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Yamaha MT-01

What Motorcycle Will I Be Riding in 5 Years?

What Motorcycle Will I Be Riding in 5 Years?This question jumped into my mind at 5 AM. So much for getting any sleep tonight. Think about your motorcycle. Now think about your dream motorcycle. Now look back at your motorcycle. It’s not your dream bike, is it? Maybe you don’t even have a dream motorcycle. Maybe you have a list of a few you’d really. I know I do.

I’ve been riding for 6 years now. In that short time I’ve owned 11 motorcycles or scooters. I’ve owned everything from a stable of midsize cruises, to a heavily modified 1990 Honda Hawk GT650 N, to a couple two-stroke scooters. I’m still trying to get it right, but along the way I’m learning what I like, what I dislike, what I keep coming back to, and why.

The only question left for you and I now, reader, is what are we going to ride next?

I’m 25 years old. The bank and I own a lovely condo. I also own a Suzuki Marauder VZ800, a KYMCO Venox 250, a Piaggio Fly 150, and a really cute dog. I’ve worked in the motorcycle industry. I’ve tested some beautiful and exotic machines and some new machines, but I’ve never bought one of them.

What’s stopping you from getting the “dream motorcycle”?

In my case:
– Finances
– My own needs
– Only a vague concept of what my ideal motorcycle is

As far as finances go, I live comfortably with a healthy cash flow. I never have a problem paying the bills, and at the end of each month the bank statement looks a little nicer than the last one did. Money’s alright, but it’s far from a lot. My condo is small and not very close to work. I live (and play) responsibly within my budget. How ’bout you?

Yamaha MT-01

What are your biggest motorcycle associated costs? For me, insurance costs used to be a huge issue. When I first bought a 250cc my insurance was roughly $1,400 per year. Now for about $100 I insure that same 250cc, plus an 800cc cruiser. Grey hair aside, it looks like getting older isn’t all doom and gloom. Can I stay 25 forever?

The truth is that while I’m financially OK, I’m in no person to be purchasing a five-figure motorcycle. Hopefully that will change in the next year. My mentality is “What good is money if not for buying motorcycles?” but I have a few other expensive plans first.

my mentality quoteMy next point of concern are my needs. As in… does anyone really need a 1,400cc motorcycle? Cruiser riders, hush, your 85 cubic inches of chrome can’t keep up with a Japanese inline 4 engine with 2/3 of your displacement. I’m averaging it out here. When I see a Triumph Rocket 3 bombing down the road downtown I take one look at the guy and feel sorry for his wife. Someone is doing some serious overcompensating. What do you need from your motorcycle?

I’ve flirted with the idea of a street bike. I had a brief stint with my Hawk GT650 N and with an old ’79 Honda CB650. Mostly I keep coming back to cruisers because they’re comfy, have attitude, they’re what I learned to ride on so to me they handle just fine, and they’re great for carrying gear and/or really cute women.

Fun Fact: I secretly refer to my KYMCO Venox 250 as The Cherry Popper. She’s given over a dozen young (and older) women their first motorcycle ride. Life’s good, am I right?

Fun Fact #2: I originally got into motorcycling wanting to ride a 1988 Honda CBR600 F1 Hurricane. That was my dream bike when I was a teen. I would love to own a supersport, classic or modern, but right now the practical part of me just doesn’t see it as sensible.

Honda CB1100A

I’m governed by a bang-for-buck ratio of what I can afford to ride based on what makes sense. Aren’t we all? There are plenty of variables in that equation though. Things change quickly when you’re young. My ratio might be one of them. Where’s yours at? The most I’ve ever spent on a motorcycle was $6,400 taxes included. The second most was $5,000 taxes included.

Do you know what your dream motorcycle is?

I don’t have a concept of a “dream motorcycle”, but there are 10 great bikes I’d love to own in the next 5 years:

Ducati Diavel ($19,995 CAD)
Harley-Davidson V-Rod ($17,209 CAD)
Honda CB1100A ($13,199 CAD)
Honda VFR1200 FA ($15,499 CAD)
Kawasaki ER6n ($7,899 CAD)
Suzuki V-Strom 650A ABS ($9,099 CAD)
Triumph Bonneville ($8,699 CAD)
Yamaha MT-01 (No longer available in Canada)
Yamaha FZ8R ($9,599 CAD)
Yamaha V-Max ($22,999 CAD)

There’s a $15,000 difference between the less expensive and most expensive bikes on this list. Even still I look at it and think, this isn’t a great motorcycle list. It’s mostly the same things I’ve always liked: power cruisers and flirting with the idea of a street bike and a hope of some touring one day…

It’s now 6:30 AM. I’ve been up writing this for an hour and a half. I’m nowhere near closer to knowing what I’ll be riding in 5 years. How’s that for anticlimactic? We’ll find out in time. Maybe it’ll be electric! …Nah!

What are you currently riding and what do you see yourself riding in 5 years? Leave your comments below!

About Adrian from YouMotorcycle

I started riding motorcycles in 2007, founded YouMotorcycle in 2009, and was working in the motorcycle industry by 2011. I've worked for some of the biggest companies in motorcycling, before going full-time self-employed in the motorcycle business in 2019. I love sharing his knowledge and passion of motorcycling with other riders to help you as best I can.

9 comments

  1. I’m currently riding my ’06 MT-01 (cool that it’s on your list)…I might have this one for a long time as it was my dream bike and is now just my bike!

    The 5yr deal depends on the situation…will my wife start riding with me, will she get her own? I don’t know…my plan for 5yrs is to own three bikes…a touring bike of some sort (probably a bagger, Victory Cross Country), a street bike (MT-01 fits that just fine), and an Adventure bike (like the Triumph Tiger 800XC)

    But who knows what the next five years will bring? Other than you’ll be 30 & I’ll be 47…damn punk ;-)

    Later.

  2. I’m riding an ’07 Suzuki Blvd M50. I bought it to beat the rising gas prices here in the U.S. (Southern Cal) and I’ll be damned if I don’t look forward to my commute just so i can ride her to and from work. In five years, I’m looking at retiring or being near the end of my first career. I think a big bagger would be great for the wife and I. Those new Honda FB6s sure are nice looking.

    • Love it. I currently own a 2011 Suzuki Boulevard M50. Great bikes! I’m thinking about seeing if I can test ride one of the FB6s. I’m curious to test the hype before I talk about it on the site. Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment :)

  3. I ride my 2011 V Star 250 to work. Its 34 miles round trip so I appreciate the 81mpg it gets. The 2003 Road King sits in the garage till my wife says Lets Ride. I’m looking at a Super Lo,

  4. I started with 8 years of small 2-stroke dirtbikes, then rode a 650cc Yamaha parallel twin from 1980 to 1985. I now have a 2008 Kawasaki ZZR600 sport-tourer and a 2002 Honda VLX 600cc cruiser. I plan to keep both more than 5 years. The new Yamaha FZ-09 (that replaces the FZ8) and the new Indian interest me, but I will probably buy a new car instead in the next few years.

  5. I think your dream bike changes as you age, for years it was a Fireblade for me, had one and yea great bike but after a while you mood changes and it just doesn’t turn you on any more…Multiple bikes is the way to go, Triumph Thunderbird as the main bike for touring and a nice little Bonneville for solo Sunday afternoon bimbles….what can I say, like my Triumphs ! as for the next one…..well, Moto Guzzi V7 Racer or I could keep it in the family and get a Thruxton….or maybe just give the Bonnie a cafe tweak…..hmmmm…

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