Little details...

[awanderingbard]

Anyone around here know anything about motorcycles? I need my dynamic French spy to be riding one, and I know even less about them than I do about cars.

I need it to be fairly badass and sleek. Price is no object. Character is a bit flashy, and likes to go fast. In his late 30's, and an experienced rider, so able to handle something trickier to ride. He uses it mainly to get around Paris, so I want a standard, street bike, but he'll also want something for longer trips, so maybe something in the sport touring range in addition to the naked bike.

I've taught myself the general terms, but am clueless about brands and models.

Comments

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what French motorcyclists might go for but my dad used to ride both a Honda and a BMW. It seems that BMW bikes are still doing well in general and they might be German, but you can get your hands on a BMW pretty much anywhere in Europe, plus parts for the same, so it might not be a bad bet.

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/us/en/index.html

Motorcycling in general

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/9422831/Guide-to-motorcycling-in-France.html

There are a bunch of French manufacturers of motorbikes, but I don't know anything about them tbh.

Avinton makes pretty looking big bikes... http://www.avinton.fr/

Peugeot do scooters and little bikes for city driving/commuting - http://www.peugeot.com/en/products-services/scooters

Sherco do off-road bikes - http://www.sherco.com/

Unless you want to start looking at Italian manufacturers - of which there are a ridiculous number - or the big 4 Japanese ones (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, all do good quality bikes that would be available all over the place) I'm not sure I can help.

Personally, I would either go for a Norton - http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/ - or a Triumph - http://www.triumph.co.uk/ - but they're both British and might not be so readily available in France. As I have never been on the back of a motorbike except as a pillion passenger, I'm probably not an expert...

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

Eeek! Awesome reply, thanks. :-)

My character is actually half-British/half-French, so he might well choose to buy British and import. I'll take a look around, thank you for help.