Thinking of selling fjr, what do you think?

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fjrlover

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Hey guy's, figure I would ask the experts. I am thinking very hard about selling my 05 abs equipped bike with about ten thousand miles. It has bar risers, givi trunk, cee Baileys windshield plus stock, audiovox cruise, wild bill brackets, new dual compound tires with about one thousand miles on them, battery tender, and a Corbin seat with backrest for passenger. This was my baby for two and a half years but I am about to have a real one in 5 weeks so I am pressured to think the unthoughtful. No pressure from the wife, I just can't see myself riding that much for a couple years and would hate such a bike just sitting there. I am curious what such a bike goes for, any ideas? thanks

 
I was confronted with the same situation about a year ago. I thought seriously about selling b/c like you I wouldn't be able to ride much. I ended up keeping mine and have only ridden a handful of times since the baby was born. My wife has been on once since the baby, but spring is coming and the grandparents love to spend time with the grandbaby. So, there are opportunities to ride, but its not as simple as before (nothing is). Have fun, enjoy your new baby and ride if it works out.

 
I am curious what such a bike goes for, any ideas? thanks
The blue-book (like, Kelly Blue Book) and 'the market' will set the price -- for the most part. Check around and advertise it competitively and, hopefully, it'll sell.

FWIW, when I became a father I continued to ride but the rides were less distance & shorter time -- the wife/mother discontinued riding.

 
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Since you have a bike that's been "done right" for you, and if I can make two assumptions: one that it's paid for and two that you have a garage, I'd like to make the following suggestion.

Completely wash and dry the bike. Take it for a short ride and fill the gas tank. When you get back home change the oil and filter, add fuel stabilizer, check the tire pressures and remove the battery.

Push the bike into a quiet corner of the garage and throw a breathable cover over it. If it were mine I'd prop up the front end to get weight off the fork spring, too.

Now, go in the house, sit down and have a beer. Most importantly, try not to think about the bike. That's right, forget all about it. Think, instead, about your new baby and how great it will be being a dad. This isn't an either/or situation, just another faze in your life and you should embrace it. Enjoy every moment.

A year from now, when things have settled down a bit you'll remember that bike in the garage. For a little prep work and minimal expense you can get it out of storage and put it back on the road. After you've taken it for a ride ask yourself if you can see yourself riding again or if it just doesn't fit your life anymore. If it doesn't, THEN put it up for sale with no regrets.

A year in storage should have no negative effects on the bike and one more year of depreciation shouldn't have too great an impact on it's value. Who knows, if the economy improves you might actually get more.

My opinion, I wouldn't make a decision that, long term, might be uneccessary. YMMV

 
I am thinking very hard about selling my 05 abs equipped bike.... This was my baby for two and a half years but I am about to have a real one...
I adopted a child. My wife said sell the bike, and I did. I adopted another child. I divorced my wife. I'm still the kids' dad. I have a new wife. I own another motorcycle.

Moral: Life happens. Do the best you can. Nobody is an expert on how to run your life.

Looking back, I would have changed the sequence to: I adopted a child. I adopted another child. My wife told me to sell the bike. I divorced my wife. I'm still the kids' dad. I own another (second) motorcycle. I have a new wife.

Moral: You can't change the past. Do the best you can, and move on the best you can.

YMMV

 
Since you have a bike that's been "done right" for you, and if I can make two assumptions: one that it's paid for and two that you have a garage, I'd like to make the following suggestion.
Completely wash and dry the bike. Take it for a short ride and fill the gas tank. When you get back home change the oil and filter, add fuel stabilizer, check the tire pressures and remove the battery.

Push the bike into a quiet corner of the garage and throw a breathable cover over it. If it were mine I'd prop up the front end to get weight off the fork spring, too.

Now, go in the house, sit down and have a beer. Most importantly, try not to think about the bike. That's right, forget all about it. Think, instead, about your new baby and how great it will be being a dad. This isn't an either/or situation, just another faze in your life and you should embrace it. Enjoy every moment.

A year from now, when things have settled down a bit you'll remember that bike in the garage. For a little prep work and minimal expense you can get it out of storage and put it back on the road. After you've taken it for a ride ask yourself if you can see yourself riding again or if it just doesn't fit your life anymore. If it doesn't, THEN put it up for sale with no regrets.

A year in storage should have no negative effects on the bike and one more year of depreciation shouldn't have too great an impact on it's value. Who knows, if the economy improves you might actually get more.

My opinion, I wouldn't make a decision that, long term, might be uneccessary. YMMV
I agree 100% with this recommendation except one thing. Put the fuel stabilizer in the tank before you leave the house or at the gas station so that it'll have a chance to mix and get into all parts of the fuel system.

I kept my GS1100 after my son was born and ended up putting a lot less miles on it for a few years. But it sure was nice to get out occasionally and blow the cobwebs out. :yahoo:

 
Thanks allot, many things were brought up that I never thought of. I would love to keep the bike but I should also weigh all of the options first.

 
One day I was goofing off from work, walked into a dealer and saw an almost new Goldwing on the floor. When I got home from work that day I was told by my wife that I would soon be a daddy. Next day I went and bought that Goldwing because I knew that I'd never get another chance at owning a motorcycle for a lot of years. I still have the wife, I still have the Goldwing, and the kid turns 17 next month....

CrabbyJack

 
If you keep the bike, it is uncertain how much you will be able to ride, but riding is possible.

If you sell the bike, it is certain that you will never ride!

I did the same thing a few years ago; sold my DL650 after getting married and trying to start a family...no pressure from the new bride, just seemed like the thing to do. About 18 months later she suggested I get another bike...apparently I was hanging around the house a bit too much for her liking!

Fast forward to now...I have a beautiful 1 year old daughter, and a beautiful 3 year old FJR, and a pretty hefty life insurance policy (the bride did mandate that detail!).

Bottom line, if you keep it, you may get to ride it, but you better be ATGATT and ride safe. If you sell it, you can always get another one down the road.

Best of luck to you with the new baby, congrats in advance. You will have a blast!

 
I find riding a great stress reliever for myself. I did however stop riding for a period of time. Live just became very busy and I did not have the time. I was married at 28 and we had 3 kids. I started 3 businesses and my wife passed away from CA by age 40. Now that the kids are grown I have learned to enjoy riding again, when I want and as much as I want.

 
I like to try to get along with everybody. Therefore, I agree with everything everyone who posted before me has written. With only one exception:

A year from now, when things have settled down a bit you'll remember that bike in the garage.
A year? Ha! First nice day in the spring. Second maybe. But if you can afford to keep the bike. . . well, as somebody who had an FJR and tried life without one for a while, I think I'd see if I could hold on to it. And yeah, bump up the life insurance, just in case.

 
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I use mine to commute to and from work. The 40 mpg on a bike just made sense to me. I actually went the other direction. Sold my truck and kept my bike. So we're a one-car, one-bike household.

I understand about the child, but for commuting, it can save a good deal of $$$ for you to ride a bike to commute to work and have only one vehicle which is used when the family goes out.

Alexi

 
The bike was my only safe place while raising four kids. Keep it and your sanity and when the kid is old enough to ride with you it is a wonderfull thing.

 
Gave up motorcycles for 22 years, didn't make sense to take risks when I had two kids to raise.
To each his own but people get hurt bad or die from just living without bkes.

I have had bikes since my boys were young. Just made sure my disability and life insurance were paid on time.

Wouldn't want to give up riding for all those years and now the boys ride some too.

 
Hey guy's, figure I would ask the experts. I am thinking very hard about selling my 05 abs equipped bike with about ten thousand miles. It has bar risers, givi trunk, cee Baileys windshield plus stock, audiovox cruise, wild bill brackets, new dual compound tires with about one thousand miles on them, battery tender, and a Corbin seat with backrest for passenger. This was my baby for two and a half years but I am about to have a real one in 5 weeks so I am pressured to think the unthoughtful. No pressure from the wife, I just can't see myself riding that much for a couple years and would hate such a bike just sitting there. I am curious what such a bike goes for, any ideas? thanks
1st off congrats on becoming a father. 2nd I'm not an expert but am looking for a used FJR so here is what this buyer is looking for. I'm sure others will disagree but this buyer would perfer a stock bike. Here's why, your list of farkles don't agree with mine so they have little value. I want the Heli triple clamp, the Vstream shield, the Yammie trunk. I have no clue why I'd want wild bill anything, I hate corbin, it better have decent tires and I already have a battery tender. Ok I'd like to have the audiovox cruise and 10K miles is very interesting. Please accept this as it is intended. I've talked to a dozen sellers or so in the last 6 weeks I'm amazed at the value some place on a $10 light bulb. Take the extras off and sell them.

I will be removing the bling from my 07 Stratoliner soon as I know from selling other bikes my list and the buyers seem to never agree.

Good luck on becoming a new parent. Keep the bike you're going to need it.

 
Keep the bike for a while. If you find out you don't have time or (God forbid) the desire to ride anymore after the baby arrives, then you can sell. No need to get rid of it before you know how your life changes will affect your bike time.

 
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