Moto Social Experimentation on my Coworkers

[the Ferret]

Let me add that there is nothing wrong with taking care of your possessions, as long as in the end they don't up owning you..... and you are happy with the outcome.

I've known guys that bought bikes new, babied them, went to sell and then couldn't ever get out of them what in their mind they thought their "spotless, low mileage, never ridden in the rain, adult owned, never abused, garage kept" babies were worth. Felt everyone was low balling them, and they weren't going to give them away. Held onto them a long time. Them not riding, the bike only getting older and older. Then they became disenchanted with it because they couldn't get their money out of it and after a year or two dumped them cheap and were bitterly disappointed with the whole experience, never to buy a bike again.

There are only certain people that are going to pay premium for a used bike. Most are going to say it's 5 years old and I can but a new one for $X, so no matter the condition, this one is only worth $x ...and it's usually much less than the owner thinks.

My nephew Mike is an expert at finding low mileage used bikes CHEAP. He just came over yesterday with his newest acquisition a 690 Duke he bought for a song with a little less than 4000 miles on it. List price new was $ 9K. He paid $4K.

[GoldOxide_imp]

RE Duke: Sounds awesome.

- - -

I always bought used without hesitation. My last three have been brand new. No regrets either way.

[Gone in 60]

Looking at ads on Craigs or Cycle Trader, you can usually sniff out the guys Ferret is talking about. Ones that make you think that the guy will truly be offended if you show up and aren't amazed, and dare to try to offer something less than asking price. The ad will typically read like a novel. Every modification is itemized by price. I tend to avoid those guys - they're already on the defense when you pull into their driveway and I'm sorry, your gold anodized spools and Italian mirrors aren't still worth what you paid for them.

The gems are out there, offered by guys ready to make a deal. Sure looks like Ferret's nephew found a good one!

[Wisedrum]

Wether you clean your bike more often or not and ride it will wear it out with time. Some do earlier, some later. Whenever I traded a motorbike in for another one, it made a difference giving an optical well cared one away. The dealer offered me some more money. Not that much and not a good payment for all the work I had spend cleaning the bike over the years but still some.

This isn't the reason trying to keep my bikes good and clean looking. I simply like them this way whenever I go out on a ride. Starting on a pretty bike whatever comes after it. Sometimes it isn't possible to keep them in this shape. Depends on the weather period I find myself in. Or the circumstances like being on a longer motorbike trip. I live with it. So everyone has different preferences and most of us have in common to ride their motorbikes. Some do it more than casual. I ride them on a regular basis.

Wisedrum

[Gone in 60]

Here Here, Wisedrum. My bikes may only ever take me to work, and the occasional stop at some shops or dinner on the way home, but there's something very satisfying to me to stagger down to the garage first thing in the morning, open the door, and see the sun hit two shiny clean bikes waiting.

All of this talk has just now made me realize that one of the reasons I work at a museum on weekends is that, it's essentially a support group for vehicular obsessive compulsives. Almost every car and bike is spotless. And, while nobody at my Monday-Friday job has ever uttered so much as "nice bike", I've had hour-long conversations with strangers in the museum parking garage about the best way to remove header bluing.

And while my wife may not share my oddity, she at least appreciates it. This week, her job has her travelling to the far reaches of Riverside county. Last night while planning her travel for today, she said "I may be stuck in the car all day, but at least it's a very clean car.

[Charlie Bravo_imp]

All my past covers cracked-up - even the so-called UV protected covers. So no more of that nonsense. In terms of daytime parking, the bike just bakes under the sun all day, year, after year, after year.

Yes, and unfortunately, the instrument needles used to look red. Now they are an off-orange. The switch gear has not reached that weathered "greyed-black" look - yet.

I ride to work once a week, on Wednesdays. I too park near the door, and coworkers see it. One day, during a hot Santana condition, I moved it into the shop area. Several people also asked me if I got a new bike. BTW, apply a coat of petrolatum jelly (Vaseline) to your switches, let it set overnight, and wipe the next day. Shiny black again.

[GoldOxide_imp]

see, i view riding a bike, and caring for it 2 completely different things. I enjoy the wrenching/maintenance and on just about anything, its my hobby.
I never, ever care about resale value. However, i have made a bit of cash over the years, not nec because i was looking for it, but it just worked out that way.

My old sport classic ducati was bought at dealership that wa straded in with 145 miles. I pretty much stole it for the asking price, had it for almost 8 years, and made 4k on the resale. (and i put 10k miles on it). Sometimes you get lucky. I would have been happy breaking even.

That was a super sweet situation indeed.

[Gone in 60]

Those are one of those lucky bikes that got valuable!

[rboe]

I"m trying it two ways, buy new, take care of it - but ride it. 2nd method, buy a gently used JUNKED bike with low miles for cheap, take care of it - but ride it.

Unlike the GB500, this CB1100 does not (at least has not - too soon perhaps?) has not turned into the classic rare desirable machine I anticipated.

So I'm back to riding them again.

[GoldOxide_imp]

From what I can determine from riders and non-riders: The CB1100 appears to be quite desirable.

Rare? That hasn't entered thoughts yet. Classic? Maybe a tribute to its [classic] predecessors for sure.