04-28-2015, 06:00 PM
I was reading a thread elsewhere on this forum started by someone that just bought a CB1100. He was hoping for a lower VIN number, but did get the bike for a great price. It got me to thinking about numbers as they apply to the CB1100, motorcycling, and to life.
$9,999: That was the price I paid for my CB1100. (MSRP at the time.)
97: The "VIN number" of my CB1100. (At the moment, I can't remember all of the other letters and digits that precede the 97.)
24: The most important number associated with my CB1100. (This is the number of months that I've been able to enjoy my CB thus far, and counting.)
Long after $9,999 seems like chump change for a bike; Long after VIN numbers are contained in a microchip embedded into the frame (or a in a hologram, or some other technology I can't imagine); Long after motorcycles as we know them today have been replaced by electric bikes, the thing that will have mattered to most to me about my CB1100 is how much I was able to enjoy it.
People can always hold out for a lower price or a lower VIN number for that matter. There is nothing wrong with that. But on the flip side of things, finances willing: the sooner the better. None of us has any idea how much time we have actually have left on this planet to enjoy life and all that comes with it. Even if I knew back in 2013 that come 2015 I could pick up a new CB1100 for say $5,000 (half of what I paid back in 2013) I wouldn't trade out the past 24 months with the CB for such savings. It's just been such a great ride so far — both literally and figuratively.
That might be getting a bit deep and I didn't even ride my CB1100 today (the Hawk GT was chosen for that duty instead). However, when I got home to my family tonight we celebrated another number: 53. That's the number of years that I've now been around. 53 isn't exactly all that old. But I have now officially spent more time on this planet than my dad did. I watched him give up motorcycling due to the inherit dangers only to end up dying of a heart attack at 52 years of age.
It seems that one of the real tricks to enjoying life is to find the right "balance"of the things that matter. As I type this, the rest of my family is sound asleep. They are by far the most important thing in my life. While they're resting peacefully I tend to ponder this that or the other. There isn't a single time that I get on either of my bikes that I don't think about them before I take off. Just as my father did, I too realize that there are many risks involved with riding motorcycles. Even though I only just returned to riding 8 years ago motorcycling has brought a lot of enjoyment to my life. It's also taught me a number of good lessons. For me riding motorcycles can't compare with being a husband or a father. But as far as "other life experiences" go, it rates pretty highly. In that light owning and riding a CB1100 for the past 24 months has definitely been a real positive. (In fact, it's a big reason why the commute remains the highlight of my workday
) Still I sometimes wonder if I'll have to give up riding before I'm mentally ready to do so due to declining eyesight or for other health-related reasons. If that proves to be the case, I'll be even more grateful for the time I did get to ride.
Enough rambling for one night (my Tuesday night has now extended into Wednesday morning). Like most of you, I too enjoy this place and I remain grateful for the fact that I'm not the only CB1100-crazy knucklehead around. Stay safe out there and enjoy!
All the best,
Guth
$9,999: That was the price I paid for my CB1100. (MSRP at the time.)
97: The "VIN number" of my CB1100. (At the moment, I can't remember all of the other letters and digits that precede the 97.)
24: The most important number associated with my CB1100. (This is the number of months that I've been able to enjoy my CB thus far, and counting.)
Long after $9,999 seems like chump change for a bike; Long after VIN numbers are contained in a microchip embedded into the frame (or a in a hologram, or some other technology I can't imagine); Long after motorcycles as we know them today have been replaced by electric bikes, the thing that will have mattered to most to me about my CB1100 is how much I was able to enjoy it.
People can always hold out for a lower price or a lower VIN number for that matter. There is nothing wrong with that. But on the flip side of things, finances willing: the sooner the better. None of us has any idea how much time we have actually have left on this planet to enjoy life and all that comes with it. Even if I knew back in 2013 that come 2015 I could pick up a new CB1100 for say $5,000 (half of what I paid back in 2013) I wouldn't trade out the past 24 months with the CB for such savings. It's just been such a great ride so far — both literally and figuratively.
That might be getting a bit deep and I didn't even ride my CB1100 today (the Hawk GT was chosen for that duty instead). However, when I got home to my family tonight we celebrated another number: 53. That's the number of years that I've now been around. 53 isn't exactly all that old. But I have now officially spent more time on this planet than my dad did. I watched him give up motorcycling due to the inherit dangers only to end up dying of a heart attack at 52 years of age.
It seems that one of the real tricks to enjoying life is to find the right "balance"of the things that matter. As I type this, the rest of my family is sound asleep. They are by far the most important thing in my life. While they're resting peacefully I tend to ponder this that or the other. There isn't a single time that I get on either of my bikes that I don't think about them before I take off. Just as my father did, I too realize that there are many risks involved with riding motorcycles. Even though I only just returned to riding 8 years ago motorcycling has brought a lot of enjoyment to my life. It's also taught me a number of good lessons. For me riding motorcycles can't compare with being a husband or a father. But as far as "other life experiences" go, it rates pretty highly. In that light owning and riding a CB1100 for the past 24 months has definitely been a real positive. (In fact, it's a big reason why the commute remains the highlight of my workday
) Still I sometimes wonder if I'll have to give up riding before I'm mentally ready to do so due to declining eyesight or for other health-related reasons. If that proves to be the case, I'll be even more grateful for the time I did get to ride.Enough rambling for one night (my Tuesday night has now extended into Wednesday morning). Like most of you, I too enjoy this place and I remain grateful for the fact that I'm not the only CB1100-crazy knucklehead around. Stay safe out there and enjoy!
All the best,
Guth
