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People commonly confuse "here's my new bike" with "tell me what you think of my new bike." They do this in every category of life. What I do is take a peek at my shadow on my 26 year old bike as I blast down the highway, and I realize how cool it really is...oh, and I don't "show it" to anyone. That way, I'm not there if they are looking and want to spew their opinions.

It is true that certain people feel the need to impose their opinion at every turn in life. Try being pregnant!!!! It's the worst. Total strangers will come up, start handling your belly, and then proceed to tell you every little detail about childbirth and how it will go for you (in my case, they were all wrong!!).

Just say, "well, it was awful listening to you - have a nice day" - and then ride off and enjoy your bike.

Cheers,
Loonette

I always thought the purpose of a bike was to sit on it and ride it.

How many people ask you about your riding experiences or what you think about your bike? It doesn't sound like many. In which case I'd say that these guys are more interested in their own opinions and attitudes than they are in you or your bike, or in sharing their enjoyment of bikes with you.

So I'd suggest you leave them in their own little worlds and just go out and enjoy yourself. People who criticise a lot are generally afraid of criticism. The narrowness they are trying to impose on you is probably something they have to live with a lot of the time. Which is fine, we're all human, not perfect, but that's their stuff, not yours.

So go on, enjoy your bike mate and ignore them..

When I bought my bike on Ebay, I stopped by the church house to let my wife know we were home from Wisconsin. My bike had been in a garage for over a year, and was run a few miles a week to keep seals lubed). When people saw my "new" bike, they immediately proceded to inspect it cosmetically with a fine-toothed comb and point out every visible defect to me. Like I didn't know the defects! It was almost as if they wanted to make me feel like a idiot for my purchase, and as though they were some sort of experts in this sort of thing (the one motorcyclist in the bunch thought I did very well, and congratulated me, and invited me to go ride when I got it ready!) Of course in a week the bike was a gleaming beauty, but It's another example of how Our "friends" aren't so friendly sometimes. I'm not sure what really compels people to do this. I prefer dogs for this very reason.

Ha this is crazy, I also have a 2004 Vstar 650 Classic, and I too wear a full face BELL helmet.

Loonette wrote:It is true that certain people feel the need to impose their opinion at every turn in life. Try being pregnant!!!! It's the worst. Total strangers will come up, start handling your belly, and then proceed to tell you every little detail about childbirth and how it will go for you (in my case, they were all wrong!!).

Just say, "well, it was awful listening to you - have a nice day" - and then ride off and enjoy your bike.

Cheers,
Loonette

its a shame people react like this, its awesome you love your bike, if its suites you thats great, people wanna inflict there veiws and oppinions on other people, the main thing is its your bike,your the one whos gonna ride it, not everyone needs a R1 or a CBRXZZR what ever, enjoy

"If you don't like my bike, why don't you buy me a better one?"

And put on your helmet. They usually walk away after that one.

Laugh at them, say "really?" and ignore them.

I'm looking at a V-Star 1100 right now, and have gotten that comment from a lot of people : "Why? It's just an imitation Harley".

To this I have said that I realize the styling and V-Twin design is a knock off. But I wasn't really interested in paying 25-30 grand (Canadian, eh?) for a bike that leaks oil continuously.

And don't be ashamed to put on that full face helmet. I have never been tempted to go open faced, especially after you stop, take off your helmet and see all the bugs on the face shield. In particular, I remember being on the highway and this huge bug hit my face shield smack in the middle and made a sound like a rock. It must have been the size of a nickel and I had to stop and wipe off the guts. I'd hate to have gotten that between the eyes.

In addition, a buddy of mine rode with an open face, and on the highway, this dude in front of him threw his cigarette butt out the window. That but didn't even hit the ground, but flew at my pal, and lodged itself inbetween the helmet liner and his face/ear. Not cool.