a joking way.

So I wondered, "How do you feel about your bike/ riding others?"

I have a basic "It's just a machine." attitude about it. Wouldn't let just anybody ride, but I'd offer it to any of the regulars on here without a thought.

You?

later, Tom.

I let my friends take my Speedy out for a spin because I know their riding abilities. That's what I base it on. I don't know any of the experts on this site personally, but if they have good riding abilities (sure seems like it), I'd let them take mine out.

I'm with you on this one,wouldn't let anybody ride but I swop with my son occasionally,he rides a Honda CB900F and the lads in the club can ride my bike,in fact I quite like them to take it out then they know what a good bike it is

It's a machine and it's insured as long as there reasonable riders go ahead...nothing that cant be fixed as long as no injuries, no harm no foul!

I like to ride every bike i can, and am happy to lend my bike to some one to test ride, so long as they know how to ride. And on the assumption that both parties agree and understand.

Bend it, you mend it.

Another friend of mine has a Dyna Wide Glide. If we are out riding together we often swap bikes. I always enjoy riding that. But im also always happy to get back on Bonnie.

Incidently. I hoping to be baysitting a friend of mines bike for a while. Hes moving back to Brazil for an unknown length of time, and wants someone to look after his Suzuki 1200 Bandit and ride it around from time to time while he's away. I only felt it right to volunteer.

no one will ride my bike ! coz I don't like ride others bike. demo bike from shop ok even smashed a little some harleys with my friend it was in poland

I'm with Adey (rental agency would be different). I was in Korea in '02 and real nice Harley guy (fellow contractor) I knew for about 15 minutes offered me his spare Dyna-ma-bob for a run up to the DMZ. I was amazed at his generosity, but declined. Nationals there drive like crackheads looking for a fix and I wouldn't be able to sleep for a week if I received so much as a rock-chip while it was on my watch.

Post deleted by Grump

Hey Tom
Like Tom Dziak (77T140V) says

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I'm with Adey (rental agency would be different)

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Though even if it were a hire bike, I'd still treat it like it was my own.
When I said hire bikes are different, that's what I meant.
They're just 'pool' bikes - anyone can use 'em.

I doubt I'd be comfortable for anyone to ride my bikes either!

I have managed to put a bmw gs in gear while it was on the center stand!!!

Was climbing off the thing and stood on the gear lever by mistake....I didn't think you could get into first gear without the clutch or throttle but it does go when a fair weight is standing on the lever.

Lucky I caught the thing......It'll be a long way off before I ride someone else's bike now...just can't afford to mend it

Considering that all bikes, even those that seem to be identical, have a noticably different feel, swapping bikes is a sure recipe for disaster. Along with a number of other statistics, a lot of crashes occure when riding a strange bike.
The OL and I will sometimes swap bikes because we both have a number of miles on all the ones we have.
It is a necessity for shop mechanics to take test rides.
There is an occasional dire emergency like the need to get a friends bike home after he has been incapacitated (or incarcerated).
Otherwise, it's just not done. It is a touchy thing just to allow someone else to sit on your bike or ask permission to sit on someones.
Demo bikes, renta-bikes, shop loaners, etc. are different, but still something to be wary of. You don't know how well they've been cared for and, there is the factor of having a bit of a strange feel.
In general, riding another persons bike is a lot like attending a service at a church of a different religion, it just seems wierd and doesn't feel quite the right thing to do.

According to legend,Sonny Barger once summed it up quite well. 'Love is the feeling you get when you like something as much as your motorcycle.'

I would only let people that I really know and trust ride my bike. The only other person who has ridden my bike is my twin brother Rick who has been riding since he was 9 years old. He's owned many types of bikes and can adjust to different riding positions and handling differences. I would never let a person I didn't know ride my bike. Mostly for their safety.

Nobody, no how... no way.

I don't like the idea of riding someone else's bike or letting someone else ride mine. My bike is a part of me and I take that same attitude about someone else's bike. Obviously demoing or renting a bike may be different. OK... I did borrow my brother's Bonneville once, but that's different, I am his older brother and I needed a bike that weekend. My dealer is a very good shop, they test ride every bike they service. I trust them very much, but whenever I se Randal pull out of the parking lot on my bike I cringe a little. Its the same way with my car. It's just weird seing someone else driving it.

Soren

I have had people ride me rides. Usually because I couldn't even walk. So they were protecting my butt ...

Won't do it. Too much can go wrong. #1 your friend could wreck your machine and not be able to afford the repair (loss of a friend). #2 Your friend gets himself banged up bad, or killed and then you can live with that over your head. I won't ride other folks bikes and they don't ride mine. Borrowing a motorcycle isn't like borrowing a cage. You generally can't hop on a different scoot and feel right at home. Too much can go wrong. Just my 2 cents worth.

I let my wife ride mine around the block once .The only one less comfortable then me was her!

I would not ride anyone else's bike unless it was to help them out in some way. Would not let anyone ride mine unless it was for a specific purpose such as a test ride after some work done. Definetly won't let someone sit on it without my permission and me being there.My bike is more important to me than my car and more personal.

It has to be somebody that I know well as well as their riding ability. And it depends on the why. Sometimes while riding with a group of friends, someone might ask if I want to see how his bike is, so we'll swap for a few miles. Hey, that's how I got to see just what a Hayabusa's all about .

I don't even like to lend tools! Charlie

Let my mechanic ride it, but, would not be comfortable with others.... too many things to go wrong, and seen too many...."I wasn't familiar with the ride accidents...."
Warren

My name is Barry and I'm a motorcycle junkie.

Sorry to confess that I'm REAL anal when it comes to someone riding mine. I will ride anyone else's, though. Kinda stingy that way. That's probably the only material thing I feel that way about. I'm not into the 'stuff gathering' and 'boy's toys' accumulation stuff too much. The scooter is my only toy with the exception of my golf clubs - and anyone can use the clubs, by the way. I guess it's a sign of how much I enjoy it. I know it ain't the right way to be - But, it's how I am. There, I said it. I feel better.

i'll pass. emergency maybe, otherwise, don't waste the syllables.

In 1980 I spent the better part of one whole day back in Texas looking for a state inspection station that was good with not testing/riding my Nora Norton before passing the road safety test and issuing me a sticker.No one is gonna ride my Trixy Triumph either.I am the same anil way with my Vette. Only the front end alignment guy gets to drive her for a very short distance. It is gonna be very interesting when I get ready to sell the Vette about test drives. Vegas

I like to swap bikes with my friends when we are on rides. It gives me a chance to ride many different bikes. I only swap, never loan mine out. By swapping, I feel I have some sort of collateral.

Bob

As long as they're responsible and a good rider, I'd let whoever take a spin. In fact, I hope to get a 2nd bike so if anybody is in town(for example Adey), there'll be a bike there for him/her to ride and they won't have to rent one.

Mi Casa, Su Casa

I've swapped rides several times with friends that I've seen ride before. If they take care of their bike and know how I fell about mine, it's OK. It's a bike - a ride. If I wanted a shrine, I'd bought a 'you know what'.
One friend at work begged me to let me ride VERA. I knew how he had ridden his S&S powered home built kit bike and I saw him ride another friends HD-DWG. He rides like he's doing a dyno all the time. He's still mad at me, but that's life. I gave him the reason why not, so he'll get over it. Of course, all you non believers of little faith will get to take 'er for a spin so you'll see the truth about the Red Ones.

Don't ask me and I will not ask you....

You can sit on her, under supervision, and make vroom-vroom noises though!

If someone straight out asks me if they can sit on it then the answer is no. If we are talking and they are enthusiastic about the bike but not pushy, I may ask them if the would carefully like to sit on it.

As for riding it, I would have to be very sure of their ability before agreeing, and also to have known them for quite a while.

Don't feel comfortable riding other people's bikes, basically because I would worry too much about damaging their pride & joy to enjoy the ride. When I was staying with Moe in 2004 after my bike was stolen, he generously offered me a ride on Vera, but I had to turn it down as I couldn't bear the thought that something might happen while I was "in charge"!

neither a borrower nor a lender be!!!! i used my neighbors chain saw to trim some trees and it broke.....lessoned learned!!!!!

Hey Derek

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As long as they're responsible and a good rider, I'd let whoever take a spin. In fact, I hope to get a 2nd bike so if anybody is in town(for example Adey), there'll be a bike there for him/her to ride and they won't have to rent one.

Mi Casa, Su Casa

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You're too kind!
And too trusting

Looks like I'll be in AZ Christmas, not September.
Doubt I'll be doing any bike riding then - though I imagine the weather will be much better than in the UK!!

You never know, it can be 70 degrees around Christmas in Arizona.