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Buying my new Motorbike

Recently I upgraded. It was the right time. The other bike just didn't do it anymore. So I went shopping...

It was an interesting process buying a new bike. First I had to settle on the riding style, then the colour, then the make and finally the shop to buy from.

The riding style was easy, I wanted to cruise to other parts of the country, to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, so a cruiser seemed logical.
Next came the colour. Now this is important because you never want to look the same as everybody else, and you need a colour that makes you and the bike look cool. I found this beautiful champagne coloured one, one that I really liked the look of. So I took it for test ride, and I must say the colour, in the sunlight was most amazing.

Next was the make - well this one Kawasaki. I looked at some others, like a Suzuki, and a Honda, and was even keen on a Triumph. The quacker had some definite advantages over the others, so I started to consider this one more seriously. Even looking around the shops was an eye opener. One North shore shop didn't even want to have a conversation with me and other WIMA member I went with, despite being an obvious biker: turning up suitably clad, sitting on the bike, and trying to attract the attention of a sales rep. Funny that it was the man with his wife looking at the Mean Streak that got more attention, rather than two of us, which is a shame really because I would have liked a trumpy in the garage.

So then it became a test of two shops, and I must say the shop I actually brought from did exceedingly well in the sales process. The sales rep listened to my requirements, was happy to order in what I wanted, discussed finance and trade in options with me and quoted me on extra fittings. We discussed length of ownership vs cost of the additional items and the power that the fuel injection offered vs what ever other systems bikes use. With all this in mind the rep rang me late one afternoon and suggested I look at a new bike that the wholesaler had just sent over, but he wasn't sure if I'd liked the colour or some of the add ons.

Well! What a bike! It was worth making the trip to have a look. Despite being only just out of the crate, not fully polished and in the basement workshop this bike sparkled at me as soon as I laid eyes on it. She was a beauty. Granted the colour was different, but the two tone was a good compromise. And the screen on it, ok, it was rather large and sort of distracting to start with. But the pipes, the chrome, the studded seat, the running boards, the saddle bags, the sissy bar and overall proportions were fantastic. Add ones as genuine parts, with great style and good quality about them were to me like shiny things are to magpies. Started it up and she sounded fantastic! I wanted one!!! And, there were only 4 in the country (now there is 8 but that's a small number, right?)

Three days later I rode away on a Kawasaki Limited Edition Vulcan VN900 Classic, Ebony and Silver. I sorted the dosh and left my little red and cream 250cc Virago at the shop, all polished up looking her best. I said my goodbyes to my little steed that had introduced me to the joys of motorcycling, on an impluse buy 2 years ago and entrusted her into the care of the sales rep to find her another careful lady owner. Post sales care has been fantastic, new bike owners have service that as a used bike you don't get.

Big Bertha (named by a work collegue, but due for a deedpoll name change soon), I think she's beautiful and is proving to be a people stopper. People comment from their cars, one biker came looking for the owner when spotting her parked in the street, other Vulcan owners are impressed, and other riders have told me they are waiting for theirs to arrive. She burbles along making good throaty noises that have got better upon being run in. She has good power, not too bad on fuel consumption, provides a smoother ride thanks to the belt drive and the screen keeps the wind off. And this all comes with a comfy seat and plenty of leg room for my 5'10" frame. I've done my Ride Right Ride Safe course on the new bike and now the real test will come on the South Island tour about to happen in March 07. Can't wait!

One more comment: I'd recommend buying a new bike, at least once in your riding lifetime. They even have that new car smell!

Christine Mudford