There have been many BF threads on this subject with people often falling with great certainity into either of the camps. However, the appeal of animating with a name a beloved object seems perfectly normal to a weirdo like me. But at least I feel I'm in good company.
One of Britain's favorite composers, Edgar Elgar, named his bike Mr. Phoebus, which he often rode 50 miles a day during the most creative period of his life. John Steinbeck named his "Travels With Charley" vehicle Rocinante in honor of Don Quixote's horse. BB King calls his guitar Louise. Virgin Atlantic has a contest in which you can name individual aircraft (First winner: Jefferson Airplane).
Many of my bikes end up finding a name that sticks. Often the name is given by someone other than myself. Here are a few: Miss Moneypenny, the Duke of Orange, the Stealth Diva, the Bad Boy, the Ave Maria.
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"Light it up, Popo." --Levi Leipheimer