nameing

[Glarusguy]

I am trying too hard to come up with names for my bikes. I envy those who seem to just have a name for them. I am trying not to push the nameing process, but I would like something. At one time I thought about "Rented Mule", but got alot of thumbs down from my friends and SWMBO. I kinda like it. I do beat the bike more than I should, so....
Man I hope nameing our first child isn't this difficult....
My question to all is: How did you come upon your name?


Thom

[Geezer]

I call my 1980 Special the Mongrel because it has a lot of parts from a 1979 Standard on it. Including the front end, gauges, front and rear fenders, seat, tail light, and rear wheel. It will soon have a standard gas tank too when I get around to it.

I don't normally name my bikes and cars and until now I always thought the pratice was silly. Some machines earn their name and I think this bike did. I also named my Baja bug Frankenstein for similar reasons.

Geezer

[Pat Kelly]

It's your bike, you name it what you want. Everyone else can deal with it.
My E is called "$60 Gem because I paid $60 for it. I also used to call it "The rusty dumpster" because of the condition it was in. It had sat outside, uncovered, for 20 years.
My LG is the "Black Widow" because it's a Midnight Special (all black) and I killed 9 black widow spiders on initially cleaning it. #10 lived inside the steering tube for another 6 months. I left it there as a mascot. It has since moved-on to less adventurous surroundings

All hail "The Rented Mule!"

[Bud Manley]

I had a similer problem. Took me a year to find the nameJINGUS

[valhallan]

I GOTTA SAY..

i like "rented mule". its unique. and lets face it, one of the great things about these bikes was how they held up inspite of the abuse they took in early years.

i was planing on calling mine Raven, but that seems to be an actual line that they marketed at some point (not sure on that, but i hear it used a lot). i'm leaning towards waiting until the restoration is finished, and i get her out on some long rides, let her tell me what it is

[CWilliamson]

I'm currently planning on calling my 79 fs "ratzilla" but that ma change. In the past I've named them after the license plate, last bike I owned was named GAX because of it. Whatever suites you and flows from your mouth works best. No use fighting to remember the name when you're talking. I personally thing rented mule is good. "I'm going to take Rented Mule for a ride" works well to me. ;-)

Clark

[Glarusguy]

Well. Geez. Alot of thumbs up for Rented Mule. The PO had named it Voodoo Child and painted it on the side covers.
I'm sorry, but I just can't do with that name. I hate to change it, but... I guess the name doesn't need to painted on it. Maybe the plates? hehe One of the draw backs was wondering how Rented Mule would look on the side covers. I guess XS11 would be fine. lol.
Keep 'er coming though. How did you come up with your name?

[xs650mike]

It was easy to name "The Rustbucket". Take a look.



Under that tool bag is a completely rusted triple tree cover.
PO had left a tool bag on there so long it had melted into the clamp, couldn't tell where the leather left off and the rust began. I put another bag on it to cover the scar. All the chrome is pitted, frame welds rusty, saddlebags cover rusty shocks, aluminum is all salty and of course the headers are rusted. Runs perfectly!

[prometheus578]

"Queen of the Night", from Mozart's opera The Magic Flute.
The XS850 I built for my brother was "The Natalex". (his daughters Natalie and Alexandra) Made "The Natalex" tank emblems for him with some bizarre clay from a hobby store. Shape it as you wish, then cook in the oven for fifteen minutes. Turns to a hard plastic. Have many plans for that stuff
Bike names.... it only has to have meaning to you.

[Geezer]

That bike is a trailer-queen compaired to my 79 Standard restoration project. Only 17k miles but it looks like crap.

Geezer

Originally posted by xs650mike
It was easy to name "The Rustbucket". Take a look.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Glarusguy,

Check out this thread: bike nicknames

Quite a few interesting stories on how bikes got their names!

Why did you use "Rented"? You own the bike!? Bikers refer to our rides as Iron Horses.....how about Iron Mule??

Some musings about Mules: Cross between horse and Donkey. Are Sterile/impotent! At least, it's not a JackAss!!

My explanation of my bike's name is in the above thread.

[xs650mike]

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
Hey there Glarusguy,

Check out this thread: bike nicknames

Quite a few interesting stories on how bikes got their names!

Why did you use "Rented"? You own the bike!? Bikers refer to our rides as Iron Horses.....how about Iron Mule??

Some musings about Mules: Cross between horse and Donkey. Are Sterile/impotent! At least, it's not a JackAss!!

Sterile? Yes. Impotent? No!

[don07tncav]

It was easy to think up names for my bikes. SWMBO did it for me...

[ccogswel]

I like Rented Mule. Use it if you like it.

I call mine Mutt. As its a 79 Standard with a change in the rear to a 80 special. Changed the rear grab bar and tail light and rear fender and inner finder along with the seat and the front pegs. Oh and the rear shocks. That's why I call it Mutt. Its a mixed breed into its self I guess. Or???? Now I'm confused. Maybe that's in breeding. Oh well I do live in Kentucky. LMAO!

Chris

[xs650mike]

Strange to say after all of the bikes I've owned in the last 47 years Rustbucket is the first one I've named. Been trying to think of a name for my XS650H which I got for free! Thought about "Alcan Annie" since the PO rode the Alcan Highway with it but it doesn't have the right ring to it. It's even more cosmetically challenged than Rustbucket but runs strong with a 750 kit.



Notice the custom seat!