Bike review section - moderators please read!!!

[fixit]

Bike: YEAR MANUFACTURER MODEL
Bought: NEW / 2ND HAND
Mileage done:
Bought for: COMMUTE / TOUR (TAR) / TOUR (DIRT) / PLAY (TAR) / PLAY (DIRT)
Used for: ditto


Intro / First impressions:

General likes and dislikes:

Top good points:

Top bad points:

Conclusion:

Rating: X / 5

What is it being rated against? Compared to what?

[the_wes]

EXAMPLE

In the BMW F650GS DAKAR thread, I could post

Bike: 2007 BMW F650GS DAKAR ABS or simply: 2007 with ABS (since we know what thread we're on already)
Bought: NEW
Mileage done: 27 000km
Bought for: COMMUTE / TOUR (TAR & DIRT)
Used for: COMMUTE / TOUR (TAR & DIRT) / PLAY (DIRT)

Here's a bonus, why not a short rating on those?

Used for / rated:
COMMUTE = 4/5
TOUR (TAR) = 2/5
TOUR (DIRT) = 5/5
PLAY (DIRT) = 3/5

Intro / First impressions:

Bla bla bla bla bla this attracted me to the bike, what i've done on it to this point, etc (in nice near paragraph form)

General likes and dislikes:

bla bla bla what it's like to ride, what i've done with it and how it performed, etc (in nice near paragraph form)
Top good points:

Top good points:

Versatile, die hard engine

Top bad points:

Vibes on the open road, zero wind protection

Conclusion:

bla bla if you're looking for a bla bla (paragraph)

Rating: 4 / 5

[the_wes]

Bike: YEAR MANUFACTURER MODEL
Bought: NEW / 2ND HAND
Mileage done:
Bought for: COMMUTE / TOUR (TAR) / TOUR (DIRT) / PLAY (TAR) / PLAY (DIRT)
Used for: ditto


Intro / First impressions:

General likes and dislikes:

Top good points:

Top bad points:

Conclusion:

Rating: X / 5

What is it being rated against? Compared to what?

compared to whatever you want. what YOUR impression is of the bike.

[lecap]

When do we start?

[Metaljockey]

Lito can get us started by getting his excellent review of the 950 from the archives.

[Tubeless]

EXAMPLE

In the BMW F650GS DAKAR thread, I could post


Used for / rated:
COMMUTE = 4/5
TOUR (TAR) = 2/5
TOUR (DIRT) = 5/5
PLAY (DIRT) = 3/5

t_w's format would work for me but:

1. From a newbie perspective - the first post could explain these ratings - what is a 1(falls apart  ) and what is a 5(excellent workmanship ) . I know those born on a bike knows these things but I don't. Rating is relative to skill

2. please include if the bike is stock standard or with build in supercharger and airbags ( anything that may have an influence on your rating - not the flaming paintjob )

[Aicorner]

I still think honest owner based comment reviews would be useful. 

Granted, they would sublective but complete accuracy would mean specs alone, which can be got from the manufacturers (sort of accurate). Several reviews of the same bike will provide a range of comments (not just number ratings) which should give a reasonable insight into the characteristics of the bike, especially the particularly good or bad ones.

On the issue of absolute accuracy, I have to agree with the criticism of my comment/review/boast that my loaded GS went where most 4x4s would not.  What I should have said was it went where I would not take a 4x4 owned by me unless I really, really had to !

[Fidel]

EXAMPLE

In the BMW F650GS DAKAR thread, I could post

Bike: 2007 BMW F650GS DAKAR ABS or simply: 2007 with ABS (since we know what thread we're on already)
Bought: NEW
Mileage done: 27 000km
Bought for: COMMUTE / TOUR (TAR & DIRT)
Used for: COMMUTE / TOUR (TAR & DIRT) / PLAY (DIRT)

Here's a bonus, why not a short rating on those?

Used for / rated:
COMMUTE = 4/5
TOUR (TAR) = 2/5
TOUR (DIRT) = 5/5
PLAY (DIRT) = 3/5

Intro / First impressions:

Bla bla bla bla bla this attracted me to the bike, what i've done on it to this point, etc (in nice near paragraph form)

General likes and dislikes:

bla bla bla what it's like to ride, what i've done with it and how it performed, etc (in nice near paragraph form)
Top good points:

Top good points:

Versatile, die hard engine

Top bad points:

Vibes on the open road, zero wind protection

Conclusion:

bla bla if you're looking for a bla bla (paragraph)

Rating: 4 / 5

Not bad, i like it Wes. Maybe also a little section to qualify the rider. (better interpret the comments)

like:
Rider background: mx, enduro, playrider dirt, roadbike
Years of experience:
other similar bikes owned:

I think all this could work quite well. Whats Michnus saying?

[letsgofishing]

If you have a look at Herm's Djebel 250 feedback posting http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=18444.0 this is pretty much what I imagined - perhaps with some additional comments if felt neccesary.

[letsgofishing]

bump...mods, any decision yet?