Ever find your old motorcycle for sale again? | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Ever find your old motorcycle for sale again?

Expensive bike storage.
 
Nope. Or at least, I don't think so - there has been a couple VF500Fs that made me wonder, but mine was 99% stock so it would be hard to tell
 
I sold my duc trackbike (the Muffin) to a guy in Quebec and thought i would never see it again. And then thru my work in Guelph, it reappeared in the hands of a lead hand at a linamar plant in Guelph. Sadly, it sits in a pile of parts now needing a top end job.
Traded my Wing and the new owner found me via fb. He complained about the condition it was in and hasn't contacted me since i told him he could remedy all the issues by dropping $38,000 on a new one.
So this guy buys your wing from a dealer and then tracks you down to ***** about it? Did he expect some cash for his efforts? What a dick!
 
So this guy buys your wing from a dealer and then tracks you down to ***** about it? Did he expect some cash for his efforts? What a dick!
He asked about trials in our first conversation, so i gave him a link to the schedule. He showed up with his wife on the wing at one of the trials which is held on private property. We park on the owners front lawn. When he left he threw his timmies trash on the lawn.
Ya. He's a dick.
 
The one I let get away! I originally bought this as a basket case sometime around 95 after lusting over one since 89. I got it 90% finished (needed wiring, some hoses, and a bunch of fasteners), but didn't have the time or space to complete it, and had just got lured into a shiny new 748. I sold it to Bar Hodgins around 2001, then came across this ad a decade later that keeps reminding me of my regret. I wish he would just delete it!!!

 
Still, talking about bikes here - I guess I've reached the age where the newer models these days just don't move me as much as the ones from when I first started riding. Seems like the manufacturers are catering to a much different kind of rider than I am.

For me, the newer bikes have gotten a little too refined, losing a lot of the rawness that drew me to bikes in the first place and gaining a bunch of technology that's undoubtedly safer, but takes something away from the riding experience when you know you have the safety cushions of TC and ABS. My newest bike was an 821 Hyperstrada, and it reminded me of a Honda - it just starts right up and you can ride away. Good luck doing that with an earlier model like the 998, where you have to play with the fast idle lever while warming up. Call me crazy, but I always enjoyed the tinkering required to get the older bikes to run smoothly, and it gave each bike character.
 
I just can't bring myself to accumulate bikes I don't ride or won't ride enough. It feels wasteful.

Like Lightcycle, I don't really see many new models that move me enough to want one aside from off road or dual sport bikes, but I'd rather buy a used one for substantially less than new.

Yeah, this is a huge part of my buying criteria. Back when we did a lot of track days, I felt justified owning sportbikes. But now, without an affordable track nearby ($50K membership + annual fees), it's bit wasteful owning a machine that could make you lose your license in first gear.

We live in the middle of the wilderness and it makes much more sense to own an enduro. Just hop on and hoon around in the dirt just 5 minutes away from our front door.

People own motorcycles for different reasons. Some people want to own an Adventure bike and keep it on the pavement. Some people want to own a sportbike and never track it. Others just like shining their toy up every weekend in their driveway and then pushing it back into the garage. If that makes them happy, nothing wrong with that.

Different 2-strokes for different folks.
 
For me, the newer bikes have gotten a little too refined, losing a lot of the rawness that drew me to bikes in the first place and gaining a bunch of technology that's undoubtedly safer, but takes something away from the riding experience when you know you have the safety cushions of TC and ABS. My newest bike was an 821 Hyperstrada, and it reminded me of a Honda - it just starts right up and you can ride away. Good luck doing that with an earlier model like the 998, where you have to play with the fast idle lever while warming up. Call me crazy, but I always enjoyed the tinkering required to get the older bikes to run smoothly, and it gave each bike character.

Totally agree.

Also, there's this trend towards homogenization of engineering and technology. I've always been attracted to companies and products that do things a bit differently.

The Porsche 911 put an air-cooled, normally aspirated, flat-six way out behind the rear and then had to figure out a way to tame a vehicle that had the weight distribution of a sledgehammer. And they were successful and won races with that platform. That was cool. But now the powerplant is a liquid cooled, turbo and they're talking about electrification. And they just did away with the manual transmission a couple of years ago. IMO, it's lost a lot of what made the 911 special and unique.

Desmodromic valves in a Ducati is also a cool feature, allowing the engine to rev higher. The image of the double rocker arm is iconic and was synonymous with Ducati for a very long time. Now, some models are switching to spring-actuated valves and some people are super-happy they don't have to pay for expensive desmo valve service. IMO, that makes these new Ducatis a bit less special. Other things that defined Ducs, like the dry clutch, trellis frame, SSSA, L-twin engine, undertail exhausts are also disappearing and the newer models are starting to look like all the other motorcycles in the marketplace.

There will be a whole generation of new Duc owners not knowing what the heck this logo is:

desmo.jpg

I hope BMW never abandons the boxer twin layout, as well as Moto-Guzzi with its oddball transverse V.

I think having cool and unique motorcycles in the market satisfies a segment of the population that wants something unique and quirky and not having a machine that when stripped of its badging and plastics, is technologically indistinguishable from all the other machines out there.
 
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For me, the newer bikes have gotten a little too refined, losing a lot of the rawness that drew me to bikes in the first place and gaining a bunch of technology that's undoubtedly safer, but takes something away from the riding experience when you know you have the safety cushions of TC and ABS. My newest bike was an 821 Hyperstrada, and it reminded me of a Honda - it just starts right up and you can ride away. Good luck doing that with an earlier model like the 998, where you have to play with the fast idle lever while warming up. Call me crazy, but I always enjoyed the tinkering required to get the older bikes to run smoothly, and it gave each bike character.
this is kind of like telling each generation they have it easy or something

I think theres something for everyone in todays bike market. precisely why I bought a KTM instead of a japanese bike

You can always try out a guzzi, I hear they're pretty old school, the v85tt is a popular choice, and beautiful too

If you want a basket case, you can always buy a really old European bike, or an old harley that leaks all over the driveway?
I imagine this is the allure of classic cars as well, jay leno types with lots of money who dont mind tinkering with ancient lamborghinis, or in jays case have readily available mechanics, technicians, fabrication guys who will do all the work etc
 
this is kind of like telling each generation they have it easy or something

I think theres something for everyone in todays bike market. precisely why I bought a KTM instead of a japanese bike

They do, and that's a function of technology, but that's not my point. Yes, there are still grades of "rawness" associated with each manufacturer, but no offense (LOL), anyone can ride a GSX-R 750 nowadays whereas back in '80's, those were (or at least felt like) fire breathers. In today's market, the middleweight class has moved up to the 800-900 cc range, and you pretty much need to get need a liter bike or more to get a truly bonkers riding experience. That was never the case before, or at least I don't remember it that way.

You can always try out a guzzi, I hear they're pretty old school, the v85tt is a popular choice, and beautiful too

If you want a basket case, you can always buy a really old European bike, or an old harley that leaks all over the driveway?
I imagine this is the allure of classic cars as well, jay leno types with lots of money who dont mind tinkering with ancient lamborghinis, or in jays case have readily available mechanics, technicians, fabrication guys who will do all the work etc

Well, I'm not going back to steam, but haven't you seen my sig? So far I'm still happy with my '88 Hawk, '02 998, and '07 SXV. There have been a couple of newer bikes that have my interest - the current 690 SMC-R and the Indian FTR.
 
I think having cool and unique motorcycles in the market satisfies a segment of the population that wants something unique and quirky and not having a machine that when stripped of its badging and plastics, is technologically indistinguishable from all the other machines out there.

I'm absolutely in that segment.
 
They do, and that's a function of technology, but that's not my point. Yes, there are still grades of "rawness" associated with each manufacturer, but no offense (LOL), anyone can ride a GSX-R 750 nowadays whereas back in '80's, those were (or at least felt like) fire breathers. In today's market, the middleweight class has moved up to the 800-900 cc range, and you pretty much need to get need a liter bike or more to get a truly bonkers riding experience. That was never the case before, or at least I don't remember it that way.
I think I know what you mean

the MT09s of old were like that for me, they're flawed but freakin awesome
Suspension that isnt great, fueling thats not perfectly smooth, but man they were so much fun, almost felt unstable riding those at quicker speed but im still a bit smitten with them. I havent ridden the newest gen to see if thats been ripped out of them or not

But as with most modern bikes they didnt require any tinkering to keep running
 
Was perusing Kijiji and I ran across a bike that looked familiar. I zoomed into all the pictures and recognized all the mods I did to this bike. I sold it almost a decade ago, and in that time the last two owners only put on 1500 kms!

It looks like it is in pretty rough shape for not having been ridden at all though. Looks like it was stored outside and never washed.

Also asking about $500 more than what I sold it for... 10 years ago!

COVID pricing... :rolleyes:

So weird though. Most of the bikes I've sold (given away) to people I've known. This one went to a total stranger. I always wondered what became of that bike.
It has happened to me twice believe it or not. Once I saw my 2011 Kawasaki ZX14 for sale on Kijiji 6 months after I sold it. The guy listed for $1000 more than he paid. I actually contacted him and negotiated the deal at $500 lower than what I had sold it for. I never closed the deal but it was very exciting. He never realized that I was the original owner.

Second time I saw my Royal Enfield 500 on Kijiji after 2 years. Same kinda experience. Lol. It is a bit weird seeing your old bike on Sale.
 
It has happened to me twice believe it or not. Once I saw my 2011 Kawasaki ZX14 for sale on Kijiji 6 months after I sold it. The guy listed for $1000 more than he paid. I actually contacted him and negotiated the deal at $500 lower than what I had sold it for. I never closed the deal but it was very exciting. He never realized that I was the original owner.

Second time I saw my Royal Enfield 500 on Kijiji after 2 years. Same kinda experience. Lol. It is a bit weird seeing your old bike on Sale.
Really? Messing with the guy makes you the reason people hate selling on Kijiji.
 
Really? Messing with the guy makes you the reason people hate selling on Kijiji.
not closing the deal isnt the same as messing with the guy
 
He was wasting the guys time. It's crap.
theres a million reasons why a deal can fall through

maybe he found a better bike
maybe he got into a fight with his wife
maybe an unexpected expense came up
maybe it was the middle of jan and he couldnt find transport

take your pick.


Alas I've both dated and applied for jobs in the modern age so im used to ghosting and flakes and have developed a thicker skin
 

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