For me personally, it’s how my soul connects with the soul of the motorcycle that makes it a characterful experience. Similar to relationships with people, I‘m either in tune with them or sometimes discover it might’ve been better had we never met at all. My personal technique is to take the people and motorcycles for that what they are and not for what I expect of them. Since I‘ve adopted this it’s given me more meaningful memories. Character can be found in various ways once we’ve opened ourselves to be able to see and understand it which some of us may need longer to be able to comprehend.
This vlog has made me think on why I’ve loved some bikes and less enamoured with others. My fave 3 bikes out of 50 are 1. Yamaha DT175 at 17yrs. 2. Honda cb750/4 at 20yrs and 3 and all time fave is a vstrom650 at 66 yrs old. It’s the way it makes me feel. The v twin is incredible, with mild vibes at 5-6 k rpm and tthe best suspension ever had for the bumpy welsh roads. Equally commuting on my bona c50/70/90/125 and latterly xmax 250 early morning rain/sun/smells ethereal pleasures put a smile on my face
Fantastic post !... you are right it's how they make you feel and that is dependant on so many factors. Wonderful you have found a bike later in life that matches the magic of those early machines 👍
Morning DJ, its hard to pln down what character is. Ten years ago i bought a 600 Fazer from a friend for £600, it had 60,000 miles on the clock, a dodgy rear caliper and looked completely shagged, although it looked like a bag of nails i loved the bloody thing and to me that bike had bags of character, go figure....
For what it’s worth I think character is purely down to the engines. Those with V twin or horizontal opposed engines that have a gentle rock and roll have character. It’s down to the gentle vibration that rocks from side to side. If they are too smooth they lose the character. I’ve had a couple of pan Europeans and the engine is brilliant but just too smooth. On a different note to stand up for BMW they should be the big engines machines ie 1000cc upwards the Chinese ones just don’t cut the mustard. BHP is ok for the race track otherwise it’s irrelevant. You are right torque is what matters
I dont really buy into whether a bike has character, or soul. A bike either speaks to me as something i want to own and ride or it doesn't, simple as that. I used to love IL4's and have had loads of them when i was younger, but these days i prefer twins, as are both my bikes now. Character is not something tangible because its totally subjective.
I didn't know we were in Summer time! just thought you found a pot of poster paints 🤣. It's the torque us motorcyclist look for when pulling away out of corner - BHP of 100+ is useless. On engines types I have ridden. Sixes yes but no just a over sized 4 cylinder bike to ride (Honda CBX1000F2 ) 4's things mainly from Japan & also Germany I have found bland def no character, Triples yes they have that certain sound & different power output, Now Twins both boxer & Moto Guzzi V style the tug to the right makes different with character, having ridden KTM V's yes they do have a bit but miss that tug, but inline or parallel, not so but this is part down to firing stroke order. Singles yes if they over 250cc, I think Mr Flier often mis-judges bikes due to the vibration character (or his this like) on his rides but has somehow stuck with his GS, the Kawasaki is just another 4 at the end of the day, thats why its a seller & not his other bikes.
Untouched photo ( except for the fake sun ! ) ... Yes Mr Flyer has since made another video saying the Z will be the one he sells ... as you say just another 4 in a lovely frock really. .. Thanks for watching😊
I have a thought regarding character, or at least an element worth considering. I have a CL500 and love it reminds me of my old Triumph 500 Tiger 100A years ago. Now having ridden bicycles for years, frame and wheel 'geometry' is important to riding styles, a long wheel base for comfortable touring and short wheel base 'twitchy' up hill racing. I presume motor bikes have similarities? And I feel the CL500 may have a shorter wheel base adding to its exciting and fun feel? Just a thought.
That's an interesting factor Ken and one I had not considered. It's true a steeper rake angle gives quicker steering and visa versa . The CL is quite quick steering and in fact I will mention it in an upcoming test of the GSX8S Suzuki ...Thanks for watching .
Does anyone take the missenden flyer seriously as a bike reviewer? Rich boy with toys. See many comments and like me find him totally irritating. What about bikers that are on a budget or have older bikes. Mr Fish on the other hand what a laugh
Harley's been having major electrical issues with their 2024 Sportsters and CVOs...and its a shame seeing some of the Harley guys actually defending the issues. But they have "character"!
No one ever says Japanese motorcycles have character. My Sportster 883, my BSA C-15 250's, my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto, my URAL side car outfit all have a soul of their own. I cried when the lady destroyed my BMW 100/7. It made me smile 😊 every time l fired her up. You can feel it when my Sportster starts, you can feel the engine as she runs , just like my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto. You are not isolated from the bike, you are connected to it. Today's motorcycles are a collection of government regulations on 2 wheels. It's like beauty. If all women were beautiful then none of them are.
My v twin v Strom has tons of character and after 50 yrs I have never waxed so lyrical over a bike.its how it makes me feel. I ride in welsh hills and it’s perfect for me
Also owning a CL, it is quirky, gets the job done, fast enough, find mine a bit choppy when doing slow manoeuvres. Not seen another on the road so far other than in videos like this one. My unicorn bike was a 2003 Fazer 600, a four with a great punchy engine, bikini fairing that had a decent amount of protection, used it to commute, tour and on the twisty roads. I typically also have a scooter in the garage, which is the utility machine, so much storage and twist and go for easy traffic dodging.
Interesting subject. I had a Honda NC750X for a couple of years. Comfortable, economical, very practical and its a Honda but it lacked character. My T100 is nowhere near as practical but for me has plenty of character. So I guess its very subjective.
I had an NC 750 dct and sold wothin 3 months just didn’t gel with it. A jap bike fan cant put finger on it but now a v strom650 and happy as Larry that v twin is best engine ever owned torque monster any speed any gear. Also rev thru to 10k and 70mpg
As a scooter rider of many years the belts wear and get thinner and performance drops. Much prefer to a chain but is a consumable 100k is a lot of miles
IMHO defining 'character' is a meaningless and impossible task, it's a catch all word for personal preference, as 2 different people will have 2 different opinions, you either like it for yourself or not, and personally not something that ever comes to mind when riding a bike or anything else that has a personal touch. you may as well ask what the 'best' whisky is, what the most enjoyable sport to play is, or how long a piece of string is. GL
Really funny that the Missenden flier mentioned character in a motor cycle, I actually unsubscribed from his channel a while ago, as he called a Moto Guzzi, Moto Gutless. For me this just showed he obviously had no idea what he was talking about and therefore why was I watching his reviews? In the video you mentioned he was pondering over having multiple motorbikes and not having a big enough garage to keep them all in (not sure why he would think any of us normal folk would have any empathy for this situation?) For me a Moto Guzzi is the most characterful motorcycle you can buy, it has a sole and it's the best bike I've ever owned and ridden, hence I have kept it for over 16yrs and have yet to find anything I'd want to swap it for. I find most modern bikes to be completely sterile, whether that's due to emission regulations or just some how trying to make them perfect I'm not sure, but along the way something gets lost. If you want a bike with character then buy a moto Guzzi.
Hi Paul I love the look of the new V7 850's and have considered one ...a very characterful bike indeed . I have to be honest though ( risking loosing you as a viewer ! ) but the traditional engine characteristic ( side to side) is not for me personally even though I did do a 2 hour test ride on one some time ago to try and get to gel with it . I still respect the brand though, certainly not gutless and think they also offer terrific value for money . Thanks for commenting.
No, Moto Guzzi is not for everyone and I think moto Guzzi often get it wrong with the bikes they make I.e.they need to make a big block engine style V7 as well as the small block they currently use. However every now and then they do get it right and make a goldilocks bike with the right power and style e.g 1000s and le mans mk1 etc
I, also, cannot define Character, but I recently test rode the Honda CB 500x and it does what it says on the tin. It rode smoothly, but it didn’t “do” anything. I don’t know if it’s successor the CL 500 has that certain something.
The CL isn't a successor to the X but a different model, the 500X is now called the NX500 ( My mate test rode one in a previous video..I agree the 500X is a capable bike but maybe lacks a bit of excitement Thanks for comment much appreciated👍
@@WyreForestBiker Yes, you are quite correct. I got them mixed up. A lot of, mainly Japanese , manufacturers use a lot of letters and numbers which is confusing. At least that’s my excuse for stupidity!
I thought I was going to love my Honda CB1000f, everything was perfect and I know my mates where envious but I only had it a short while. Boring. Then I had a triumph Rocket 3 for quite a while, 5 years maybe but was a bit heavy trying to keep up with the others. Have been riding a triumph bonneville T100 and a triumph tiger 800 (touring) I’m keeping the bonneville but just sold the tiger as it’s too high for me. I’ve been considering the Honda CL500 but I wouldn’t swap it for my bonneville and I need something to tour on so I’m still considering the matter
Character is a funny word it means so much or so little to everyone .I would say my burgman 400 has no character but my cl 500 has I suppose it's what moves your soul maybe that's character 😮
Interesting one David I have always had 4's and enjoyed them maybe it's the smoothness and power. The only triples were two strokes which I will say were great , I never really got into the single and twins much back in the day and I think back in them days they didn't inspire me enough . I have been considering a twin lately and I am sure they are much more interesting nowadays so maybe I will check some out this year .Does it come down to the thrill factor and for me looks too are important example ,Triumph Street triple I am sure they are a fabulous ride be it the new ones or the older ones but the looks for me just don't do it whereas the T120/T100/Street twin do have the look good factor which is important perhaps I am just a very superficial person 😂👍
No I agree looks are important nothing wrong with wanting that ... " smoothness" is good unless it's so smooth it turns to boring ! ...but exactly when that happens is hard to define ! ....... I suppose it all comes down to the "feel" a bike gives you whatever that is 😂
Sound and feel. You would like the gold star. Much better than I expected. Henry Cole put me off saying it lacked character but he.s wrong. I traded my enfield classic 350 for it which was a good bike but I never really loved it. Prefer my enfield 500trials which def has character. If you watch ainsworth rider you will see it being ridden very soon.
I have ridden the BSA and much preferred it to the Interceptor ...this channel was nearly a BSA one !! The RE Trials is a great looking bike in either red or green I really like them ...maybe a bit too much character for me personally though ? 😊
@@WyreForestBiker Up to 60. Sweet as a nut. 65 is buzzy. Ainsworth rider rode mine yesterday and will be posting a vlog. Everyone who.s ridden mine says its better than they thought. But you have to try. Some folk like slick and smooth. My Bmw r60 shakes around too but not when you get it going. 😄
For me personally, it’s how my soul connects with the soul of the motorcycle that makes it a characterful experience. Similar to relationships with people, I‘m either in tune with them or sometimes discover it might’ve been better had we never met at all.
My personal technique is to take the people and motorcycles for that what they are and not for what I expect of them. Since I‘ve adopted this it’s given me more meaningful memories.
Character can be found in various ways once we’ve opened ourselves to be able to see and understand it which some of us may need longer to be able to comprehend.
Very interesting view , and I think you could be on to something ...Thanks 😊
I love in SW Florida and when the orange 🍊 blossoms are in bloom we have the sweetest smelling air on Earth 🌎.
@frankmarkovcijr5459 I can imagine Frank .. thanks for watching 👍
This vlog has made me think on why I’ve loved some bikes and less enamoured with others. My fave 3 bikes out of 50 are 1. Yamaha DT175 at 17yrs. 2. Honda cb750/4 at 20yrs and 3 and all time fave is a vstrom650 at 66 yrs old. It’s the way it makes me feel. The v twin is incredible, with mild vibes at 5-6 k rpm and tthe best suspension ever had for the bumpy welsh roads. Equally commuting on my bona c50/70/90/125 and latterly xmax 250 early morning rain/sun/smells ethereal pleasures put a smile on my face
Fantastic post !... you are right it's how they make you feel and that is dependant on so many factors. Wonderful you have found a bike later in life that matches the magic of those early machines 👍
Morning DJ, its hard to pln down what character is. Ten years ago i bought a 600 Fazer from a friend for £600, it had 60,000 miles on the clock, a dodgy rear caliper and looked completely shagged, although it looked like a bag of nails i loved the bloody thing and to me that bike had bags of character, go figure....
It's odd isn't it , some bikes look a million dollars and yet leave you cold ...others like your Fazer get under the skin 😊
For what it’s worth I think character is purely down to the engines. Those with V twin or horizontal opposed engines that have a gentle rock and roll have character. It’s down to the gentle vibration that rocks from side to side.
If they are too smooth they lose the character. I’ve had a couple of pan Europeans and the engine is brilliant but just too smooth. On a different note to stand up for BMW they should be the big engines machines ie 1000cc upwards the Chinese ones just don’t cut the mustard. BHP is ok for the race track otherwise it’s irrelevant. You are right torque is what matters
Hi Andrew sounds like we have a lot in common on this subject ... Torque and 'feel' are so important!😊
I dont really buy into whether a bike has character, or soul. A bike either speaks to me as something i want to own and ride or it doesn't, simple as that. I used to love IL4's and have had loads of them when i was younger, but these days i prefer twins, as are both my bikes now. Character is not something tangible because its totally subjective.
I think that's right , an intangible quality that is specific to the individual ...well summed up Jeff !
I didn't know we were in Summer time! just thought you found a pot of poster paints 🤣. It's the torque us motorcyclist look for when pulling away out of corner - BHP of 100+ is useless. On engines types I have ridden. Sixes yes but no just a over sized 4 cylinder bike to ride (Honda CBX1000F2 ) 4's things mainly from Japan & also Germany I have found bland def no character, Triples yes they have that certain sound & different power output, Now Twins both boxer & Moto Guzzi V style the tug to the right makes different with character, having ridden KTM V's yes they do have a bit but miss that tug, but inline or parallel, not so but this is part down to firing stroke order. Singles yes if they over 250cc, I think Mr Flier often mis-judges bikes due to the vibration character (or his this like) on his rides but has somehow stuck with his GS, the Kawasaki is just another 4 at the end of the day, thats why its a seller & not his other bikes.
Untouched photo ( except for the fake sun ! ) ... Yes Mr Flyer has since made another video saying the Z will be the one he sells ... as you say just another 4 in a lovely frock really. .. Thanks for watching😊
I have a thought regarding character, or at least an element worth considering. I have a CL500 and love it reminds me of my old Triumph 500 Tiger 100A years ago. Now having ridden bicycles for years, frame and wheel 'geometry' is important to riding styles, a long wheel base for comfortable touring and short wheel base 'twitchy' up hill racing. I presume motor bikes have similarities? And I feel the CL500 may have a shorter wheel base adding to its exciting and fun feel? Just a thought.
That's an interesting factor Ken and one I had not considered. It's true a steeper rake angle gives quicker steering and visa versa . The CL is quite quick steering and in fact I will mention it in an upcoming test of the GSX8S Suzuki ...Thanks for watching .
Does anyone take the missenden flyer seriously as a bike reviewer? Rich boy with toys. See many comments and like me find him totally irritating. What about bikers that are on a budget or have older bikes. Mr Fish on the other hand what a laugh
Harley's been having major electrical issues with their 2024 Sportsters and CVOs...and its a shame seeing some of the Harley guys actually defending the issues. But they have "character"!
Yes and engine issues on the new water cooled models I understand ... I have been looking into it..
Thanks Robbie.
No one ever says Japanese motorcycles have character. My Sportster 883, my BSA C-15 250's, my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto, my URAL side car outfit all have a soul of their own. I cried when the lady destroyed my BMW 100/7. It made me smile 😊 every time l fired her up. You can feel it when my Sportster starts, you can feel the engine as she runs , just like my Triumph Tr-6 with a hard tail and magneto. You are not isolated from the bike, you are connected to it. Today's motorcycles are a collection of government regulations on 2 wheels. It's like beauty. If all women were beautiful then none of them are.
My v twin v Strom has tons of character and after 50 yrs I have never waxed so lyrical over a bike.its how it makes me feel. I ride in welsh hills and it’s perfect for me
Also owning a CL, it is quirky, gets the job done, fast enough, find mine a bit choppy when doing slow manoeuvres. Not seen another on the road so far other than in videos like this one. My unicorn bike was a 2003 Fazer 600, a four with a great punchy engine, bikini fairing that had a decent amount of protection, used it to commute, tour and on the twisty roads. I typically also have a scooter in the garage, which is the utility machine, so much storage and twist and go for easy traffic dodging.
I agree the CL is quirky and I find myself looking at more 'traditional' design bikes and finding some a bit lacking in comparison ... Thanks 👍
Interesting subject. I had a Honda NC750X for a couple of years. Comfortable, economical, very practical and its a Honda but it lacked character. My T100 is nowhere near as practical but for me has plenty of character. So I guess its very subjective.
Thanks Simon , the T100 is a lovely bike. The feel and sound just ooze character ...whatever that is !
I had an NC 750 dct and sold wothin 3 months just didn’t gel with it. A jap bike fan cant put finger on it but now a v strom650 and happy as Larry that v twin is best engine ever owned torque monster any speed any gear. Also rev thru to 10k and 70mpg
I get 100,000 miles+ out of a drive belt. Still on the original sprockets after 25 years.
doubt
As a scooter rider of many years the belts wear and get thinner and performance drops. Much prefer to a chain but is a consumable 100k is a lot of miles
IMHO defining 'character' is a meaningless and impossible task, it's a catch all word for personal preference, as 2 different people will have 2 different opinions, you either like it for yourself or not, and personally not something that ever comes to mind when riding a bike or anything else that has a personal touch. you may as well ask what the 'best' whisky is, what the most enjoyable sport to play is, or how long a piece of string is. GL
Really funny that the Missenden flier mentioned character in a motor cycle, I actually unsubscribed from his channel a while ago, as he called a Moto Guzzi, Moto Gutless. For me this just showed he obviously had no idea what he was talking about and therefore why was I watching his reviews? In the video you mentioned he was pondering over having multiple motorbikes and not having a big enough garage to keep them all in (not sure why he would think any of us normal folk would have any empathy for this situation?) For me a Moto Guzzi is the most characterful motorcycle you can buy, it has a sole and it's the best bike I've ever owned and ridden, hence I have kept it for over 16yrs and have yet to find anything I'd want to swap it for. I find most modern bikes to be completely sterile, whether that's due to emission regulations or just some how trying to make them perfect I'm not sure, but along the way something gets lost. If you want a bike with character then buy a moto Guzzi.
Hi Paul I love the look of the new V7 850's and have considered one ...a very characterful bike indeed . I have to be honest though ( risking loosing you as a viewer ! ) but the traditional engine characteristic ( side to side) is not for me personally even though I did do a 2 hour test ride on one some time ago to try and get to gel with it . I still respect the brand though, certainly not gutless and think they also offer terrific value for money . Thanks for commenting.
No, Moto Guzzi is not for everyone and I think moto Guzzi often get it wrong with the bikes they make I.e.they need to make a big block engine style V7 as well as the small block they currently use. However every now and then they do get it right and make a goldilocks bike with the right power and style e.g 1000s and le mans mk1 etc
I, also, cannot define Character, but I recently test rode the Honda CB 500x and it does what it says on the tin. It rode smoothly, but it didn’t “do” anything. I don’t know if it’s successor the CL 500 has that certain something.
The CL isn't a successor to the X but a different model, the 500X is now called the NX500 ( My mate test rode one in a previous video..I agree the 500X is a capable bike but maybe lacks a bit of excitement Thanks for comment much appreciated👍
@@WyreForestBiker Yes, you are quite correct. I got them mixed up. A lot of, mainly Japanese , manufacturers use a lot of letters and numbers which is confusing. At least that’s my excuse for stupidity!
Having had CB500F for 18 months, and would agree with your statement. For commuting I bought CB500F, just to get back out from behind a screen.
I thought I was going to love my Honda CB1000f, everything was perfect and I know my mates where envious but I only had it a short while. Boring. Then I had a triumph Rocket 3 for quite a while, 5 years maybe but was a bit heavy trying to keep up with the others. Have been riding a triumph bonneville T100 and a triumph tiger 800 (touring) I’m keeping the bonneville but just sold the tiger as it’s too high for me. I’ve been considering the Honda CL500 but I wouldn’t swap it for my bonneville and I need something to tour on so I’m still considering the matter
We have shared quite a few bikes then ! .. I tend to agree on your feelings on them ..Thanks for watching
Character is a funny word it means so much or so little to everyone .I would say my burgman 400 has no character but my cl 500 has I suppose it's what moves your soul maybe that's character 😮
Thanks John ...good way to look at it, the ultimate 2 wheeler without character is probably a small twist and go ...maybe that tells us something ?
Interesting one David I have always had 4's and enjoyed them maybe it's the smoothness and power. The only triples were two strokes which I will say were great , I never really got into the single and twins much back in the day and I think back in them days they didn't inspire me enough . I have been considering a twin lately and I am sure they are much more interesting nowadays so maybe I will check some out this year .Does it come down to the thrill factor and for me looks too are important example ,Triumph Street triple I am sure they are a fabulous ride be it the new ones or the older ones but the looks for me just don't do it whereas the T120/T100/Street twin do have the look good factor which is important perhaps I am just a very superficial person 😂👍
No I agree looks are important nothing wrong with wanting that ... " smoothness" is good unless it's so smooth it turns to boring ! ...but exactly when that happens is hard to define ! ....... I suppose it all comes down to the "feel" a bike gives you whatever that is 😂
TMF wasn't complimentary about the CL. I believe he said it had/has no character..Booo TMF!
Yes I know , oh well he can't be right all the time 😊
Over refined bikes can be very dull maybe that’s why the smaller engines are having a come back
Thanks Gary, yes small bikes do seem to have a certain connection with people .
Sound and feel. You would like the gold star. Much better than I expected. Henry Cole put me off saying it lacked character but he.s wrong. I traded my enfield classic 350 for it which was a good bike but I never really loved it. Prefer my enfield 500trials which def has character. If you watch ainsworth rider you will see it being ridden very soon.
I have ridden the BSA and much preferred it to the Interceptor ...this channel was nearly a BSA one !!
The RE Trials is a great looking bike in either red or green I really like them ...maybe a bit too much character for me personally though ? 😊
@@WyreForestBiker Up to 60. Sweet as a nut. 65 is buzzy. Ainsworth rider rode mine yesterday and will be posting a vlog. Everyone who.s ridden mine says its better than they thought. But you have to try. Some folk like slick and smooth. My Bmw r60 shakes around too but not when you get it going. 😄