!!!!!!My question exactly!
If it wasn't an 'M' it isn't worth mentioning.
Get back in your "lease payment due-automatic trans 5-series" and walk your walk.
A '97 M3 with a 100K miles is cool!

I would not show my face in public again with a bike like that!

'97? Only 240 horses stock. Either a new '05 or an '89 E-30 would be the the one I'd want, though I built my '89 325i to crunch it.

55/Rad

Who said I drove an automatic? Or had a lease payment.
Its a 5 speed with the M sport package on it. Paid cash.
A 97 M3 with 100k is cool.

And it is that pecking order that I find so nauseating in the cycling world (and the real one)...BTW, I'd be happy with the Saturn :D

Brian

'89 E24, M6....the one that got away.

If you try to please all the people, all the time, you're bound to fail. If you're happy with the bike, that's all that matters.

Edit: If someone else has issues with what you ride:
1) They need to get a life, and...
2) Offer to let them buy you a new bike that they approve of.

FWIW - Bicycling Magazine gave a Motobecane a very good review a few months ago; said it was a great bike for the money. How's the ride?

Dude man, do you ever get embarassed if you wear running shoes that aren't branded? Or clothes that aren't branded as you walk through your fashion district?

I think your issue may not necessarily be the name, but what advertising has done to your head. If you don't have a "name brand" product, you may feel suddenly left out of the loop and alienated. Most companies run a business for money only and advertisement has bit you good and hard....
Just realize.. you're riding man, I'd die to ride anything, as long as it's sub-25 lbs.. [I'm a weak man]....lol
I could really care less what bike it is... I bought my bike because of that damn sexy sculpted frame [i'm also superficial], regardless of what brand it was...
Anywhoo, laugh at the other people who look at your bike in a funny way... because you know those guys are just posers who wanna look good in a group ride...

nothing to be embarassed about.

I ride a moto as well, and it's a damn fine bike. Given all the parts are off-the-shelf...but that's a bonus since it means you can more likely find a suitable replacement. My problem is Kinesis quit making my spcfic frame...the new one lacks DT shifter mounts, and I like the cable guides that mount to those :(

If you are curious what frame you have, check out kinesis's web site http://www.kinesis.com.tw/ and peck around there for the frame that matches yours.

I have no idea who makes their "m-wings" parts though, but they seem to be of reasonable quality. They are pretty hush hush about their branded parts, however their email suport is quite fast. I often got a response by the next day if not the same day.

About the only things that people have against them are their pricing schemes...which are a bit deceptive, and some people think of motobecane as a "bike boom" brand. Actually they made some very nice bikes in their time...plus few bike boom cheapies had campagnolo record on them ;)

True the modern company isn't as fancy as the old one, but hey if it's a good bike, it's a good bike. Basically if anyone talks smack about the bike brand, shrug it off...bonus to using off the shelf parts is the thing will at least be of comparable quality.


oh, and for a car...I'd go an early 80s RWD buick regal with a 3.8L turbo engine, of course done up as a twin turbo intercooled. Forget flash, I'd rather have 400hp in a midsize car that weighs about as much as your average compact of today does :p

It looks like a pretty nice bike. Did someone try to tell you different?

Why do you ride?

Do you ride to impress or ride because you love it? If you ride because you want to impress others, then go on and get a new bike. But don't get one too expensive, because that reason won't last you long enough to make it through 2 more seasons of cycling.

If you ride because you love it, who cares what you're riding? Enjoy the experience.

Koffee

It's not what you ride.

It's how you ride.

Wow, I didn't know they'd even let you post here with such a low-end bike. And low-end is a compliment since most people wouldn't even call that a road bike.

Jeez, Opie, they let you and me in. They'll let anybody in.