What does 'Character' mean?

[markkfletcher]

I was chatting at the lights to a chap on a fancy new BMW S1000R - or something like that - and he was commenting that he liked his new bike, and it was eye wateringly fast, but that he missed the character of his old R1150GS. I nodded, sagely, sitting aside my old R1150GS. But when he shot off, I though - I don't actually know what that means.

Any thoughts on what makes character in a bike, and in a 1150 specifically?

 

[Boxed-in]

The reassuring clunk of dropping into first gear......

 

[Rugged Path]

Somebody in their 50's plus who remember riding bikes that cost little but, gave plenty of value in fun for the amount spent.


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[srao]

When the vibrations at 'license-loosing-speeds' nudge you back into the safer zone.....?

 

[EKIMYRF]

Its something that touches your soul, like a Guzzi does

 

[patzx12]

Its something that touches your soul, like a Guzzi does

That's it a great phrase. But I would substitute Guzzi with CBX

 

[johndglynn]

I just finished reading Chris Scott's book "The Street Riding Years" (99p on Kindle/iPhone is a megaballs bargain) and, while most of his book is about character in the human sense, one para refers to something I also read by Clarkson regarding mechanical character.

"In actor Eric Bana's 2009 film Love the Beast, Jeremy Clarkson assures Bana [that] his recently smashed up 2009 Ford GT Falcon Coupe isn't worth rebuilding because 'muscle cars are crap'. Then, in one of his occasional spells of profoundness, Clarkson offers to explain 'character'. 'The cars we love the best are the ones with human traits, warts and all. Anything else is just a machine'. Jezzer nailed it. Did my repugnant MZs have character? Do bears floss after meals? Proper Brit bikes of the era had the love-hate qualities of character. Much Wop Slop and Yank Wank too. But Jap Crap and Kraut Crates, not so sure."

Chris is not a BMW fan but he is a great read.

To me, character means something that just keeps delighting the rider/driver mile after mile with delightful dynamism from low-fi, hand-assembled mechanicals. On that basis, then absolutely the 850/1100/1150 twins have character. I get the same joy in use from both my 1150s as I do from my old cars. They are just wonderfully built pieces of travelling equipment, a joy to use and their original designers should be proud.

I parked my RT next to a German biker while waiting for the ferry in Dublin last week. Lovely guy. He was reminiscing about his 100,000 kms on an 1150RT before changing it for the new 1200RT he was riding. We stayed together out of Holyhead for a while, was happy to be on mine. Then I hit the A5 at Bangor and rode the crap out of it to Llangollen, was sent on an additional 20-mile diversion to the M54 and stayed happy. When you can end up being pushed 20 miles further out than you wanted to be and still keep a smile on your face, that is character.

 

[EKIMYRF]

That's it a great phrase. But I would substitute Guzzi with CBX

Exactly right its what touches YOUR soul, my mate reckons we all have a soul bike and i suppose that is character

 

[Flipfly]

Character = loads of flaws, but ones you like.

Imagine the perfect woman, we all like to imagine the chef in the kitchen, whore in the bedroom, panders to your every whim etc etc. In reality we prefer the ones who present a challenge, will tell you to feck off when you're taking the piss and will say no every now and then. Perfection is boring, but go too far the other way and you have something that is hard to live with, not much fun and ultimately you'll get rid off.

The 1150 is just the right amount of shit and just the right amount of brilliant or in other words it has character.

 

[BSD]

That's it a great phrase. But I would substitute Guzzi with CBX

Substitute CBX with 916

 

[jonnie comet]

'Character' is very difficult to define as it means different things to different people.

That last motorbike that I owned was a Honda NC700X...

It was quite a good bike really and did most things very well, BUT it was the most boring 'characterless' bike that I've ever owned.

I kept it less than a year and flogged it in January 2014. I haven't owned a motorbike since then....Go figure.

I really fancy one more two stroke (character in bundles) but I'm struggling to open my wallet to pay for what a decent RD400/350LC etc costs nowadays.....

 

[Andi_archer]

Bikes like Humans are pretty much all the same but its the charm,charisma and je ne sais quoi that one bonds with.Its not even that we all feel the same there are to pull the classics, Harley Guys,Beemer Guys and the lesser widespread Guzzi clan ,each loves their own type but not necessary the other.

Yet each is merely an engine,frame and two wheels held together by the nut that drives it

 

[Loiq]

to have character is to be the way you are, in a kinda what you see is what you get way.

I've owned bikes which while riding let me know it was time to stop, to push the envelope too far usually meant I ended up pushing it along the road.

till it was happy to start again.....

 

[Tinytim]

Character = loads of flaws, some that you "like" cos you know how to manage them and some you dont cos theres fook all you can do about them.

Imagine the perfect woman....thats all we can do...imagine. In reality we "prefer" the ones who present a challenge because we have no fekkin choice. Perfection is boring for us that cant find it....so we create character and look at it through rose tinted glasses

Sorted for you

Yes, totally agree.....

 

[markkfletcher]

'The cars we love the best are the ones with human traits, warts and all. Anything else is just a machine'

That's interesting. I wonder if its not just about the faults, but about its relative mechanical simplicity allowing us to make a connection with the bike. The problem with a modern bike is that I have no real relationship with what is going on under the seat. On an older bike I can listen to the engine noise or the gear change and have a sense of what is going on, and fix it if necessary.
I think the comparison with people is a good one. Apparently perfect people are inaccessible and have no need of you. It is peoples weaknesses that allow us to help each other out, and that is what makes for friendship. It might sound odd to talk about a relationship with a machine, but that is what human beings have always expressed - whether it is with ships, cars or bikes.

 

[johndglynn]

That's interesting. I wonder if its not just about the faults, but about its relative mechanical simplicity allowing us to make a connection with the bike.

I think it is that but also more than that. Maybe it is a bit like Native Americans feeling that part of their spirit was given away if a photograph was taken of them - there is a sense of the human contribution to the creation of a nicely built older machine, which then has the added requirement of a sensitive/considerate/likely capable user to get the most from it. At the highest point there exists a sort of techno-spiritual connection to the emotional quality of what is just a pile of cast metal, moulded rubber and a few bags of bolts.

The 600 and 900 Divvys, GS500s and even VFR400s of my younger days had zero character from my point of view and were advertised for sale almost as soon as they arrived home from pickup, but my first Gilera Runner (a 125 2T) and my 750 Monster were the total opposite. So much character!

All this before I have even cracked a bottle of beer - I am definitely having a techno-spiritual relationship with my 1150s. There is no law against it and wife is unperturbed so hooray!

 

[Steptoe]

Character = simply human beings over thinking things and trying to endow human traits onto pieces of metal.

In the same category is giving bikes/cars names or calling it a "he" or a "she"..

 

[jetjock]

Anyy thoughts on what makes character in a bike, and in a 1150 specifically?

Basically , when it does something that was unexpected. Like throw you off , break down or just generally makes your life a misery ish !

 

[stolzy]

Character is obviously as undefinable for a motorcycle as it is for a person. Its entirely subjective, but you know it when you feel it.

 

[Fancy Pants]

Character = loads of flaws, but ones you like.

Imagine the perfect woman, we all like to imagine the chef in the kitchen, whore in the bedroom, panders to your every whim etc etc. In reality we prefer the ones who present a challenge, will tell you to feck off when you're taking the piss and will say no every now and then. Perfection is boring, but go too far the other way and you have something that is hard to live with, not much fun and ultimately you'll get rid off.

The 1150 is just the right amount of shit and just the right amount of brilliant or in other words it has character.

I like this one best