Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Chat Forum > The HUBB PUB
The HUBB PUB Chat forum - no useful content required!

BUT the basic rules of polite and civil conduct which everyone agreed to when signing up for the HUBB, will still apply, though moderation will be a LITTLE looser than elsewhere on the HUBB.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 26 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fremantle, Western Australia
Posts: 124
What do you call your bike?

Hey y'All,

I've noticed that various people on this site seem to have "pet names" for their beloved motorcycles...

So tell me this: whats the etiquette on giving your bike a name? Is it generally the done thing, or is it totally personal choice? Cool, or not really?

I've already caught myself talking to my bike a couple of times (don't ask!)...is this just the slippery slope towards giving it (her?) a name???

Jeanie Owner of as-yet-unnamed Suzuki Marauder...!!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 26 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 235
Bully

Funny you should ask this for I have thought the same and does anyone think of their bike in the Masculine instead of Feminine?

Mine have been named 'BULLY' in sequencial order, ie, 'Bully' 'Bully II' and now on 'Bully III'. An ex girlfriend said I rode like a bully when in towns and cities, jostling for space etc. Probably not the best nor PC but it certainly suits my riding style.

I suppose it also comes down to whether you see you and the bike on any given adventure or the adventure on any given bike, for me it's the bike that allows me to do the adventure of choice, hence the name and the familiarisation with my 'Steed'!
__________________
Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 26 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,102
You mean like "Boanerges" (Lawrence of Arabia's Broughs) or "Armageddon" (Ogri's Norvin)? I really couldn't bring myself to have something like that printed on the side of the tank, never mind something like "Sally" (because we "sally forth" together).

Most of the time it's just "the bike" unless something's gone wrong, in which case I'll make an exception and it can get very personal while I try to see which old "Anglo-Saxon" four letter names suits it best .
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 26 Jul 2010
holodragon's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Back in Blighty
Posts: 171
Of the 3 bikes I have so far owned I have named them all (my Wee Strom is called Gloria) not sure why I started naming them but they have all had feminine names,thought I was a bit odd till I discovered some of my friends named theirs too.
Cant see me having Gloria airbrushed across the tank though lol.
__________________
Andy L

From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 26 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Granada-Spain
Posts: 247
My three Yamahas, xt350, xt600 and tt600, were called Lucrecia, Lucre.

The R100GS PD, the Panzer

Ah! my old Nissan Patrol RD28 is called Patrolinho, he came from Portugal
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 26 Jul 2010
T.REX63's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA / USA
Posts: 295
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeanied1 View Post
Hey y'All,

I've noticed that various people on this site seem to have "pet names" for their beloved motorcycles...
Hmmm, ...bike?
__________________
Thomas

"Hey, ...I'm just ridin' shotgun"
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 26 Jul 2010
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
The DRZ..

I put a lot of thought into it..
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 26 Jul 2010
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 376
The bumble bee... for obvious reasons.

Apparently ALL Italian cars and bikes need names or they break down a lot. I mean, less than they would if they didn't have names. You can change a name too if the first doesn't seem to be working -7 break downs in two years for a brand new Alfa saw a name change. Since then 'Valentino' has behaved.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 27 Jul 2010
Scrabblebiker's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Posts: 343
It took me three years but I did name my 2007 BMW F650GS "Ellie". Since I'm very practical, she was named this way since she resembled an elephant with the snug fitting cover. Also, both my first and last names end with the letters L, E ...get it?

Not the most sentimental thing but it works for the kind a gal I am ;-)


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 27 Jul 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Qatar
Posts: 72
I'm lucky enough to own about 17 motorbikes, my pension pot Classic Motorcycle Rental, only one has a name, the 1960 Dnepr K72 sidecar is called Boris, well it just had to be! He's famous too, but not unique, 2nd one down when you Google 'boris sidecar', the other one's a Dnepr/Ural too!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 27 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
Some bikes attract names just like aircraft, tanks, guns etc. It's a long tradition. I just finished a book about First World War tank crews. One of the most famous ones was Fray Bentos, the crew obviously deciding they were like tinned meat. The other F squadron tanks had names like Frobisher and Formidable, named by officers who thought the crews would benfit from thinking they had something like a naval cruiser or battleship.

My Bonneville got christened "Maria" from the Blondie song ( "......moves like silk cooled by air...." and after a series of punctures ".....walking on imported air....."). The K100 project looks to be getting called Evil Edna from the 1980's cartoon Willo the Wisp. It currently sports 2 aerials and a dirty great square windscreen that looks like a telly and is not the nicest handling beast just now. None of this will be staying, but if I'm bored I can see a spot of "nose art" getting added. My wife has an aunt called Edna though....

The MZ's, XT, F650's, R-bikes, Enfield etc. never got further than "The Green one" (slight **** take on the Motorcycle Diaries film) etc.

Andy
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 27 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Chester, UK
Posts: 137
'Muttley'

It's a KTM 950 with suspension from a 990, so a bit of a mongrel and definitely has a wicked streak.

It's a bloke, not a lady (you can just tell), so no girl names for this bike.

How sad
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 27 Jul 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 47
bemers name

XT500 1st Betty Boop, 2nd FIAT (Fixe It All the Time)
XLV750 Bigfoot
F650 TT39 Luna
R100GS 43L Scooter
R1200GSA Panzi
take care on tracks
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 27 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fremantle, Western Australia
Posts: 124
Well this thread is certainly proving to be a fascinating insight into the motorcyclist's mind, I must say!

This whole naming-the-bike thing clearly needs more thought... I need to review my Suzuki Marauder's dominant characteristics and physical features and see what I can come up with...!!

Watch this space...

Jeanie
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 27 Jul 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 235
Outlaws

As you have a 'Marauder' (def- outlaw/ mercenary) then maybe think of some famous Female Outlaws, here's a link to ponder over............

Old West Female Outlaws - free Suite101 course

Also......... Women outlaws Anne Bonne and Mary Reed were pirates in the 1700's. Anne had her own ship and Mary was a strong second in command. Using clever tactics and swing their swords, they had many adventures on the high seas.

"Aaarr-arr! Shiver me Timb.. ah... I mean Throttle!"
__________________
Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
1st call for the 13TH EAR airhead Motorcycle Events around the world 3 20 Jul 2009 10:44
call for help Daros sub-Saharan Africa 5 22 May 2009 20:11
Insurance: who should I call to get it for a bike I want to rent this summer in Cal? johnnowell North America 7 21 Feb 2009 20:06
11TH EAR, first call... airhead Europe 0 22 Jul 2007 23:02
Insurance: who do I call? Warthog SOUTH AMERICA 2 2 Jul 2006 13:23

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:37.