What is 'character' in a bike or car in your view?

[Glyn]

I think character is what you make of it, I raced open class 500 crossers and they always felt like they were controlling what I could do with the throttle , character. I I raced a few litre bikes and the twins always felt manageable whearas a gixer 1000 K9 felt like it was in control of what I could do with the throttle, character .
Now all bikes with multiple electronic controls lose character because they really do it for you, they’re definitely faster but not as much fun.
The being out of control part is missing

 

[DD67]

The being out of control part is missing

I dunno about "out of control" Glyn.
But being right on the edge of any vehicle's handling capabilities. Is definitely more fun than going quicker but with the computers doing a lot of the thinking for you.
I know a guy with the latest Nissan GTR (what was the old Skyline)
Fast as f#ck but it really flatters the driver. I reckon my dog could break lap records in it.
It certainly ain't my idea of a fun vehicle mate.

 

[MartytheMartian]

I think the relinquishing of control to the modern bikes is something that I rail against, not to mention the additional failure points and reduced ease of home maintenance. I am back to thinking about getting rid of my 2014 Bonnie again and possibly picking up a full-on old school Sports machine but while I love the looks of the 955i Daytona and a few other more modern machines, my Triumph 955i Sprint RS ownership and examining the factory workshop manual makes me realise that I really would rather have a machine with carburettors and a minimum of eletrickery. I want to know where my limits are, work hard at my riding technique rather than just act as an add-on to the onboard tech and be able to fix anything on it when it breaks. I am seriously thinking of the original Daytona, Fireblade, ZX9R or something else along those lines.

 

[Glyn]

I dunno about "out of control" Glyn.
But being right on the edge of any vehicle's handling capabilities. Is definitely more fun than going quicker but with the computers doing a lot of the thinking for you.
I know a guy with the latest Nissan GTR (what was the old Skyline)
Fast as f#ck but it really flatters the driver. I reckon my dog could break lap records in it.
It certainly ain't my idea of a fun vehicle mate.

Racing a smaller capacity bike which is on the limit is nice, but just that little bit of if I open the throttle now the fucker will kill me is my idea of character.
Maybe not for everyone but it’s mine

 

[DD67]

WTF!
I love "different" stuff but check out this weird thing! It's like 3/4 of a Chrysler Crossfire...

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[MartytheMartian]

If you want 'different' this thing is a bit nuts! I can't help but wonder though what happens if there's a problem and the 'stabilisers' don't deploy.
Meet The All-Electric, Fully Enclosed Motorcycle - Bing video

 

[DD67]

If you want 'different' this thing is a bit nuts! I can't help but wonder though what happens if there's a problem and the 'stabilisers' don't deploy.
Meet The All-Electric, Fully Enclosed Motorcycle - Bing video

Step away from the magic mushrooms & keep your hands where we can see them Marty!

 

[Sarky B’stard]

I am not wild about 3 wheelers in any configuration. They hate single track roads as much as single track roads hate them!

I think that fun and utilitarian vehicles are polar opposites......unless it’s a dinky 4x4 like a soft top Land Rover. In the same vein ‘character’ really means ‘idiosyncratic’ and that is wholly subjective.

 

[DD67]

I am not wild about 3 wheelers in any configuration. They hate single track roads as much as single track roads hate them!

I think that fun and utilitarian vehicles are polar opposites......unless it’s a dinky 4x4 like a soft top Land Rover. In the same vein ‘character’ really means ‘idiosyncratic’ and that is wholly subjective.

That strange thing I posted a link for looks too narrow to me (unless it's the angle the photos were taken at?)
Do you recall the BMW powered Grinnall Scorpion? That had similar proportions & had a tendency to lift a front wheel or carry on lifting it before rolling over
ASBO was really wide, hence the superb handling. I had the width confirmed by an RAC guy when ASBO suffered one of his early life hissy fits.
The recovery truck had an adjustable spec lift. And the RAC guy had to set it to its maximum width.
I guesstimate he enlarged it by 3" & apparently the last vehicle he'd had on it was a Jaaaaaaag.

 

[BAD LUCK DUCK]

Me and bike have created a very unique character together...We've gone through it all..Ive definitely formed an emotional link with my bike and I know its ways..I feel what it feels and I hear it when it talks to me and tries to tell me stuff...I also know when it as the arse and I know when its feeling good and wants to play...
We've developed some kind of weird symbiotic relationship and me and my bike aint finished by a long shot yet..My bike is in chrysalis mode at the moment and preparing itself for its next step into the unknown evolutionary something or another...

I have no idea what I'm talking about and if you do then you got more nuts bolts and screws loose than me and my bike put together

 

[DD67]

Me and bike have created a very unique character together...We've gone through it all..Ive definitely formed an emotional link with my bike and I know its ways..I feel what it feels and I hear it when it talks to me and tries to tell me stuff...I also know when it as the arse and I know when its feeling good and wants to play...
We've developed some kind of weird symbiotic relationship and me and my bike aint finished by a long shot yet..My bike is in chrysalis mode at the moment and preparing itself for its next step into the unknown evolutionary something or another...

I have no idea what I'm talking about and if you do then you got more nuts bolts and screws loose than me and my bike put together

Have you got a new bike then Duck?
Or are we talking about Triggers broom?

 

[GaleForceEight]

Don’t be fooled. He cut’n’paste most of that from some recherché porn site.

Dammit you found me out!

more seriously, I’d necked a bottle of red wine and jazzed up my coffee with a bit of stronger stuff - so my intellectual juices get more runny and start flowing more freely...

 

[GaleForceEight]

I am truly amazed GF8, when I started the thread I never envisaged a proper grown up, bonafide answer like that, well done, as for the rest of you Herberts on here, read & learn, well learning to read would be a start!

Reeding and riting is overrated ....

 

[Don the Don]

If you want 'different' this thing is a bit nuts! I can't help but wonder though what happens if there's a problem and the 'stabilisers' don't deploy.
Meet The All-Electric, Fully Enclosed Motorcycle - Bing video

Not a new idea, they have had petrol models before now electric is the new model
Monoracer Cabin Motorcycle | History (peravescz.com)

 

[DD67]

Not a new idea, they have had petrol models before now electric is the new model
Monoracer Cabin Motorcycle | History (peravescz.com)

I simply don't get why anyone would want one Don
It doesn't have the out in the open appeal of a bike or even a convertible car.
It's totally impractical from the angle of carrying luggage/shopping.
All it has going for it as far as I can see is you could filter in it? Unless you needed to stop & the outrigger wheels pop down & get ripped off by a passing car
A very clever bit of engineering but what would a buyers requirements in a vehicle need to be before one of those would seem like a good idea?

 

[Don the Don]

They are Yet another concept that has come and probably fade in time, Remember these Quasars

 

[DD67]

They are Yet another concept that has come and probably fade in time, Remember these Quasars

View attachment 5047

What was that BMW scooter thing called? It had a roof & windscreen but no doors. And there was a load of wrangling about whether the pilot needed a crash helmet or a seatbelt?

Edit...
It was called a C1

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Autologic - Visit us for a test drive - Call us on +441772957338 or click here to find out more.

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[BAD LUCK DUCK]

Have you got a new bike then Duck?
Or are we talking about Triggers broom?

Talking about the one and only Frankenbike

 

[Bad Billy]

I dunno about "out of control" Glyn.
But being right on the edge of any vehicle's handling capabilities. Is definitely more fun than going quicker but with the computers doing a lot of the thinking for you.
I know a guy with the latest Nissan GTR (what was the old Skyline)
Fast as f#ck but it really flatters the driver. I reckon my dog could break lap records in it.
It certainly ain't my idea of a fun vehicle mate.

You met my team mate Dave at Donington Jez, a much better/faster racer than me (but most are to be fair!), he bought a Mk1 1200 Bandit for the road, he reckoned it gave the other lads with their 200 bhp Superbikes a chance!
He phoned the other night to say he has just bought a turbo kit for it that will boost power to 180bhp ... on a Mk1 Bandit! I guess that will add to the character of the old bus, what a handful that's gonna be!

 

[Don the Don]

On about strange machines I had the opportunity in the late 70's to use one of these for a short spell to race around Wolverhampton another feet forward design, fun but ruddy lethal. The BOND BUG with a Reliant 700cc engine [later 750cc]