new, used or very used bike

[MyTime]

How new is your bike? Are you riding an old bike, rather old or a new one? Have you had your bike for a long time or do you swap your bike often?

I'm riding an old BMW (-89, nearly 300 000 kms, bought -13 with 120 000 kms) and an even older Honda (-81, over 200 000 kms, bought -11 with 158 000 kms)

[Delicate Snowflake]

My scrambler is from 2008, the last one with carbs. Bought used in 2011 with only a few thousand km on the odometer.

I did go and look at Mr Triumph's new shiny Scrambler 1200 that came out recently... nice for sure, but prices have gone nuts since I last bought a new bike, they wanted around $23,000 AuD [US $16,300], ugh!

The new Speedmaster looks alright too, as does the Guzzi v9, but I don't think I am a new-bike man anymore. I used to work in dealerships for Honda, Suzuki, KTM, MV, etc., but none of their models appeal. The new crop of short stunty sportsbikes are not for me.

I quite like my getting-old scrambler, and the price sure is right!

[diogenes009]

I have joked that I still have my first bike, my first gun, my first new car and my first wife. Unfortunately, I sold my first bike after 24 years. I still have the rest.

It was a 1979 Yamaha XS750 Special triple. My second bike was a 1981 XS850 Special triple. Three cylinders and shaft drive. I sold both when I was trying to keep things going at my store. My back was causing pain when I rode and... Well, "Money can be exchanged for goods and services".

The thing is, I have ridden a Honda Interceptor and a Japanese cruiser of some sort, but both left me cold. Uncomfortable, the both of them. The Interceptor looked weird to me. Sport bikes all look weird to me. As a little kid, I had a relative who had a Midnight Special and UJMs were everywhere. That stuck in my mind what a motorcycle looks like. Naked bikes can look pretty good to me, too. Maybe, some day, I will be able to ride again...

Here is a picture of my 750 taken with a potato in the 00s.

And my 850 when my cousin found it at a dealer.

[diogenes009]

How new is your bike? Are you riding an old bike, rather old or a new one? Have you had your bike for a long time or do you swap your bike often?

I'm riding an old BMW (-89, nearly 300 000 kms, bought -13 with 120 000 kms) and an even older Honda (-81, over 200 000 kms, bought -11 with 158 000 kms)

The Honda is very pretty, and I like the BMW, too.

[campfire]

I worked in car dealerships for years, and saw people buy a new car for every excuse. Of course I could not afford a new car so I always fixed what I had and never had any payments. And I also saw them trade in a 1-2 year old car and they were upside down in it. (owe more than it's trade in value)
Same way with bikes, always stumbled into a good deal on a used bike that some friend had.

Of course dad bought that 1966 Yamaha Trailmaster 80 new, and the 1971 Honda Trail 70.
My first bike was a 1974 KZ900 with about 12,000 miles on it, got that in 1978. Left the bikes behind in '83 for marriage and kids, then picked up a used 2008 KLR 650 about nine years ago with 11,800 on it. It has 61,000 miles on it now.
Just finished the repairs on the 2005 1200GS I bought with 87,0000 miles.

A used bike is always the best deal for me, but I work on my own stuff so projects don't bother me.

[diogenes009]

I'm with you on used and paid for. You can usually put off a repair if money is tight this month. You can't do that with a payment.

[MrKiwi]

I ride a 2017 bike and a 1998 bike

[Cagiva]

Oldest is a 86 1200 goldwing that was like mint condition when I bought it 10,000 miles later the stater died . I pulled the motor and had the stater out of it in 4 hours , took a month to get all the parts in , stater waterpump all the soft seals for the motor new cam belts , pretty much all the soft parts for the motor that would be a pia to replace in the chassis . It’s still setting just like that . 2 99 Cagiva Gran Canyons , one running and one for parts , 3 2000 Gran Canyons two running and one I bought new and ran into the ground , I keep promising myself to restore it but I know me . Two 2004 950 KTM s one I bought new that got totaled in 08 but I rode it for 7 more years after that , the other from a friend a couple years ago that kinda retired from riding and thinned his fleet . And a 2011 450 Beta cause I like getting dirty and it does that better than any other dirty bike I ever rode .

[MiniBike]

Two bikes, both from '06. A Bonneville America bought new and a BIG Ruckus bought around '09.

Both still suit me.

[drlewall]

My youngest son passed last month and he had two bikes, one was a 2007 WR250 and the other one, a WHITE KNUCKLE MACHINE! A 1991 KTM 540 two stroke! GAWD that bike was fun and scary! Talk abt a trench digger! being a two stroker, it was either on or off! No in between...anyway, I just gave both of them to his best friend, as I have no use of them.

[diogenes009]

Doc, I'm so sorry.

[bellaedward7]

I agree it's easier to delay a repair if funds are tight, but not a payment!

[kwthom]

How new is your bike? Are you riding an old bike, rather old or a new one? Have you had your bike for a long time or do you swap your bike often?
<...>

Early on in my moto lifetime, I'd upgrade every three years or so - young & dumb, but the bike was my transportation to work. Needed something reliable, and for almost a decade, it worked out.

Until November of 1990; left turner got me. Stayed with four-wheeled transportation until 2007, when I purchased a brand-new 2006 Goldwing.

Kept that for almost ten years and ~120,000 miles. Purchased a 2016 Goldwing; transferred most of my farkles from one to the other before selling it.

The 'Wing now has ~72k on the odometer. I'd really like to get something smaller for those 'handlebar therapy' sessions that really don't require the touring bike's ergonomics. I've not yet seriously begun to look for anything, however.

[arcticdude]

It’s going to be tough coming off a barcalounger.

I’d end up riding everything out there trying to find a substitute.

[kwthom]

It’s going to be tough coming off a barcalounger.

I’d end up riding everything out there trying to find a substitute.

Contemplating one of those CB1100's Honda sold for a few years recently...that might be enough to scratch the itch, but I dunno.

[Camp Director]

I went from the barcalounger Gold Wing in 1995 to a new GS. For me the GS was more comfortable and handled much better on gravel roads. I still have the GS. It's showing some wear but still runs great. It has well over 200,000 miles now. I think it will last longer than me.

[kwthom]

GS...nice bike, but I really don't have the inseam to regularly ride something that tall.

29" on a good day, yeah I don't flat foot the Wing either.