Time to sell?

[Greybeard]

I am currently thinking about flogging my A10. I've had enough of fiddling with greasy cold machinery. Another factor is my lack of workshop space;  while getting to the timing side of the bike to sort out the dynamo belt I had to squeeze between the bike and shelves with poky bits sticking out.

The new BSA is part of the equation; an electric starting motorbike that I can just ride without having to worry about it catastrophically breaking down is very appealing. I don't want a crotch-rocket. The bonus of it having a BSA badge is a small part of the appeal; it means I could still go to club weekend meetings; me and the bike might get burnt at the stake though!

When I pop my clogs if the old bike and associated clobber is still in my shed, someone will have to deal with it all, which probably means chucking much of it in a skip.

[BigJim]

You've had that bike a long time. Longer even than I've had mine gonna feel odd seeing someone else riding it. Yours is very reliable and handles well. And now you got a lathe to make up any bits that need upgrading!
I'll take it off your hands.
 

[Greybeard]

You've had that bike a long time. Longer even than I've had mine gonna feel odd seeing someone else riding it. Yours is very reliable and handles well. And now you got a lathe to make up any bits that need upgrading!
I'll take it off your hands.
 

Serious offers considered

[muskrat]

G'day GB.
As BJ says you've had her for a long time and many fond memories. She is part of you, keep her for the kids/g-kids.
I will never never sell my plungie. There is a hole in the frame for my ashes to go! If I can't take the bike with me, I'm staying with the bike
Cheers

[Greybeard]

There is a hole in the frame for my ashes to go! If I can't take the bike with me, I'm staying with the bike

The next owner will be scratching his head trying to understand why the flippin bike just will not go slow.

[Greybeard]

G'day GB.
As BJ says you've had her for a long time and many fond memories. She is part of you, keep her for the kids/g-kids.

I'm feeling rather down at the moment so I apologise for what follows:
I don't see a viable future for our bikes. Dirty IC engines are bound to be legislated against. Fuel is going to be more and more adulterated with Ethanol. My kids are not very interested in the bike. When I die my wife or kids would have problems dealing with my stuff. I worry about having to deal with the consequences of a broken 70 year old conrod. My legs are arthritic;  I can still kickstart the bike at the moment but that will become more difficult.

[Big_Ben]

I absolutely understand where you are coming from and only have two brief thoughts to offer.

Firstly as someone who recently had to deal with some mental health issues, I would counsel against making significant decisions when feeling down. Things do turn around, and if you still feel like selling the beast then it's a well considered act.

Secondly, I quite fancy one of the new BSAs, but they're transport, an old, older or even ancient bike is something else entirely.

Hope things improve.

[CheeserBeezer]

G'day GB.
As BJ says you've had her for a long time and many fond memories. She is part of you, keep her for the kids/g-kids.

I'm feeling rather down at the moment so I apologise for what follows:
I don't see a viable future for our bikes. Dirty IC engines are bound to be legislated against. Fuel is going to be more and more adulterated with Ethanol. My kids are not very interested in the bike. When I die my wife or kids would have problems dealing with my stuff. I worry about having to deal with the consequences of a broken 70 year old conrod. My legs are arthritic;  I can still kickstart the bike at the moment but that will become more difficult.

I've been having similar thoughts but my endgame plays out like this....... I keep riding for as long as I can. I might have another ten, maybe 15, years. By which time all my stuff might be worth nothing, but so what? I've got 5 A10's on the road so (including the RGS) they're probably worth £35 - £40K. The pleasure I've had out of them and the friends I've made and the memories I've got are worth more than the bikes so they've earned their keep. The effort of maintaining and riding the bikes is keeping me young and in touch with lots of really nice people so there's more miles and memories to be had..... hopefully! So, when I can't ride any more I'll get a big van and bundle the whole lot off to an auction. If any of my mates want any of the bikes they can have 'em at a knock down price. I won't care how much money they make because, at that time of life, it doesn't matter and, as I said, they've earned their keep in so many different ways.

[Greybeard]

I should have mentioned that I cannot think about buying a modern bike without flogging the one I have. Firstly there's the money; secondly I don't have room for more than one machine.

[muskrat]

The number of bikes you NEED is always one more than you've got 
Cheers

[Peter in Aus]

I sympathies with GB, I haven't got a problem with space but do have a problem with age, coming up  85 in a few months and I have to go for a medical to renew my driver's license, my Doc wants to make me go for a test to keep my motorcycle license, the test consists of at least 2 lessons with a riding school instructor at around $100 to $150 a time and then a test ride with licensing authority, another $100 or more, this is the problem, if you make just one mistake you fail.
The likelihood of me not making one mistake is zero, so my only hope is to talk my Doc into not ticking the box that says "test required".
So if the Doc ticks that box I'm not going to even try to renew my bike driver's license and will have two bikes for sale
Peter

[Rex]

When someone is thinking of getting rid of the older bikes and buying "something I don't need to work on" they need to consider their own personal "spannering vs riding" enjoyment ratio.
To me, that ratio would be 50:50 riding to spannering, but then I'm lucky in that I have a reasonably-sized and well-equipped workshop, so I can spend time happily getting oily in the shed when it's not a time for riding, plus I have other bikes to ride.
Also to paraphrase someone from the past, it's not the destination but the journey. Sure, some nice new bike would be pretty much guaranteed to get you where you're going, but what a boring characterless journey it would be, and when you got there there'd be no-one who wanted to indulge in the old "that's a nice bike, my dad had one of those...etc etc" and that interaction is always enjoyable too.
Still, good job we're all individuals with our own views though.

[terryg]

I agree with Rex’s point of view. Although personally I haven’t ridden for some time, contenting myself with spannering on various vehicles.
The mental health benefits accruing from problem solving seem to me to be worth considering too. Sometimes the repair and refurbishment work can be frustrating but it’s at those times I find myself rising to the challenge. And I’m sure you all know the feeling you get when a problem is properly solved.

[Greybeard]

I have other interests and hobbies so could never get bored if I no longer had the bike.

A scenario that scares the bejesus out of me is a serious engine failure. If a conrod went walkies through the case for instance, I'd probably just sell the bike for parts and that would be a real shame. This is one of the reasons I don't thrash the bike.

Rex, yes, riding the GF is lovely; the growl of the exhaust, the satisfying pickup always gives me a thrill but I can live without it.

I restored my first car, (1929 Austin Seven) over many years. When our three kids came along the car just wasn't practical. There were no seatbelts.The doors had no locks. When parked the car attracted attention from brats who wanted to get into it. It sat in the garage for 10 years until I decided to sell it. It was very sad but I got over it. I will regret selling the BSA but I'll get over it.

[RDfella]

I will never never sell my plungie. There is a hole in the frame for my ashes to go! If I can't take the bike with me, I'm staying with the bike
Cheers

Will the hip joint become a repair part for the frame?