To keep or not to keep?

Getting your “for keeps” motorcycle is tricky. Almost every rider starts with a dream bike in mind. May it be a Harley, a Ducati, a Triumph, or whatever tickles your fancy, there will always be that one bike you think will be your last and forever bike.

In my case, it was my first love, the Royal Enfield Classic. Yes, the bike has a lot of flaws, performance isn’t good and the brand's reliability has always been questionable but the Classic series of Royal Enfield proves to be timeless. It offers a simple and pure motorcycle riding experience. The classic design and the lack of technology are what makes the bike unique, after all, an old bike will never go out of style. You won't have any trouble with maintenance either, due to the bike's primitive nature, even the most basic motorcycle shop can help should you need assistance in servicing the bike or for emergencies. A motorcycle that looks good and is easy to maintain, what more can you ask for, right? Well, the answer is performance. For me, you should see your “for keeps” bike as your last and as much as I love the Royal Enfield Classic, it just doesn’t make sense to me anymore. Don’t get me wrong, the Classic is fun to ride but you’ll probably outgrow it fast and once you outgrow the Classic, it becomes kinda boring to ride. You really have to love the bike enough to keep it after outgrowing its performance... Well that, and also to be financially blessed. 

We decided to go for a motorcycle which, like the Enfield has history and heritage but with more performance to offer. Top on our list was the Yamaha SR400, which was the closest to the Classic 500 in terms of performance output, the Kawasaki W800, another classic thumper with a little more oomph, a Harley Davidson Sportster, one of Harley's Iconic bikes, and a Ducati Scrambler, the rugged looker from the Italian manufacturer. Left undecided, we took a chance and viewed a Suzuki SV650 and despite having a lot to offer, the SV wasn't really on our list for a number of reasons. We were so fixated on the other bikes that we let the SV650 fly under our radar for so long. It was the perfect "for keeps bike" and it made sense, after all, Suzuki wanted the bike to cater to beginners learning how to ride, intermediate riders looking to polish their skills, and veteran riders to serve as their last and only bike. The SV is still made in Japan so quality is somehow guaranteed and here in the Philippines, anything made in Japan is a big plus. It has a good reliable V-Twin engine with a good track record, it handles great, and is fun to ride in all road conditions. The middleweight Suzuki is a modern classic in its own way plus it's easier and cheaper to maintain as compared to its European counterparts.

Despite lacking technology, it still has good reliable performance and enough power to keep you satisfied. Sure, the SV may not look as classic as the other bikes on our list but the spirit of the older generation SV650 is still very much present and for that reason alone, we were sold. 

It's good to set a goal when saving up for your dream bike as it will help you stay motivated. Just don't forget to keep your doors open to other choices. A lot of times, cruiser boys switch to sports bikes, scooter peeps upgrade to adventure bikes, super-bike riders downsize to middle-weights, and so on. Being fixated on your first choice limits you to just one option and chances are, you already outgrew that bike long before you even make the purchase. Every rider has their own preferences so it's important to know what yours are. Stay open and we hope you get to find the bike you are looking for.