Whatcha buying?

My original plan was to buy an Aprilia Tuono *sexy V4 barrel of power* but after reading some reviews about major problems, even during the low odometer numbers, I gave it a miss. It’s gorgeous and sounds as good as it looks while also churning out more power than I would know what to do with.

The thing with non-Japanese bikes is the cost of parts and reliability. There are occasions that parts are needed to be ordered from overseas. The wait and expense to do this leaves you off the road and/or buying some crap off eBay.

I just fixated on the Tuono for so long and now it’s time to prepare for the inevitable upgrade once I get my R Open bike licence in a few months. The reality of researching the bike and shopping around for latest year + low kms + reliable + sports bike + in my budget comes with it.

Facebook market place is surprisingly well stocked with bikes for sale, mostly private sellers and prices right up top of the range (that you would only expect a dealer or a knuckle head to ask) down to desperately need the money someone please help out so I can pay my rent situations. The bad part of marketplace is the filters are not very user friendly.

Bikes are essentially a ‘luxury item’ given most people do already have a car. When times are tough, people will liquidate the easy and often expensive items that are not absolutely necessary. Would you rather sell a home gym and some other bits for a couple hundy or thousands of dollars for a bike since you have another vehicle to use 🤷🏻‍♀️

One comment I heard multiple times was “why do you why need a new bike?”. Who the fuck said I 😑needed😑 one? It’s my money I can do what I want. Hmm did you need to buy a brand new SUV or could you have managed with a 2001 Hyundai Excel if it was in good running order???? See what I mean 😒

Anyhu after I had given up on the Tuono 😂😂😂 I narrowed down to an R1 or GSX-R1000. If I didn’t find anything that fit my criteria [fucken LOL] then I’d consider a ZX10 or GSX-S. hard to say as I was hoping not to end up with MT09 haha sorry MT owners they do nothing for me in the pleasure department.

Mr paid a deposit on an R1 that was subject to wife approval … seeing as it’s for me, there is no buying amid promises I will love it don’t need to view it / hear it / sit on it first blah blah blah. I went and sat on the bike, tried unsuccessfully to push it off the stand 😂😂 and decided nope not the one.

Especially considering for the price I could get a better looking one with lower kms elsewhere. This is the danger of Mr going bike shopping alone, he falls in love with a bike and that’s the end no more bikes could ever be as good as this bike, etc. He has previously owned an R1 that he slid out on an oily corner and has missed it ever since. It was in my list of top 3 but didn’t quite make the cut. I had to be the bad guy and tell them I’m a hater, we weren’t buying it 😕

Enter the GSX-R thou. I mean, the noise of this thing 😍😍😍 Yoshi pipe and purrs like a kitten. As Mr took it for a test ride while I scoffed a free sausage sizzle. I watched him ride away and thought ‘wow that could be my next bike’. The dealer came to the party #ThanksOlivers (lovely shop to deal with no hard sell, all the staff I’ve spoken with are fantastic) and did a little price drop to get into my budget.

Couple of wins: when we went to start the bike, before Mr took it for a test ride, the battery was flat. Got a brand new one thrown in. Also we were quoted price on a single seat rego (our preference as we have no need for dual seat rego at this point) then discovered the roadworthy was dual seat and would have to be redone as single.

Not sure if the resident RWC person was onsite / available that day but ended up dual rego at the single price. Cannot complain at all. Besides that, Oliver’s are a great place to shop Mr has always enjoyed doing business with them.

Moral of the story is: I have a bike for when I sit my R licence!!!!! Please watch the short introductory vid on the ladyriderbrisbane Facebook page 😂😂😂 I already know I need professional help please don’t suggest this more than it already has been!