Having owned an 06 12GSA which was a great bike i couldn't see me selling my now 25year old airhead to buy another GSA. In fact proff asked me not long ago which bike would i sell if i had to Camille or Bess(my 2007 FLSTN Harley softail classic) and i have to say without much thought that Bess would go after all i could own any other harley but Camille is very much a one off.
Old vehicles carry so much more carisma as well. Afew years ago i was wondering around Gayden Motor museum and sticking my head in though the open windows of some of the cars they had that as a family we'd had in the past and the smell of the cars interior was the same as i remember as a child, bringing back memories of when me and flip were kids. I was so suprissed by this sudden time travell back i rang the old fella (pastyman). Modern cars don't have this, even old bikes have there own smell, just go into your garage (when the wifes not looking cos she'd have you sectioned) and have a whiff of your bike and they have there own smell. Strange yes but unique. People talk about the handelling etc of bikes but with all old vehicles its much deaper than just the way it drives, its the unique noises, smells and little idiosyncracies that make them so much more fun.
And NO before you ask i've not taken a bump on the head, well not for a while anyway
In much the same way,should the unlikely situation ever arise that I had to sell all but one of my bikes,I`d be keeping my paint faded,travel stained, slightly rusty but eminently trusty 650 Ural combo.
I've had several nearly new "flash" cars (Nissan Skyline R34 to name one).. But I've always had "old bangers" to fall back on.. (everything from a 73 capri to my current wheels a 1988 BMW 525i... which is a great car! And only cost me 500 quid with a years t&t.
And the same goes with the bikes.. Sold my 2003 GS back in sept.. And moved "backwards" to the aircooled stuff they are bomb proof and easy to work on!
I'm currently the proud owner of 1984 Tenere, 1986 R80 "bitza GS" and a 1995 ZX9R... Guess which one is going up for sale next week?
