Selling my motorcycle - g'bye old buddy! (long)
 

I've owned several motorcycles over the last 30 years, mostly 70's & 80's style air cooled multi-cylinder Japanese bikes. In the early 80's I so lusted for a CBX that I can't describe it. Something about that engine...

But I couldn't afford one and that was that.

Then about 6 years ago I was poking through the boneyard at the local Honda dealer looking for some part for the Honda CB900 I owned at the time when I spotted an '82 CBX on the back lot.

I wrote them a check on the spot.

Me and my CBX had a great 4 years after that day. My wife and I rode that damn thing everywhere. We did Bike Week and Biketoberfest in Daytona, we rode to the Keys, we putted around the neighborhood in 2nd gear at 2AM. It was fun.

Then a couple years ago I just lost interest in riding.

I don't know why. I can't explain it. I just don't want to ride any more. I'm not scared, I didn't have a bad experience, I just don't wanna. That's when I did an unforgivable thing.

I let the bike sit uncovered in my driveway for a year.

There's no excuse. I suck. It rusted up more than a bit (but less than a disaster). Last year I decided to fire it up and ride it to the mechanics and let them put it back in shape. But when I got it started, one of the carburetors overflowed. I have a stuck float or something. Not only that but the rear air shock won't hold air. And it's looking pretty crusty.

So I put it in the garage where it should have been all along.

Fast forward to 3 months ago. I buy a new car which demands garage space of its own and the motorcycle gets evicted again to the great outdoors. It's in the backyard this time and it's covered well, but still this isn't good. I promise myself I'll go out and work on cleaning it up, finding someone to trailer it to the shop, etc. I'm going to get it back in shape!

FF again to a couple days ago. I haven't done shit.

So I put an ad in the newspaper that started yesterday. The ad is honest about the condition but the price is good. I got about 15 calls and so far a half dozen have come to look and hear it run. I just know in my heart that by tomorrow night I'll be helping someone load it on a trailer.

I had to take a few final pictures just a few minutes ago and being the hopeless geek that I am, I'm posting them on the freaking internet. Goodbye old buddy! I hope whoever gets you loves you enough to clean you up and ride.

http://www.techquarium.com/temp2/P6231990cs.jpg
http://www.techquarium.com/temp2/P6231992cs.jpg
http://www.techquarium.com/temp2/P6231995cs.jpg
http://www.techquarium.com/temp2/P6231999cs.jpg

ooooo those are cool bikes...

ive always wanted a motorcycle... but that takes money... and i cant load up all my dorm stuff on it to take to storage x_X

There's one of these for sale just up the road from where I work. Looks identical to that. I did a double take at the inline 6!

Damn nice shape for sitting in a driveway for so long. I love motorcycles (mostly dirt bikes) but have kind of lost a bit of interest myself. I remember getting rid of a 1989 RM 125 that I bought as a basketcase about half a dozen years ago and rebuilt to better than new condition. Sold it because I needed money to buy a house. It's never easy to get rid of them even when you don't use them as much as you should.

I would love to ride -- unfortunately I am not "old enough" yet -- i.e. -- I'm sure I would get on one afte a few pops an kill myself.

Man that is still in nice condition yet.....I would have a hard time giving that up, I hope it goes to a happy home....thanks for sharing and the pics.

your story saddens me.. I hope I never catch this ill fated disease you are suffering from.

I wouldn't of sold it though. Next spring, after a long winter... you do like someplace that has winters don't ya? ... you're gonna hear the call, and notice everyone out having fun on their bikes... you'll be angry... you'll buy another bike.

I hope you get back on two again soon.

Sad, man. Sad.

The same thing happened to me, and I've told many people it was the strangest event in my life.

One morning I woke up and had the feeling - No, I <b>knew</b> - that I should not get back on my bike. I did the same thing - let it sit in my yard for a year before finally selling it. And, like you - it wasn't fear - it was more of an "awareness."

Strange indeed.

That is odd indeed. Sounds like it's related to how I started realizing I almost never exceed the speed limit by more than 10-15 mph anymore, and I no longer view every curve in the road as a challenge to see how fast I can possibly go around it.

Never had any close calls or anything, just after I did 125 mph a few times or tore around a 15 mph curve at 45+ with the tires screaming, I kinda got it out of my system. :p

This thread has taken an interesting turn. Sometimes the feeling comes back. I was without a bike for a few years, then, with on warning at all I HAD to have a bike. Nothing else would do.

I find that now I am not interested in wheelies, tire smoking, extreme high speed, or sliding turns. I find that 55 to 65 is a nice speed. I like back roads and little traveled highways. Ya never know what life will throw at you next.

And it's gone. A couple guys about my age (late 40's) came and added it to their collection. One of them has an older CBX the other has an old Triumph and they both have new Blackhawks.

On the trailer it went, title gets signed, wad of cash is handed over and off they go.

...sniff...

There are many bikes out there...so if the feeling comes back...you always can find something to buy :)

Funny you should say that merk. My wife asked me last night if I was really bummed and I realized I wasn't. A bit sad but I said to her if I ever really wanted another one, I'd just buy one. Simple as that. I had my fun with the CBX and got that long-held desire for one out of my system. Time to move on.