
Just thinking about this the other day.
When I chose mine, I was basically told "pick a number and we'll tell you if its available".
So I stopped and thought how to minimise the chances of there being a conflict:
I knew that all the single digit numbers would be taken.
I figured that lots of the two-digit numbers would also be taken.
Hillclimbs and Supersprints taught me that numbers that can be made with electrical tape are the first to go: 1, 7, 4.
Then I thought "Are there any three digit numbers that don't use 1,4, or 7, that I have some/any connection to.
I happened to be standing next to my much-loved 1974 Mazda 808 at the time...
Eureka! 808 is the number!
Then I figured that the number 808 takes up too much room on an old oval number plate.
So I went for the 808's European name: 818.
And that's how I chose my number (and a probably unwanted insight into the mind of Nathan).
It's worked too, BTW - never had a problem with anyone else turning up to an event with the same number.
The worst part of building a new bike is cutting out all of those friken "8"s, though...