Ducati Monster Forum

It is just my imagination, or are there more beater bikes out and about these days?

I kind of get the feeling that with gas hitting $4.33 at the local Arco more and more relics are coming out from under backyard tarps and being ridden around. There was a particularly tatty specimen broken down in Tam Junction this evening.

Well, if it makes your theory any stronger, I can attempt to finish the 1973 Yamaha TX650 cafe that's been dragged across the country with me for the last 10 years. Damn thing's exactly as old as I am!! Same month and year! [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

I did just start working in the north bay recently...  ;D    No Im not going to wash it!   [moto]

Was said relic on a Vespa?  [cheeky]


I've noticed many more bikes around.


Many of them, I've been fixing up.

A lot more bikes, and now by my apartment I've seen at least 4 new bikes. No to mention the gas station with a 4.99  this morning  >:(

'tis the season.

What's funny is during the morning commute the old beaters always want to get a little race on.
I'm thinking, 'ok you win, wow you beat me across the intersection.'  [thumbsup] ya! for you and your 600lb bike, white socks and brown shoes/ 3rd generation helmet. 

 [laugh]  that guy raced me yesterday too!

Perfect description! LOL!!

When the weather turns chilly, he's often sporting a sweatshirt.

 [laugh] :'( [laugh]  [laugh] ONTFLMAO

I've been spotting a few 2stroke enduros in the mission,and dozens of mopeds!

So what exactly qualifies as a "beater" bike? Is it the age, condition, style?? My 2km750 is fairly dinged up and somewhat pieced together (though it is sound). It's my training bike for at least 4 more months before I invest in a shiny, pretty, new (used) bike. I plan to keep my present bike for riding to work. I don't think it is as likely to get swiped. I don't care if I ride a beater bike, I'm just curious what gives a bike that title and if it's a bad thing.

I'll tell you what isn't a beater bike.. a 1999 Ducati 748, with new tires, oil and brakes...  now if only someone was selling one... [/shameless plug]

i wouldn't mess with it if you're in unusually good shape for your age and experiences.
there was this Dorian Gray guy, maybe you've heard of him?  i dunno, just.. would make me cautious.  ;)

back OT:
more bikes, bicycles and scoots seem to be all over, locally, and the apparent trend with guys at work is sending their kids to college and using the kids bike or scooter to get around.  i've had glove and riding-pants questions from people who really surprised me, but these folks live within 5 miles of work and are giving up the mini-van for the summer.  funniest is one who is sending the college-age daughter on some big family-then-europe trip and snaking her purple scooter {with crazy daisy stickers} with GLEE: meep meep, zoom! - and he's a 250# dude. 

yay Berkeley~

If you see someone getting on a bike, and you're surprised not only when it starts, but moves, then it's a beater.  [moto]

I have noticed a lot more mopeds around the city.  Mopeds could be the new "fixie" ... so hot right now  8)

I saw a guy ride down the Hwy yesterday on a CR 250 looking all suspicious and stuff. blue smoke coming out. big white numberplate with no headlight. Don't know if that has anything to do with gas or not.

Man, Someguys avatar makes me really taste the "hot" breakfast sausage I cooked up an hour ago. Don't know why...I feel a strange need to visit the meat counter pretty soon.

I seem to have seen a few more, but I don't know if it's just the weather or I'm just looking harder.  Yeah, saw 87 gas in San Mateo for $4.99 a gal.   :o  [bang]

Just insane.

I went to a bachelor party in Tahoe this weekend, woke up hung, and had a mountain of bacon for the first time in ages. Now my pee smells like bacon. Is that normal?
And then there's the blue smoke.  :-\  I'm pretty sure that has to do with gas.

Er.....what'd you eat?

piles of  b a c o n.

I swear I saw that guy with the brown pants white socks, 6'4" dwarfing a moped yesterday. Knees out sideways of course.

Best part... Gold open face helmet on backwards, straps flapping in the wind  [laugh]