Decisions, Decisions, Decisions,

[cruzerlou]

I ve been doing a lot of thinking about selling my motorcycle.
Now I've pretty much always had a bike, but the fact is I don't ride much anymore and I could use the money
Did some checking around and 2006 Honda VRF with around 20,000 miles on them are selling for around 6 grand.
Mine is due for a new rear tire and maybe a battery,this ones flat dead but may charge right up just haven't tried yet
Anyway I was thinking sence it needs a tire ( around 230 bucks mounted and maybe a new battery 50 bucks ) I was thinking of asking 6 for it because it only has 5,000 miles on the clock .
This would give me some room to wiggle a bit.
I can pick up a used 450 duall sport on off road bike in good shape for around2,500 for a low mile bike.
This way I'd still have a bike to putt around on and do the occasional trail ride and leave me with some much needed cash.
The Wife says she' d hate to see me sell my bike,but really I don't need a crotch rocket anymore, my track days are long gone.
So!I'm asking y'all' s advice.
I need reloading components, a good scope for my M1A loaded and a few other odds and ends.
I'm more into shooting than I an riding now anyway.
What do y'all think sell or don't sell?
Your opinions will be appreciated. Thanks,
YourFriend,
Lou

 

[powder smoke]

Sounds like you weighted your options pretty well and will have the best
of both worlds. A scooter to ride and components to shoot.
Not saying anything but when I sell stuff never seem to get what I had figured.
YMMV. ps

 

[graygun]

Sell it because you need money. At least get the batt replaced or charged so they know it starts and runs.

 

[TBear77]

Replace the battery. But, ask $6500, your's is low mileage. Besides it gives you a little wiggle room.

Ted

 

[cruzerlou]

Yeah when it warns up a bit and I have time I'll charge the battery.
If I have to buy a new one then illypass the cost to the buyer.
Lou

 

[cruzerlou]

I hear ya powder smoke,but I know what I have and what their selling for right now ,and their gonna go up a couple hundred bucks as spring gets here.
If I can't get at a minimum $5,600.00 it I'll just keep it. Someone will pay me what its worth. I ain't gonna give it away just because I need the money.
Hell , I'll throw a new tire on it and battery if need be and ride it when the mood strike's me.
Lou

 

[Ethang]

VFR's are still very sought after by distinguished intelligent riders....errr, I mean us old guys that don't want the latest greatest one trick pony. You should not have much trouble selling a clean low mile bike on any of the bike forums.

I have almost decided to sell mine this year too although its a CBR1100XX. 5 years ago you could not have paid me enough to part with it. Now, like you I am thinking its time.

 

[wwb]

Yup, the VFR is a sweet ride, and shouldn't be hard to sell. If you haven't already heard of it, try cycletrader.com when the time comes to list it.

As to the replacement, take a hard look at a Kawasaki KLR.... a 650 thumper, street legal, decent trail bike, and tough as nails.

 

[6gun]

Sell the bike long as your getting another one and can get your asking price, I would put a battery in it a buyer will want to see it start up and run.

I think you'll really like a off road bike they are fun, got my first bike I've had in 40 years last fall a old Yamaha Enduro just like the one I had when I was a kid been trying to restore it but haven't been able to get it to run yet, I like the old Enduro's they were built for on and off road, the off road part helped me get away from the cops a few times. :lol:

 

[Rusty W]

I crossed this same bridge last summer. I've been involved w/motorcycles since I was about 10 years old, I'm 44 now. I raced dirtbikes so I could get use to sliding a roadrace bike (CBR600) on the track. I haven't been w/o a motorcycle since I was 14. It was a tough call for me to sell my YZFR1 last summer but as I got older, bought a house & 10acres my priorities changed. That & my eyesight & reflex's aren't what they used to be when I was 20. I raced Vintage dirtbikes for awhile but a 76 xt500 isn't very easy to ride fast through the woods or on a motox track. I still have a xr100 for a "play bike" and a 79 xt500 but haven't ridden them in nearly a year. I bought a 4wd Kubota tractor & play on it now, moving dirt, clearing my property, brush hogging & gardening. My knees have held out great over the years but my back & wrists just aren't up to the task anymore. The last ride on the R1 was about 45 min. Me & my girlfriend went to eat BBQ at Wildhorse BBQ, about a 20min ride if you know the short cut, & my right hand was so numb I couldn't feel the front brake lever. I knew then it was time to let it go, a numb right hand isn't something I could deal with on the R1. I couldn't hit my marks anymore & a whisky throttle hand isn't very forgiving on the 1k machines. I miss it sometimes but as I got older my wants/needs changed. I worked at a Yamaha shop for a while in 2009/10 & rode just about every bike they had. The little motards were just hitting the market & KTM was the leader for awhile. I like the DR650, Thumper Racing used to have some go fast parts for them but I don't know anymore. I went a different direction & haven't been in the industry the last 5 years. Even MotoGP & American RoadRacing isn't the same & I've just lost interest. Bring back Roberts on the TZ750, Mick Doohan on the screemer 500, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, all the guys that know what it's like to slide a motorcycle around & I might get interested again but I don't see it happening.

 

[cruzerlou]

I came up on dirt bikes and haven't had one since my late teens, my last one was a 1979 Huskey WR 390 WHAT A BEAST!!!!!. too hard on my knees, but back then I was still into Enduro and motocross racing .Now I just want a dirt road bike, leaning more to the dirt side of things I still like to ride a friends dirt bike I just don't push it as hard as I once did. I'm thinking a 450 rather than a 650, the weight difference between the two is huge 50 pounds or so on most Jap bikes and the Suzuki DRZ 400 is a beast but I'll just have to see whats out there if I sell mine, which I think I will .The other thing is the racer in me .No matter how hard I try to be good I find myself zipping along and dragging my knees through the twisties .A dual sport would qure that , on the road at least .
yeah rusty those guys really hung it out there. back in 2001/2 Valentino Rossi did the craziest thing I've ever seen ANYONE do on a works super bike .They were racing at Laguna Seca and Rossi was riding the factory Aprilia RSV 1000. he came into that off camber right at the top of the corkscrew and passed a lapped rider on the OUTSIDE and lifted the front wheel and kept it a foot off the ground all the way to the bottom of the hill , grabbing gears and whackin that throttle wide open through that little left/ right jig in the middle and didn't get out of the throttle till he was breaking for that sharp right at the bottom and he passed another lapped guy on the outside again!!!! Stone nuts but he won the race .He made Bonsrtom on that Duke look slow that day and that's saying something. Gonna stop now I could talk bikes all night long.
Your Friend,
Lou

 

[6gun]

Have you looked at the prices of dirt bikes now days? :shock: very spendy for new or used late model.

 

[exavid]

I've owned a bunch of bikes starting with a Cushman in 1955, which led to a Triumph Thunderbird, a Bultaco, some Yamahas and Hondas until I settled down with Goldwings, GL1000, GL1100, GL1200, GL1500 and a GL1800. Nowadays I have a BME C650GT and a BMW K1100LT brick. The scooter is the handiest thing I ever had for running errands and around town. The fact that it will take a stock HD Sportster off the line is a kick. Really dismays a Hog rider.
I understand the bit about getting older, and also needing a bit of cash, but man... selling your scoot? That's hard. Sell it if you must but find something cheaper to replace it. My BMW K bike is a '95 that had 11000 miles on the clock when I bought it last year for $2800. It was virtually cherry, mint. I don't know why these bikes go so cheap, they cost $16500 when new. Radio, heated grips, four cylinder shaft drive with ABS. A lot of bike for the money and a delight to ride.
So look around there are a lot of older vintage bikes at reasonable prices... a guy shouldn't have to give up his scoot until they bury him.

 

[wolfsong]

Brother, sell the bike and give the money to Juanita. She's far more level-headed and responsible than you!

Wolfie.

 

[FastEd]

Just suck it up and close a great chapter in your life and move on to the next great adventure.
Something that is better suited to you advancing age.
When you finally retire you can sit on the porch in your rocking chair and remember the good ole days...

 

[cruzerlou]

6 gun, I've b een lookin around and there are plenty of 200/-2005 low mile dual sport bikes out there in great shape for2500/3000 all day long.one real nice Kawasaki 650, 4000 miles for 2600 bucks.
I'd rather have a Honda but hey that Kawasaki would fit the bill.
A 450 would be my first choice,but I'd take that Kawasaki.
Lou

 

[6gun]

6 gun, I've b een lookin around and there are plenty of 200/-2005 low mile dual sport bikes out there in great shape for2500/3000 all day long.one real nice Kawasaki 650, 4000 miles for 2600 bucks.
I'd rather have a Honda but hey that law would fit the bill.
A 450 would be my first choice,but I'd take that Kawasaki.
Lou

Sounds like you can get some better deals than I can in my area, I've look at a few used dirt bikes at the Yamaha dealer and they want around $3500 for used 250's that are 5 years old.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I'd rather have a Honda but hey that Kawasaki would fit the bill.
A 450 would be my first choice,but I'd take that Kawasaki.

Hi,

Lou, a buddy bought a new KLR 650 in 2008 because he wanted "the most versatile" dual sport he could find. Read: goes most anywhere, costs little to do so. Traveling accessories such as racks and bags were important to him, as he and a couple of buddies have covered good sized bits and pieces of at least seven western states on a variety of bikes. For one who wants that kind of stuff, there's probably more choice for the KLRs than any other. That bike suffered some kind of catastrophic engine injury at about 30k miles, so he picked up a used one just like it, swapped out all the add-ons from the first one, and rode off happy.

Loaded up, he says it's got "minimal" power--about 48-50hp?--but unloaded it's still fun enough for "sensible" road riding. If he really wants to go faster, there's a BMW R1200RT sitting next to it in the garage. But I believe if he could have only one of the two, it would be the Kawasaki.

Rick C

 

[MYBABYISA44MAG]

The day finally came when I said goodbye to my Warrior....that day came when I realized I was chicken to have to heal from the wounds I was bound to inflict upon myself...not from my stupidity, but from the idiots that hit us...so I passed her on, and have never looked back...

 

[cruzerlou]

Thanks for the info Rick,
I'll go to the dealer and check out a new one just to see how it feels.
I may like it better than the Honda.
Lou

 

[graygun]

I rode some fire roads in AZ in '71 on a borrowed Yamaha 125 trail. In '72 I bought a Kaw 175 but was living in an area w/o many trails and never was able to duplicate the AZ experience.

 

[powder smoke]

Honda's are hard to beat for value and ride-ability. just my 2 cents. ps

 

[cruzerlou]

I just spoke with the dealer I've been buying and selling bikes with since I was a kid. He suggested the Suzuki DRZ 650 to me . considering my weight and what I want to do the DRZ 400 or any smaller bike I'd just get board on .So if I can sell my bike for what I'm gonna ask for it [should be no problem] Ill start lookin hard for a 650 ,Suzuki , Kawasaki Honda what ever but I would like a light bike and the Suzuki and Honda are lighter than the Kaw.
BTW I just went out to the garage and took the battery off the charger it's showing 13.7 volts. Put it back in the bike ,it fired right up. Now just need a warm day so I can wash and detail the bike, take some pics and put it in Cycle trader and The Trading Post and just wait.
Lou

 

[GetGunz]

I would sell. I recommend a new battery and tire and add that to the $6,500 to create the new $XXXX opening offer price with no issues for the buyer to "knit pick" when they see the bike. Show the receipts and your research on the higher mileage bikes in the same price range and you may very well get your asking price. You can negotiate down the $6,500 price and let the buyer get a solid fair deal.

 

[BRL]

Your story sounds pretty much like mine.

Bought this 2002 Yamaha 660 Raptor new and sunk a ton of $$$ & TLC into it, and had a great time up here with lots of riding buddies, but truthfully I liked it as a transportation device to take me out into the woods for some gravel pit shooting more than anything else.

Eventually a bunch of out of town idiots showed up here and managed to get the trails closed down to offroading for everybody, and I was left with the option of hauling it many miles to go riding with friends again, or looking at something in the garage that may as well have been a picture on the wall.

I sold it and to date have no regrets because I can still walk out the door and into those same woods for some plinking fun...I just made my shooting range a lot closer to home.

A dual sport 450 may be in my future as well though. 8)

 

[32shooter]

I bought this Yamaha XT225 several years ago. I ride it to work some and check trail camera and such. Get 60-70 MPG. I am not a very big guy(but getting bigger) so this little bike fits my needs.

 

[cruzerlou]

Looks like a great bike .I'd probably be find with a 250 if all I wanted to do was ride off road, but I need the transportation too so I think a 650 is best for me.
BTW when I get one some Aluminum side bags are in order as well as an O.D. green paint job and I'm gonna fab up a rifle rack for the handle bars.
Don't think for one second that I won't strap a deer to the back of the bike and haul it home to skin it out LOL.

Lou

 

[powder smoke]

I'm not a big guy ether back in the day I had an Ossa Phantom 250
that thing was a rocket plenty of power. ps