Classify yourself as a rider

[happycommuter]

I've been meaning to do this one for a while, as the Nighthawk is such a practical bike that people can place it into many  categories of riding styles.

I've always considered myself an economy lightweight sport-tourer, although most of this sport-touring is going to work and back.

This is not about balkanization, I'm just curious what the most common self-identification would be.

[dbracing]

This is a really interesting poll. It is hard to classify our riding habits because they are so varied. I ride "Squidley", my yellow(I didn't paint it, bought it that way)  Nighthawk S locally whenever possible. Wifey rides a Honda Ascot V model. I tried her on the 650 Nighthawk but she was never quite comfortable on it. We commute to wherever we need to go be it to our part time jobs, visiting, out for dinner, or for personal enjoyment time. We spend a few months in the winter at Key West and use our bikes as our sole source of transportation there. Both have quick attaching bags for grocery getting and what not. I have another Nighthawk(86) that is being outfitted for touring to include electronic equipment, a taller windshield, highway pegs, and luggage. I can be i9n some of the best riding roads of the country in 6 hours or less so it is a good thing to have the touring rig ready when the call happens.

Off the street, we both have ridden trials bikes for many years. We started in the early 70's and I rode for Bultaco for some years then. I ride either a Bultaco Sherpa T or an Alpina and wifey likes her Montesa 123 Cota.

[Lethal_Threat]

I guess I consider myself a standard, cruising commuter.  Most of my riding is actually commuting to work, and just cruising to the beach or wherever people are hanging out.  The tricky part is that when I go riding with my friends, it would place me in more of a sport class since they all ride sport bikes.   

[gammer]

I mainly commute...but I go on short distance cruises approx 3 - 4 times a summer. By short distance, I mean 200 Km's.
I find it hard to get away on the weekends with 2 very young kids at home.

[Bumblebee]

Commute whenever possible. (Gas prices, @## $&*^ ISH)

Mystery Adventure rides whenver I get a chance which accounts for about 80% of riding. They range from 1-3 tanks of gas each and at least 100 miles. (Friends are currently whining because I haven't done one of my fun picture stories in a while)

I go up decent looking jeep paths / fire roads on occasion however I wouldn't consider it offroad since you could get a jeep up there with very little effort without using 4WD. The 650 just doesn't have the clearance and I really don't want to break anything.

[DesignFlaw06]

Basically, if it's not raining or at night, I'll ride. I love going on rides, i ride to work every chance I get, geocache adventures, and as long as it makes enough sense, I'll travel on it. Besides, I gotta keep up with the old man's Goldwing. I think the only chance he has on beating me in miles this year is his trip to Quebec a few weeks ago.

Tim

[Hondo]

I'm an other- a Dual Sport Rider.

Though I desperately want a street bike to park next to my KLR650 (preferrably a RW&B 1986 Nighthawk 700S for canyon assaults and a 1983 CB1000 Custom with factory fairing & luggage for long trips).

[layback209]

For the most part i'm a easy going cruiser kinda guy.  But i don't mind getting up at 5am to get some extra lean on some winedy mountain roads. 

Last trip i did (was only 960Km) started out as a easy cruise then hit a stupid strong head wind. could only do 120Km/h with the throttle pinned lol.  Which was fine because the traffic could only do 80Km/h.  But the interesting part was when i got to the destination.  i got up the next day looking forward to riding but when i went to fire up the bike i had no power.  So i spent the morning fixing insted of riding lol.  Glad i brough a backpack full of tools.

 

The tricky part is that when I go riding with my friends, it would place me in more of a sport class since they all ride sport bikes.   

 

This is true for this guy too lol.  The hawk doesn't have much problems keeping pase with these chaps too.

[ROJ]

I'm kind of a mix on this one, commuting-cruiser maybe. I use my bike to get to and from work, groceries, etc. But every chance I get I'm out for a 1-5 hour ride just around the countryside.

[Uncle Fester]

I'm a little of everything on my bikes.  I've taken the Rebel down dirt roads (fire roads, forest roads) and commuted on the Rebel.  I've had the Nighthawk a week tomorrow, and being as I'm not working now, and I've chosen to go back to college on-line, I've nowhere to "commute" to!  90% of my riding right now is pleasure, or more accurately, therapy.  Riding gets me calm, excited, and relaxed.  Riding is.  I'm hoping to really add to the touring part of my "motorcyclist personality", with the Nighthawk. 

[reedy88]

well i guess i would consider myself a sport bike since all of the touring parts of my bike have been replaced(straight bars, comp header, k&n filter....) but i will ride it everyday and night its not to cold or raining and i often take it on long rides. Its still comfortable to ride after 3 hours on it so why not. And it gets great gas mileage compared to my car.

[detdrbuzzard]

i consider myself a motorcyclist. and do whatever riding type nessacery to get me from point a to point b which covers everything you have listed

[SF48]

i consider myself a motorcyclist. and do whatever riding type nessacery to get me from point a to point b which covers everything you have listed

Ditto that.   

[nh700]

i consider myself a motorcyclist. and do whatever riding type nessacery to get me from point a to point b which covers everything you have listed

same here...i love to go for sum nice fast rides up n down the local mountain so im prob more of a sport rider but i ride it in any weather and anytime i wana ride or need2 go sumwhere and dont need a truck

[84inidaho]

if only i could sqeeze some dual sport tires under my 450... i love the dirt but, my chinabike broke down on me so, no off-road adventures for a long time

[bbrovold]

I had to pick
Commuter since I drive it to work.
Sport since I like to lean some.
Standard because that's what ultimately suits me and the reason for the NH
Vintage cause I've had a few
I didn't choose Dual Sport even though I have one because there wasn't much sport and no real dual was involved - I've moved on.

[RiderZ]

Well, on weekdays, I'm a commuter. Riding to work and grocery shopping.

On weekends, I'm a cruiser.

Don't have any touring plan yet, but that's my dream. 

[Tryvelcro]

I'm a slow cruiser, I guess.  I don't really lean (yet - gimme time & I might get there  ).

When I do ride, it's mostly on the weekends, and almost never less than 200-ish miles at a time.  My BF rides a BMW K1200s - he's into the adrenaline, I'm into the open scenery & such.  A group of 6-9 of us did a northern California long weekend last year, came out to about 1100 miles in 3 days.  Guess that's touring, right?

[niteman]

I'm a standard rider who cruises around on the weekends on a vintage bike, until I get enough miles and experience to be a commuter

[Tretnine]

vintage hondas ftw!

[isleofmanfan]

I suppose it depends what day of the week it is.  M-F I'm just a basic Joe commuter.  Trying to been seen by all the cagers that are surfing the internet, dialling their phone, putting on makeup, pulling their dog down off the dashboard, chatting on the phone, reading their emails, or trying to decipher their new GPS mapping appliance, instead of watching where they are going.  Riding to work is all about trying to stay alive.

When the weekend arrives, I need to put on some touring miles.  Throw in a couple cans of Starbucks, a bottle of water, and hit the open road.  Sometimes theres a destination, sometimes not.

On other weekends I feel the need to push the bike to its limits.  Lean it over till I run out of tread, accelerate hard, and late brake into a 25 MPH curve.  I guess its a good thing I ride a standard.  I enjoy all styles of riding.

[DeusExMaxima]

I fit into several categories.  I use my bike to commute most days unless i need to wear a suit that day.  I also run errands with it.  I have cruised around town in the evenings or on weekends.  I have also taken long trips with the bike - up and down california coast, down to san diego and back from LA area etc.  But then the bike is also set up for speed in the twisties - headers, carb mods, no centerstand, single Jardine muffler, and wider rear tire.

[ToddW]

I went with the 'standard commuter cruiser' type rider.  I'm a NightHawk rider...  which makes exact categories a tough thing. 

For me, I'm someone that doesn't have much experience so I need a bike that rides easy.  I don't plan to be a beginner for very long, so I bought a bike that does have some performance in the specs.  I don't want to spend time fixing my bike, so I bought something that has a decent reputation for reliability.  I don't have a ton of cash to spend on a bike that fits my needs, so I need a bike that does the above while also being very affordable.  So if you have a way to describe "a noobie aspiring to be seasoned rider that can't fix bikes and doesn't have much money"...  then that describes how I roll.

[83FirstHawk]

I wouldnt classify myself.
    I kinda ride just for the fun of it, mostly local.

[Vermontster]

I'm a standard rider who cruises around on the weekends on a vintage bike, until I get enough miles and experience to be a commuter

+1