I have just done a wash and clean up (and oil and filter change !) , on my 2009 registered GL1800 in sunny Seattle ..... after doing 6,495 miles in the last 27 days (21 on the road !)
After getting faced with a $6,500 bill for hiring the equivalent type of machine (for 4 weeks) ... I decided there was a better way , and went the purchase route !! I have done this for the last four years on 3 different bikes , and am considering giving it a rest for a year or two .... or three.
What should I do ? sell up and buy again in x years time ... or park it for y years .. and use again ? (keeping is tempting .. it was cheap (no big investment tied up) , comfortable ... (over 300 miles a day average , nearly 500 miles was longest day) , economical (56.5 uk mpg average on this trip) , and 100% reliable ...... and nice to ride ! BUT ... vehicles like this (and most others) ... should be used.
Decision not needed till late Sept , as a friend from NI is borrowing it for a couple of weeks then ..... meantime , let me know if any of you are interested in taking this on (buying it off me !) . In addition (anyroads) I will post a few pics after I get back to base on Tuesday , some interesting experiences , from heat in Death Valley , to heights of Pikes Peak , to getting caught in a "freak" snowstorm , and having to jump ship for 24 hours !!. (price guide is $7000 , that's all it is worth ... nothing of similar age in the UK for sub 10,000 Pounds + (Note different currencies !) ... all beit with a bit less less than 108,000 miles on the clock !). Timescale flexible .. could be held for a 2017 visit ... but I would not advise a northern half of the USA tour, pre May...ish time .
Only sticking this in the Ireland section as that is my base
cheers
Alan
After getting faced with a $6,500 bill for hiring the equivalent type of machine (for 4 weeks) ... I decided there was a better way , and went the purchase route !! I have done this for the last four years on 3 different bikes , and am considering giving it a rest for a year or two .... or three.
What should I do ? sell up and buy again in x years time ... or park it for y years .. and use again ? (keeping is tempting .. it was cheap (no big investment tied up) , comfortable ... (over 300 miles a day average , nearly 500 miles was longest day) , economical (56.5 uk mpg average on this trip) , and 100% reliable ...... and nice to ride ! BUT ... vehicles like this (and most others) ... should be used.
Decision not needed till late Sept , as a friend from NI is borrowing it for a couple of weeks then ..... meantime , let me know if any of you are interested in taking this on (buying it off me !) . In addition (anyroads) I will post a few pics after I get back to base on Tuesday , some interesting experiences , from heat in Death Valley , to heights of Pikes Peak , to getting caught in a "freak" snowstorm , and having to jump ship for 24 hours !!. (price guide is $7000 , that's all it is worth ... nothing of similar age in the UK for sub 10,000 Pounds + (Note different currencies !) ... all beit with a bit less less than 108,000 miles on the clock !). Timescale flexible .. could be held for a 2017 visit ... but I would not advise a northern half of the USA tour, pre May...ish time .
Only sticking this in the Ireland section as that is my base
cheers
Alan