Randy
Well-known member
So...haven't been riding much lately. Lots of time at work, stuff around the house, toying around in new Jeep, bicycling, running, etc etc etc. Just haven't been able to find/make the time to ride.
During the Cycle World bike show, looked at a KLR650 and thought it would be a decent toy to putz around on, play in the woods, and take the occasional road trip. So, since I don't have room in the garage for 2 bikes, figured I would sell the FJR and take the money to buy a KLR.
Wanted to make it as marketable as possible. I had a scratch in the sidebag (went around a turn, bag wasn't latched, popped open, dragged on the curb) and sent it off to Garauld to be resprayed (great work, btw!). Spent a few hours on Saturday changing the oil/filter, gear oil, coolant, brake/clutch fluid, along with a thorough wash/wax/polish.
After I was done, started to look back on the time I spent with it. AMA WERA and MotoGP races, Laconia Bike Weeks, first official Iron Butt ride, group rides, riding in the sun, rain, wind, snow, hail, hurricane...it's seen it all. Thought about all of the great people I met along the way.
The bike had to have known something was going on. As I was drying it off from the wash, I noticed the fork seals were leaking. So, now I have to delay the sale til the new parts come in and fork seals get installed.
So, when I start thinking about the $ for the fork seals, the $ I just spent on the fluids/filters, and the $ I spent on the bag getting repainted, there was no way I would get all of that money back on the sale. Plus thinking back on all of the good memories on it, and seeing how great it looks, especially for being a 9 year old bike, it didn't take long for me to have a change of heart.
We're going to stick together a little longer.
During the Cycle World bike show, looked at a KLR650 and thought it would be a decent toy to putz around on, play in the woods, and take the occasional road trip. So, since I don't have room in the garage for 2 bikes, figured I would sell the FJR and take the money to buy a KLR.
Wanted to make it as marketable as possible. I had a scratch in the sidebag (went around a turn, bag wasn't latched, popped open, dragged on the curb) and sent it off to Garauld to be resprayed (great work, btw!). Spent a few hours on Saturday changing the oil/filter, gear oil, coolant, brake/clutch fluid, along with a thorough wash/wax/polish.
After I was done, started to look back on the time I spent with it. AMA WERA and MotoGP races, Laconia Bike Weeks, first official Iron Butt ride, group rides, riding in the sun, rain, wind, snow, hail, hurricane...it's seen it all. Thought about all of the great people I met along the way.
The bike had to have known something was going on. As I was drying it off from the wash, I noticed the fork seals were leaking. So, now I have to delay the sale til the new parts come in and fork seals get installed.
So, when I start thinking about the $ for the fork seals, the $ I just spent on the fluids/filters, and the $ I spent on the bag getting repainted, there was no way I would get all of that money back on the sale. Plus thinking back on all of the good memories on it, and seeing how great it looks, especially for being a 9 year old bike, it didn't take long for me to have a change of heart.
We're going to stick together a little longer.
