07-21-2017, 12:00 AM
What constitutes boring when it comes to bikes, or vehicles in general for that matter, is hard to state. Saying that a bike is boring is obviously a very subjective statement, but as much as it may be difficult to say what bikes are boring, we should at least be able to determine what defines boring.
I would tend to say that for me to qualify a bike as boring it implies that the bike just does not stir any emotion in me. This is then really down to the sum of both the looks and the dynamics of the bike, as we can have a bike that visually does nothing for me, but riding it brings many emotions. The opposite can then be true as well, the visual aspect is very appealing but riding the bike does nothing. I suppose I should provide some examples of these to clarify a bit more.
Take a bike like the MZ Skorpion. On paper to start with it seems rather uninteresting with a 650 single cylinder engine from Yamaha and rather basic equipment. That engine certainly does not fill me with a desire to experience the performance it will produce! The look then really does nothing for me, and I find it bland leaning on ugly. Basically before riding it I certainly would qualify this bike as boring, and most likely would not bother to try it. But then I did try it, and I was immediately hooked. It does not provide any exceptional performance, and is not comfortable, but as soon as I would get the bike on a fun and twisty road, the emotions would flow! The handling was great, and it was light and agile. Basically it made me smile, and that at a reasonable speed (and price). So, no, not a boring bike.
Then I could take a Triumph Bonneville 900 (and may possibly and up receiving some insults here!). Looking at it really brings some emotions. Whenever I see one in the street, I stop for a second look. There are some more beautiful than others, and there was particularly a light blue limited edition one sold here that I was really lusting after. Thus far, absolutely not boring! But then I tried it, and I nearly fell asleep. Seriously, there was really a total lack of emotion here for me. Everything worked well enough, but there was no power, no torque, no exceptional braking etc. I found it exceedingly bland, and to be honest much preferred the Kawasaki W800 when it came to riding. The thing is, the Bonnie was to me better looking. So, again, not a boring bike, but if I only was concerned about the ride it would be boring.
Now what about the star of this forum? Well, I had read a number of tests about the CB1100 before going to try it out, and I expected to find it boring. Well, boring as far as the ride goes because there is certainly nothing boring with the looks! The thing is, riding it I did not find it boring either. Sure, it does not have an exceptional performance, and it doesn’t make a lot of noise etc., but what it does is that it is so perfectly engineered that it totally lets me enjoy the actual ride. That certainly provides me with a positive emotion, and so I so do not find it to be boring. I enjoy riding it in any environment and under any circumstance. I the city, moving slowly and stopping often, I enjoy it because it is so smooth and easy, and the appreciative looks (and sometimes vocal compliments) that I get make it all the more fun. Then cruising on a mountain road I can go at an easy pace and enjoy the scenery, or I can push a bit harder and the package delivers fun in spades. Outright performance is not stellar, but it makes it feel fun at reasonable speeds. I could go on, but I am sure you get the picture.
I suppose though that some will find the Deauville to be boring. The looks are rather bland, and I doubt anybody will find it to be a beautiful bike. It does not make any nice rumbling sound, and the performance is nothing special. Having tried one, a 650, I found it to be competent but uneventful. My biggest gripe at the time was the lack of torque, and so especially riding two-up it was in my opinion lacking in performance. As a result, I just really was not enjoying it, and moved on. To me, it was boring as it just didn’t stir any emotion. I know others that have found it perfect for what they wanted, and as a result they have enjoyed many tours on them, thus providing them with loads of emotions. For them, it is not boring!
I would tend to say that for me to qualify a bike as boring it implies that the bike just does not stir any emotion in me. This is then really down to the sum of both the looks and the dynamics of the bike, as we can have a bike that visually does nothing for me, but riding it brings many emotions. The opposite can then be true as well, the visual aspect is very appealing but riding the bike does nothing. I suppose I should provide some examples of these to clarify a bit more.
Take a bike like the MZ Skorpion. On paper to start with it seems rather uninteresting with a 650 single cylinder engine from Yamaha and rather basic equipment. That engine certainly does not fill me with a desire to experience the performance it will produce! The look then really does nothing for me, and I find it bland leaning on ugly. Basically before riding it I certainly would qualify this bike as boring, and most likely would not bother to try it. But then I did try it, and I was immediately hooked. It does not provide any exceptional performance, and is not comfortable, but as soon as I would get the bike on a fun and twisty road, the emotions would flow! The handling was great, and it was light and agile. Basically it made me smile, and that at a reasonable speed (and price). So, no, not a boring bike.
Then I could take a Triumph Bonneville 900 (and may possibly and up receiving some insults here!). Looking at it really brings some emotions. Whenever I see one in the street, I stop for a second look. There are some more beautiful than others, and there was particularly a light blue limited edition one sold here that I was really lusting after. Thus far, absolutely not boring! But then I tried it, and I nearly fell asleep. Seriously, there was really a total lack of emotion here for me. Everything worked well enough, but there was no power, no torque, no exceptional braking etc. I found it exceedingly bland, and to be honest much preferred the Kawasaki W800 when it came to riding. The thing is, the Bonnie was to me better looking. So, again, not a boring bike, but if I only was concerned about the ride it would be boring.
Now what about the star of this forum? Well, I had read a number of tests about the CB1100 before going to try it out, and I expected to find it boring. Well, boring as far as the ride goes because there is certainly nothing boring with the looks! The thing is, riding it I did not find it boring either. Sure, it does not have an exceptional performance, and it doesn’t make a lot of noise etc., but what it does is that it is so perfectly engineered that it totally lets me enjoy the actual ride. That certainly provides me with a positive emotion, and so I so do not find it to be boring. I enjoy riding it in any environment and under any circumstance. I the city, moving slowly and stopping often, I enjoy it because it is so smooth and easy, and the appreciative looks (and sometimes vocal compliments) that I get make it all the more fun. Then cruising on a mountain road I can go at an easy pace and enjoy the scenery, or I can push a bit harder and the package delivers fun in spades. Outright performance is not stellar, but it makes it feel fun at reasonable speeds. I could go on, but I am sure you get the picture.
I suppose though that some will find the Deauville to be boring. The looks are rather bland, and I doubt anybody will find it to be a beautiful bike. It does not make any nice rumbling sound, and the performance is nothing special. Having tried one, a 650, I found it to be competent but uneventful. My biggest gripe at the time was the lack of torque, and so especially riding two-up it was in my opinion lacking in performance. As a result, I just really was not enjoying it, and moved on. To me, it was boring as it just didn’t stir any emotion. I know others that have found it perfect for what they wanted, and as a result they have enjoyed many tours on them, thus providing them with loads of emotions. For them, it is not boring!