Let's start with the purpose of a motorcycle, "transportation"? nope, not really, the car do that job just fine, car carries more people, more stuff, weather proof, wherever you go, you are safe and sound in the comfortable (leather optional) seat with your choice of music, food and beverage, first class air plane ticket don't get better than that.
So why bike? fast, dangerous, and the very high potential to kill yourself. Well that's pretty much the reasons. People don't ride because motorcycles are compact, convenience, they ride because of the thrill. Ever traveled at 120kmph with the wind to your face and the ground centimeters to your knees? Not many experienced that and the ones who did, got addicted.
Motorcycles nowadays, even with an entry level 600cc, have enough torque, power and acceleration to put a Porsche to shame. They are indeed very very powerful machines. And need to be piloted with skills and responsibility. I will not get into details with skills and responsibility today, I would however get into the perfect gentleman's bike.
Let's begin with the bike categories, as you might have known, bikes are categorized into super sport, cruiser, naked, dirt bikes and scooters. So, which one of these categories would be used by a gentleman?
Super sport? Nah, those are for the 18-20 years old who either think riding a super sport can make them like the guy in Tron or get them into bed with Emma Watson. While the truth is, those are for the track and if they are used on the street, be prepared to get use to the constant back ache.
Cruisers? Yeah if you think gentleman and bikies have something in common. Those machines indeed are very pretty and full of characteristics, unfortunately the bikies thought so too.
Dirt bikes? Not everyone of us is Jacob Black (Twilight saga, and no, i do not know his name, i had to ask my girlfriend). Like bmx, dirt bikes are boys' toys when women are not around.
Scooters? A Vespa, yes. The rest of the scooters are worth a good laugh or two but they are no gentleman's bikes for sure.
Now, what could a gentleman's bike be? The correct answer would be NAKED BIKES. Why?
Well first, there's the word "Naked". If that isn't awesome enough then here are the reasons as of why naked bikes are my choice for gentleman's bikes. To begin with, they are super sports for the street. I said so because naked bikes use the same engines as super sports with some modifications or detuned to make use of most power in the lower rev range, that is perfect for street riding. The riding position is different thanks to the flat handle bar which gives a comfortable seating whereas with super sports you would find it rather tiring for your back after a few hours of riding. Down to pricing, as they are"naked", which means less fairing, most naked bikes are a few thousand dollars cheaper than their super sport equivalent. For under $14,000 AUD, you will be taking home a brand spanking new entry level urban warrior.
Most motorcycle companies nowadays take part in the naked bike sector so you would have plenty of options. Yamaha with the FZ8N, FZ6N, Suzuki GSR 750, Triumph Speed Triple, Ducati Monster, Kawasaki Z1000, Aprilia Shiver 750, so on and so forth.
Brian Nguyen
- Not a player, not quite a douche, he's a gentleman-
