Who's comfortable loaning bikes?

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I lent my AE out to a perfect stranger from the forum a couple of weeks ago. I love my bike but things are things.


Wow, most of you need to get new friends like MM2 said. Trust is a very strong feeling. I have loaned lots of my bikes to friends road and off road. But I know they will make it right if something happens. If I don't feel this way about someone or a situation its a no go. I also hate to ask to borrow anything from anybody but I am usually willing to lend my things out. Just the way I was brought up by my dad. He was a very giving and trusting soul.


I feel very fortunate to own my FJR and a nice home and a bunch of other crap. But my friends mean much more.
Humanity.

Great stuff.

 
A lot of you guys have horror stories about lending out bikes, but one of the best things happened to me when I swapped bikes with DCarver. I noticed that his bike is completely silent at highway speed- no wind noise at all. Why? Dcarver, who is about the same height as me was the model for the rifle screen. He hooked me up the next day. Completely unexpected and I have enjoyed the quiet ride ever since.

Moral of the story- always swap with someone that has more farkles!!

 
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I'm in the swap but not loan group. But that said, I have really only swapped with someone who I know well as a rider, has as much to loose in their bike ... and they have to be as good or better rider than I.

 
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On Sunday I rode my FJR to my in-law's house. My wife's uncle was there and he loves motorcycles, although he is not currently in the postion to buy one. I have ridden with him before and he rode my VTX all the time when I had it. Of course, he wanted to try my FJR, so I handed him the keys. He has this crappy little habit that never grated on my nerves until he fired up my bike: He too likes to blip the throttle.

We all know a cold FJR does nothing but protest when it is cold and the throttle keeps getting punched, so since it would stutter, he thought it might be running rough and some more good throttle blipping would fix the problem. I like the guy, but I wanted to choke him. I don't even know why...I know it wasn't hurting the bike, and he was not revving it hard, it was just nerve racking. If he would have revved it past my comfort zone, I would have told him to take it easy.

Point is, maybe your friend wasn't trying to be an ass, sometimes people just get into habits like blipping the throttle or revving the bike, and don't have the sense to quit.

 
I have no problem loaning out anything I have. Especially something of a material nature. I've loaned cars,trailers,bikes, even my house. I'm more than glad to help someone out, especially if they are in need.

The FJR is a little different because of the danger invovled. That said if they are a rider, though, and understand the risk, have at it.

Glenn

 
We were playing quarters with a case o' cole beer and I had made ten shots in a row.....thus....judge am I.

 
Picked up a used GS 750 in '81, asked a friend to follow me home in my car. He flew past me on a long FWY ramp (55 to 22 in Orange CO, CA)...I came around the bend just in time to see him spin the car and clip a light standard. Back then they cost $4800....hate to imagine what they charge for one now. Just happy his injuries were minor, and he didn't hit no one else...amazing considering it was about 19:30 on a Friday nite....

Guess we should have "mellowed out" a bit B4 goin' to pick up the new wheels....

to be 19 again...

 
I've lent bikes, cars trucks & vans to friends and family. I have no problem lending to a friend because I have no friends I don't trust. If I didn't think the person could handle it I wouldn't lend it.

I had my son in law damage a truck of mine but he had it fixed (An amp wasn't strapped well and went through the back window and dented the back of the cab).

In the end I wouldn't be happy if I lent my FJR and it came back crunched but its just metal and plastic and its insured.

 
Nope, not me. On the other hand when my friend bought a new bike and a new car. he wanted me to ride it like I stole it. Just so I can see what each can do :D I had to hold myself. I was like it is not mine. it is not mine. I would probably not offer my ride to him come to think of it.

 
I dont think I have actually ever been asked to lend one of my bikes out but I have swapped a few times usually finding out that I liked what I had way more than what I was swapping to. That being said I dont think I would have any problem swapping bikes with another rider from a 450 honda all the way to a boss hog with a v8. As far as actually letting someone use my bike when they would be out of my sight that list would have to be preaty short.. I could be a carpenter for 40 years and still count them on the amount of fingers I have left on one hand. I myself would love to swap bikes every chance I get just to see the other side of the coin, even if I knew that I was getting on a bike that I would never want to own. You never know you might be converting the newest fjr owner over or discovering your next farkle.

 
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