What sources of information influences what bike you buy...

[Druid]

I'm another one that likes the look of a bike and decides to buy it, then looks for reviews and other info to support my decision. Actually I often don't even look for reviews, I just buy it

[asmethurst99]

Lots of things - seeing bikes out and about- reviews and forums as well as YouTube have made it easier.
There’s a list of bikes “I’ve always wanted “ and bikes I think I ought to buy because they will suit me.
My NC was bought because I had one as a loner.
The CBR 900 was bought because time was running out with the Ulez and I’d always wanted one but I soon realised I should have bought one years earlier but didn’t because I didn’t think it was my kind of bike.
Edit
Bought my Bros because I saw a courier on one with a non standard exhaust sounding like a (sort of) Ducati- Grey Bike was a big influence coming back to bikes as well.

[KungFooBob]

20 years ago I bought stuff entirely on mag reviews. Then my mate got a job at a mag and I got a behind the scenes view of things. They were 'mostly' right, the R6 i bought in 99's was selected because of reviews, but a test ride back to back with a GSXR600 proved the R6 was a fuck ton better

In more recent times I buy stuff I like the look of, after years of buying Honda's, I like odd or left field choices.

I also really like buying old shitters and tinkering with them. If I had more room I'd have dozens of random bikes worth less than £2k each.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

KFB that's a dangerous road to follow, many a middle aged man has floundered on the road of many manky motorcycles.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

KFB that's a dangerous road to follow, many a middle aged man has floundered on the road of many manky motorcycles.

I'm wondering whether to take the cover off any of mine and get them running and warmed up, it might make things easier in six months time when I come back to ride them.

I wheel mine out of the garage once a month, start the ones that run up and warm them up to where there's no water vapour coming out of the exhaust about once a month, I'm sure my neighbours love me for it, though they're probably happy the FZR400 has gone, that was stupid loud.

[Mr Moofo]

you have missed "man in the pub / QAnon sites/ conspiracy theory site" as an option

[weeksy]

you have missed "man in the pub / QAnon sites/ conspiracy theory site" as an option

I'm not re-doing the list

You've got what you've got..

[dern]

Looks like manufacturer marketing isn't money well spent.

[weeksy]

Looks like manufacturer marketing isn't money well spent.

When you say that, what do you mean though ? Where would we see this ? If we count 'magazine' as separate then we've only really got TV media which isn't a common thing ? Or am i missing something else you're thinking about ?

[Dodgy69]

Initially I see pics in mags or online. Then look at loads of YouTube reviews, then go to closest dealer to try for size and have a proper look, then I ring dealers for best deal,

[Count Steer]

Looks like manufacturer marketing isn't money well spent.

When you say that, what do you mean though ? Where would we see this ? If we count 'magazine' as separate then we've only really got TV media which isn't a common thing ? Or am i missing something else you're thinking about ?

Yer. The marketing budget includes the cost of all the jollies for all the other media for bike launches + bike shows + you could say that racing is marketing budget too. You know when you've been 'advertised at' but sometimes it's harder to spot when you're being 'marketed at' IYSWIM. So people don't view it as something they're influenced by...but of course they often are.

(Hence the earlier comment about marketing...it can be hard to know what's working - if customers don't even know).

[Monstyr]

Where’s the ‘none of the above’ option.
I’ve chosen all my bikes based on ones I just like the look of, that’s pretty much my only criteria.

[Bustaspoke]

Looks like manufacturer marketing isn't money well spent.

I guess it depends on who they're trying to get to buy the bike.
Cynical middle aged bloke who's been riding since before most of the engineers were born (me),& still remembers Honda's V4 500 & 750 teething problems fiasco,or someone who's new to bikes & is more concerned with the TFT screen & electronics than mechanical reliability & running costs.
Different requirements for different customers.

[dern]

Looks like manufacturer marketing isn't money well spent.

When you say that, what do you mean though ? Where would we see this ? If we count 'magazine' as separate then we've only really got TV media which isn't a common thing ? Or am i missing something else you're thinking about ?

I guess I had in mind the direct to us marketing such as magazine adverts, adverts on social media and youtube. I get quite a lot of targeted ads on these channels.

[Whysub]

My buying is based on what I like the look of, and that I have test ridden (so a mix of Potter and Rockburner).

Except when I wanted a commuter when the state of the tyres, chain, sprockets and price dictated purchase. They were usually sold when these had worn out (typically 6 to 9 months).

Never bought based on magazine articles since Honda withdrew their advertising from Bike magazine back in the mid 70's for giving the Goldwing a bad review. So never believed many reviews after that, always concerned that they maybe writing what their advertisers wanted them to.

Likewise YouTube reviews. I'd like to punch 44 teeth out of those 44 Teeth pair.

However, i do like watching owners ride their bikes big distances with no issues, with C90 Adventures, Nathanthepostman and Itchyboots coming to mind.