I kinda "need" a new bike

"Clown Shoe Pilot" (csp)
02/13/2015 at 23:16 • Filed to: twowheelsbad, impulsecontrol

One of my co-workers bought a new Honda CB300F today. He's never had a bike and doesn't have a motorcycle license so I rode it from the dealership back to the race track.

I kinda dig it. I only have a Grom right now and it's not powerful enough to ride on highways and stuff. I might have to get one of these.

DISCUSSION (18)

BeaterGT > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/13/2015 at 23:20

I only have experience with dirtbikes. Was considering a Grom before I saw these, don't you think it's a good first bike?

JasonStern911 > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/13/2015 at 23:31

Dibs on you Grom.

But seriously, after decades of only selling CBRs, Harley knock-offs, 80s era CB250s, 80s era CRF230s, and 80s era Rebels, Honda really got their act together with respect to their current motorcycle crop. I'm really tempted to pick up a CB500X once they hit the used market.

Clown Shoe Pilot > BeaterGT
02/13/2015 at 23:34

If you never have to go on roads where you'd need to go 60 to keep up/not get killed then a Grom is an excellent first bike. I actually leave my Grom at work and just use it to get around campus. If I tried to commute on it, I'd be a grease stain on the road.

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/13/2015 at 23:34

Time for a DucMonster.

Clown Shoe Pilot > JasonStern911
02/13/2015 at 23:36

My Grom isn't going anywhere. It's my work bike. If I got the 300F it'd be my nice day commuter/weekend toy

Clown Shoe Pilot > Biggus Dickus (RevsBro)
02/13/2015 at 23:43

I don't need an Italian bike. MAYBE an MV Augusta for small money, but that's not likely to happen.

JasonStern911 > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/13/2015 at 23:44

Work bike? There's a job where you can get paid to ride a Grom? I knew I was in the wrong profession... :D

Clown Shoe Pilot > JasonStern911
02/13/2015 at 23:49

Well, I don't get paid to ride the Grom. The Grom is a tool to get around at work, since the equipment that I maintain is spread over several hundred acres.

JasonStern911 > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/13/2015 at 23:51

Sounds like we both need new jobs... :(

Clown Shoe Pilot > JasonStern911
02/13/2015 at 23:57

Kinja'd!!!

I'm totally fine with my gig. One of my equipment cabinets is in this photo (left side, near big screen with a motorcycle parked next to it), and it requires a trip on the Grom as it's a mile and a half away from my desk. Luckily, there's a very nice road from my desk to the equipment cabinet.

Destructive Tester > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/14/2015 at 02:53

I was impressed with the crop of small displacement Hondas. That being said, I'm currently kicking-around getting a KTM 390 Duke. What can I say, I love trellis frames...

Shiftknob > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/14/2015 at 05:43

How about the KTM Duke390!!

Shiftknob > Destructive Tester
02/14/2015 at 06:01

How do you like the 390? I have the smaller duke200 and am very much happy with it!

Clown Shoe Pilot > Destructive Tester
02/14/2015 at 09:11

I thought about the duke 390, and then talked to several friends who have owned other KTM bikes. It's like dating a stripper. They look great, they're fun to ride but sooner or later it all ends in heartache.

Destructive Tester > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/14/2015 at 11:29

Do they have typical German-inspired over-engineering issues (face it, the Austrians are just the "nice" Germans)? I haven't read anything about any long term tests.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Destructive Tester
02/14/2015 at 12:10

From reports of my KTM owning friends, they're actually sort of UNDER engineered. They're fantastic when you get them, and then everything breaks.

LugNutz > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/14/2015 at 18:48

It would be hard for me to not have a commuter shifter kart if I worked there!

Clown Shoe Pilot > LugNutz
02/14/2015 at 20:42

I had a shifter kart. the track's not that fun in a kart.