Long-term motorcycle ownership?
Discussion
My mum won some money on the lottery in 2002 (02.02.02, to be precise), asked me what I'd do if I had some spare cash and gave me some money to buy a big twin Harley.
Instead of buying one new one, I bought two older bikes and passed one to my other half. Both have been through changes of spec', exhaust, wheels, seats, bars, paint, raked/unraked etc. and we've thoroughly enjoyed them. T'other half's blue and flame example is just going up for sale, as she has taken to using my 900 Legend... mainly due to its lighter weight.
Meantime, Enfield, Triumph, Guzzi, Kawasaki, Morini, BMW and a few others have come and gone...
Instead of buying one new one, I bought two older bikes and passed one to my other half. Both have been through changes of spec', exhaust, wheels, seats, bars, paint, raked/unraked etc. and we've thoroughly enjoyed them. T'other half's blue and flame example is just going up for sale, as she has taken to using my 900 Legend... mainly due to its lighter weight.
Meantime, Enfield, Triumph, Guzzi, Kawasaki, Morini, BMW and a few others have come and gone...
Janluke said:
I'm a serial bike buyer! so don't tend to keep bikes for very long.
My longest is 14 years and counting, its a keeper and is willed to my Godson
Yep, so am I... generally.My longest is 14 years and counting, its a keeper and is willed to my Godson
I can see that as a keeper, very nice. think it's easier to keep old stuff tho', as there's no desire/need whatever for chasing the new upgraded model. Will be putting four of mine up for sale this summer, so as to make room for some bikes I haven't yet tried.
Had this one for, I think, nearly twenty years before selling it a while back.
Edited by spoodler on Thursday 2nd May 12:00
2006 Triumph Speed Four 2007-2015
Bought it when I was 17 (2007) and had it restricted to 33hp for the first two years. Used it throughout uni placement, first few jobs etc. Didn't do a lot of miles as I was just commuting and really quite nervous. Sold it for a Sprint ST1050 ABS (what a mistake that was).
Next closest would be my 2006 Honda CBF500 ABS. Got it in 2019 and will likely never get rid of it. Aim to nut and bolt restore it when it finally gets too tired (which will likely be never!).
Bought it when I was 17 (2007) and had it restricted to 33hp for the first two years. Used it throughout uni placement, first few jobs etc. Didn't do a lot of miles as I was just commuting and really quite nervous. Sold it for a Sprint ST1050 ABS (what a mistake that was).
Next closest would be my 2006 Honda CBF500 ABS. Got it in 2019 and will likely never get rid of it. Aim to nut and bolt restore it when it finally gets too tired (which will likely be never!).
A friend of mine has only ever renewed the insurance on his bike once, on a Honda Pan. Otherwise, he swaps too regularly.
My longest is my beloved CBF125. The first bike I owned that rode out of the estate before it broke down. I've got no real use for it but it's so cheap and such a fun little thing to ride that I don't want to get rid.
My longest is my beloved CBF125. The first bike I owned that rode out of the estate before it broke down. I've got no real use for it but it's so cheap and such a fun little thing to ride that I don't want to get rid.
I bought my ZX9R new in 2001 and binned it in 2017. In those 16 years I put about 90,000 miles on it. Went all over Europe and the UK. I loved that bike to bits. The two photos were taken about 3 months apart - it was still looking good! I kept it after the crash but couldn't get motivated to repair it (again) so I sold it on. It's now MOT'd and presumably in use.
If you look at the top picture closely you'll see a dent in the frame where the handlebar hit it during a highside at a Donnington Park track day when the bike was c2 years old. That was the first rebuild! It had one more and I just couldn't do a 3rd. Such great bikes. In 90k it had no significant mechanical work at all other than services and consumables (brake discs, plugs, hoses etc). Still had the original clutch but I did replace the rear shock for an Ohlins item.
If you look at the top picture closely you'll see a dent in the frame where the handlebar hit it during a highside at a Donnington Park track day when the bike was c2 years old. That was the first rebuild! It had one more and I just couldn't do a 3rd. Such great bikes. In 90k it had no significant mechanical work at all other than services and consumables (brake discs, plugs, hoses etc). Still had the original clutch but I did replace the rear shock for an Ohlins item.
My Fazer 1000, kept it for seven years. Twelve European tours on it, then stupidly part exchanged it for a FZ1 as I thought the newer bike would be a better tourer and all rounder , it definitely wasn't ! Still regret selling it now and if I had room in the garage I would buy another. For some reason I cannot find any pictures of it, probably all stored on an old CD somewhere in the loft.
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