I agree with the "pay cash for toys" philosophy. To my way of thinking, the only time it makes sense to finance one is if the finance rate is less than the rate your investments are earning. That happens fairly often in the automotive sector, with the manufacturer supported special financing deals (I especially like the 0% offers), but I've never seen those kinds of loans on bikes, boats, etc. If I have some cash sitting somewhere making 4%, and the finance rate is 8%, then by my calculations I'm still 4% ahead by using the cash and not taking out the loan.
BTW, my philosophy was heavily influenced by my depression era father. He didn't believe in owing anyone for anything, and only borrowed for his house. Anything else he planned and saved for so he could pay cash. There are many economics experts who will tell you that this is a poor method, and that you should be taking advantage of leverage to aquire as much as possible using other peoples money. One of the drawbacks to being heavily "leveraged" has become fairly obvious in the past year, however. It's called bankruptcy, or foreclosure, or repossession. My method is a lot less stressful. If I want "it", and I have the money, and the wife promises not to kill me, then I take the cash and buy "it". If I don't have the money, or the wife threatens to kill me, then I obviously don't really need "it". Life goes on.
Jerry