[ST] Thinking about selling my bike

[roguerower]

So I graduated from college in May of '10 and moved to Texas for my first project. Within a month I had bought my first bike (Suzuki GS500) that I rode the piss out of. Every weekend I'd be out on it ripping through the hill country North of San Antonio and in the 10 months that I owned it I put 9,000mi on it. Now, about 4-5 months into owning it I started eyeing the Triumph Street Triple R and decided that when I was ready for it I'd upgrade to my dream bike. So April of '11 I decided it was time and I pulled the trigger on a brand new '11 Blazing Orange Street Triple R and man was I not disappointed. That bike is a ball to ride!

Now at the same time I bought the bike I got into skydiving. I didn't see any conflict clashes because I could ride the bike to the DZ and everything would be swell. Oh ne ne it turns out. Every time I go to the DZ I bring my gear with me which equates to a 15# rig, jumpsuit, helmet, extra clothes, etc. The ride there wouldn't be a problem, however I usually either head home when the weather is crappy or at night after a day of jumping and when I'm tired. So from a safety standpoint I started driving too and from the DZ. And because I jump every good weekend, the amount of time I rode dropped. More and more. I haven't ridden the bike in almost 8 months now. I've started it up and taken it around the block, but that's it.

So with that I'm contemplating selling it. I could probably get $8k for it since (a) it's a Triumph, (b) it's an R model, (c) it's the last year before the bug eye lights. It's got 6,000mi on it and just had the service done on it. I've thought about it before and dismissed the idea almost as fast. Why would I sell my dream bike? Why would I sell something that's so much fun? Then again, I could use the money for other things. I plan on trying to get a full season of canopy piloting competing in next year which will require multiple trips to Florida and North Carolina. I could pay off the rest of my student loans. I could pay off my credit card for good instead of it sitting around at $1k. I could help pay down my Cherokee.

I know I'm crazy for thinking it but I just don't see it right now and it's not like I'm being forced by a SO to give it up. Right now my eggs are primarily in one basket and the motorcycle isn't in it.

What say you ATG? Am I stupid for wanting to sell?

 

[manimal]

depends on how attached you get to stuff. If you think your gonna miss it and you dont have a pressing need for the cash why not keep it? Its a damn nice bike and will cost you over 8k to get something as nice.

 

[zCypher]

The fellow new rider in me wants to say yes, stupid!

but honestly, how much time will you actually spend riding it over the next year or two? if you're never going to use it, there's no sense in letting it sit there going to waste. nothing stops you from picking up another motorcycle later on if you get the itch.

i would really love to have a fun car right now, and i'm pretty sure i could afford it - but i don't need a car at all, and it's easier to justify the expense of a $6k motorcycle than a $20-30k or more car that I don't need. The fun per dollar ratio is just insane.

so instead of wasting my extra money on car, it's going towards house and savings for now.

so it all depends where you're at in life, what you're going after, and what you're spending all of your time doing. i too put a lot of mileage on my bike in a short time, so far no sign of slowing down. i don't have many other costly hobbies though and it's something i've wanted for a long time, so i don't see myself letting it go.

maybe you should contemplate this over a nice ride... heheheh

 

[pauldun170]

Motorcycles are meant to be ridden.
If you are not going to ride that Triumph, sell it to someone who will.

Years back, I had a GPz900r that I loved. Sold it to pay off bills and get rid of school debt.
After a brief hiatus from riding, I picked up a ZX11 and picked up where I left off.

Bikes come and go. If riding is truly something hard wired into your brain you will get back into it.

 

[roguerower]

I'm attached to it, but more in the "I like it because it's my bike" kind of way. It doesn't define me.

The money would just make certain things a little bit easier...

 

[jdoggg12]

As a 10+ year rider myself, I say sell it. If your heart's not 100% into it, becoming nonchalant about riding it will make it dangerous. If you sell it and find that you actually miss it more than you enjoy jumping, then you can eventually get another one... possibly something even better suited to your needs/wants. To me, every bike is like a different gf, they bring different things to the table and elicit different things from the rider...

My SV650S was my first... I loved her because she showed me the love of bikes
My 1st R6 showed me what fast is, but she was finicky and bucked me off
My 2nd R6 was just as finicky, but I learned to tame her... until I lost control (road hazard)
My WR250X is my current love. She's the underrated free spirit that can do it all (though not very quickly)