Should I see my bike?

[jason389]

Hey guys, I'm looking to bounce something off of you. I know there is a ton of wisdom on this board (albeit punctuated with a good deal of wise *ss). I love my 07 Feejer, no doubt. The problem is that I have a 13 month old little girl and a wife that I feel guilty leaving behind to go ride. I only get to ride these days 2 or 3 times a year, and I hate that this beautiful bike is sitting in my garage covered up for 361 days a year. I also hate that I'm paying full coverage insurance on it month after month to sit there. I also hate that I have thousands invested in all of the accessories to make it just the way I want it.

I feel like I need to sell it and by a cheap klr 650 or something I can go ride for an hour on a Sunday and get a fix, rather than the two day trips I so love but are so rare to the North GA / TN / NC mountains.

Thoughts?

 

[joebiodiesel]

Hey guys, I'm looking to bounce something off of you. I know there is a ton of wisdom on this board (albeit punctuated with a good deal of wise *ss). I love my 07 Feejer, no doubt. The problem is that I have a 13 month old little girl and a wife that I feel guilty leaving behind to go ride. I only get to ride these days 2 or 3 times a year, and I hate that this beautiful bike is sitting in my garage covered up for 361 days a year. I also hate that I'm paying full coverage insurance on it month after month to sit there. I also hate that I have thousands invested in all of the accessories to make it just the way I want it.

I feel like I need to sell it and by a cheap klr 650 or something I can go ride for an hour on a Sunday and get a fix, rather than the two day trips I so love but are so rare to the North GA / TN / NC mountains.

Thoughts?

I really resisted selling my bike when I started a family, and I'm glad I did. It would have been a lot of years before I could afford a new one. Thankfully I didn't have much money tied up in it at the time and could afford to keep it. I'm still riding that bike today, but should have a new (to me) FJR in the next week or two.

However, I would feel the same as you having a few dollars tied up in a bike, and mainaining insurance on something I used as seldom as that.

So if I was you I would probably do what you mentioned. Sell my expensive bike, buy something cheap, and maintain just basic insurance on it. That way you can still have a bike, but at a minimum level of financial pain. 20 years from now when you want to start riding hard again, get something new.

Joe

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

What does your wife say?

 

[twistedcricket]

You can't commute to and from work with it? I won't make many trips, if any, this year, but mine will be out to get to work and back. I bet you could sneak away for a 2-3 hr ride early on a Saturday or Sunday morning. I know of a few people with young children and they manage to ride.

 

[SLK50]

I'll admit I occasionally get THOSE feelings. And when I do, I commute by bike.

By commuting, I can get a guilt-free twisty fix, sometimes taking the long way home.

In fact, I get so much seat time commuting that I don't really mind missing those

long Saturday rides now and then when I'm spending time with my kids.

As for the money angle, I justify it because the bike is my only vice and at

this point in my life I feel I've earned it. Can any vice be without guilt?

 

[escapefjrtist]

You'll be forever kicking yourself if you sell the bike. Gotta agree with TC, commute on it...if only a couple times a week or half dozen times a month. With the rising price for gas you'll keep the sanity and save some $$$ on fuel.

--G

 

[jason389]

Gosh I really should have proofread my title. Thanks for all the advice. I have to wear a suit to work and have a car for clients, so the commute isn't an option. I am very fortunate in that I have the wifes blessing either way. Ill keep stewing and probably end up keeping it. Thanks for all the input.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Jason,

I would keep it...consider it your portable Man Cave... we need this ya know!

 

[cota95]

Gosh I really should have proofread my title. Thanks for all the advice. I have to wear a suit to work and have a car for clients, so the commute isn't an option. I am very fortunate in that I have the wifes blessing either way. Ill keep stewing and probably end up keeping it. Thanks for all the input.

Park the car at work and commute on the bike. Suit up at work also. Your welcome.

 

[Zorlac]

Yes, it's important to get visual confirmation before mounting up.

 

[AVGeek]

Gosh I really should have proofread my title. Thanks for all the advice. I have to wear a suit to work and have a car for clients, so the commute isn't an option. I am very fortunate in that I have the wifes blessing either way. Ill keep stewing and probably end up keeping it. Thanks for all the input.

Park the car at work and commute on the bike. Suit up at work also. Your welcome.

So does the job require you to use your own car, or is there an option for a company car?

And I commuted for many years wearing a suit (less jacket) under my riding gear...it can be done!

 

[TomInPA]

At this point in your life a ST bike probably doesn't fit. Being a dad and setting your family as a priority now is fine. There are many years ahead hopefully where you can be more self-indulgent and play. If you sell the bike, put the money aside somewhere, and the bike will wait for you to have the time and interest to use it. Just be sure to keep your license endorsement, and when you're ready, there will be lots of bikes waiting.

 

[Jim Morrison]

Boy do I feel your pain... Been there...

Sold the bikes when I was in your spot...

Kids are gone, less than 2 years till I retire... Back to 2 bikes

WOO WOO :yahoo:

 

[tesla]

Points to consider:

When you sell it is when you find out how badly you wanted to keep it which would be an expensive lesson if you decided to buy another bike.

This is the best of times and worst of times to sell it. Best in that the riding season for most is coming up soon and many of us want a new fully farkled FJR. Worst in that good weather will be a reminder how much you miss the bike. Sellers remorse will always be worse in April than it is in December.

Its still a buyers market out there so you may not get top dollar for your bike.....but still better in the riding season.

If you do sell it, target the market that can appreciate the amazing FJR and all the farkles you've added (that would be here). Knowing what I know after 5000 miles ridden on my 07, I would do a fly and ride and offer fair market value on the bike with an adjustment for farkles (fair market value would be a great deal for you in this economy). I "stole" my bike from a motivated seller but would have paid more knowing what I know now.

If I were in your shoes, I would sell the FJR, buy the KLR and rent an FJR or other suitable bike for the rare overnight trip that may or may not come up. If you find yourself not riding the KLR, sell it. You'll know when it feels right to buy another bike down the road.

By the way, off topic but be sure and take a moment to appreciate all the joy a toddler can add to your life. I was too stressed out and impatient when mine were young and generally felt annoyed much of the time. I would sell everthing I own to get a do-over.

Barry

 

[vabrzn]

I don’t think you need to sell your bike or feel guilty. Practice quality over quantity. Make the time you spend with your family rewarding and enjoyable for them, and they’ll feel good about some bike time for you.

 

[Fred W]

By the way, off topic but be sure and take a moment to appreciate all the joy a toddler can add to your life. I was too stressed out and impatient when mine were young and generally felt annoyed much of the time. I would sell everthing I own to get a do-over.

What tesla said above is well worth repeating. Just like it's hard to appreciate your bike until it's been sold off and gone, when your kids are all grown up and move on is when you really appreciate how great they were to have around. Remember that the relationship and closeness that you develop with them now will have a great amount of bearing on the relationship you have when they (and you) get older.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

I don’t think you need to sell your bike or feel guilty. Practice quality over quantity. Make the time you spend with your family rewarding and enjoyable for them, and they’ll feel good about some bike time for you.

...this is what I was aluding to. For a Dad/Man to be the Best, he (and Mom too) still must edify himself by taking some quality time to do things and bolsters their inner being so they can be "The Best they Can Be" and not feel begrudged by doing them.

If you don't set a precedence to defend yourself, eventually you will be confined to a Corner with a Dunce Cap and feeling Very Bad...then more Bad things will evolve.

This is a Win-Win situation for all involved.

 

[Harald]

When I was dating my future wife I made it clear that some topics were off the table for discussion as we started a life together. No way I was gonna give up motorcycles or guns.

But as you are finding out, riding can be tough to fit into family life. My avatar is of me and my son on my 97 CBR1100XX on his first ride with Dad once his legs were long enough to reach the passenger pegs. I had that bike for 10 years and only put 34,000 miles on it! But all those were miles were needed for me to get that occasional riding fix. I put more miles on my 07 FJR in just over 2 years than I did on that Honda in 10 now that my son is older and doing his own stuff and driving himself.

 

[ndivita]

Hey guys, I'm looking to bounce something off of you. I know there is a ton of wisdom on this board (albeit punctuated with a good deal of wise *ss). I love my 07 Feejer, no doubt. The problem is that I have a 13 month old little girl and a wife that I feel guilty leaving behind to go ride. I only get to ride these days 2 or 3 times a year, and I hate that this beautiful bike is sitting in my garage covered up for 361 days a year. I also hate that I'm paying full coverage insurance on it month after month to sit there. I also hate that I have thousands invested in all of the accessories to make it just the way I want it.

I feel like I need to sell it and by a cheap klr 650 or something I can go ride for an hour on a Sunday and get a fix, rather than the two day trips I so love but are so rare to the North GA / TN / NC mountains.

Thoughts?

Timing matters here. When did you buy it? Did you even know your wife when you bought it? Or was she six months pregnant when you bought it? Did you buy it just a few months ago? If you are selling something you owned well before you were a dad or husband, that's one thing. If you are selling something you just bought, or which you bought over her objection, that is something else. Is the wife pressuring or guilting you into selling? If you have family around to watch the little girl, crazier thoughts exist than that the two of you may use the bike and romantic trips away together to reconnect and rekindle the flame. Believe me you will need it. Way too many couples have seen some inanimate object like a motorcycle serve as a proxy for all sorts of needless resentment, guilt and spite. Way too many couples fail because they sacrifice everything for children instead of working on their marriage, thinking that if only they are a good mom, or a good dad, then the marriage will necessarily succeed. Guess again. A smart wife would insist that you keep the bike, use it and have some harmless interests and avocations. You can be a family man and own a motorcycle. If the motorcycle is causing you to not be able to make ends meet, then that is an entirely different matter.

FJR 1300s last forever. I know some other things that don't. No need to get sentimental about it.