What do you miss?

[SmithSwede]

So I’m not asking what is the most bestest, Triple Plus-Good motorcycle.  My question is:  what bike did you sell, trade, wreck or otherwise lose that you regret losing the most?

For me it is a 1983 Suzuki GS1100E.  The “superbike” of my youth.  Had it forever; rode it everywhere.  Scared me silly at times.  One day decided the mature and responsible thing to do would be sell it for peanuts.

More generally, what material possession do you no longer have that you most wish you did?

For me, it is a letter I wrote to my Dad when I was about 6.  Found it in my Dad’s safe deposit box after he died, so I know it made an impression on him.  I should have immediately put it back into a safe deposit box because I have apparently lost it.   &;@:9@“”!

[oldbike54]

 Mostly I miss my sanity .

 Dusty

[SmithSwede]

Dusty, as a moderator, you owe a duty of candor to the members.

Were you *ever* fully sane?   When, precisely, did you lose your sanity?   Where and why?

 

[oldbike54]

Dusty, as a moderator, you owe a duty of candor to the members.

Were you *ever* fully sane?   When, precisely, did you lose your sanity?   Where and why?

 

 Once yes , at least for a few years .

 2-17-13

 Refer back to the date above

  Dusty

[Huzo]

In the immortal words of that great philosopher Ozzy Osborne..
"Of all the far'in fings I've lost
It's me mind I miss the most.."
Probably not that different, however bike wise.
Either my Ducati Darmah or Rob North BSA A65 Spitfire.
I'll toss in my first proper road bike Suzuki GT 750


But if forced to choose...?
The Darmah..

[malik]

Dusty, as a moderator, you owe a duty of candor to the members.

Were you *ever* fully sane?   When, precisely, did you lose your sanity?   Where and why?

 

If he's anything like us old farts, he put it down somewhere safe or convenient, & hasn't been able to find it ever since.

[Smithy]

1992 Super Tenere

[kingoffleece]

The wonder years were spent on a lovely CB450 circa 1970.  Served me REALLY well.

[Aaron D.]

Two-my Laverda triple and my '77 LeMans.

[tazio]

1992 Super Tenere

Sweet !
Still miss my 1992 Yamaha TDM 850.
Bought new and later crashed into extinction when I let a family member borrow it.

But mostly,  a pair of eyes glasses that were my father's I carelessly tossed after his passing.

[jwinwi]

Early 1980s BMW R80GS. Had two different ones but they didn't have the soul of a Guzzi. Wishing I'd have kept the last one...$$$

[Kev m]

Only ever missed one bike - my 1996 FLHRI (first year EFI EVO Road King).

I spent about a year seriously looking for one. Couldn't find one that I felt was unmolested enough (would have had to be the exact same color Statesboro Blue Pearl) and I essentially gave up and bought a new one instead. It was PROBABLY the right thing to do. But I keep my eye open still just in case.

[mjptexas]

Mostly I miss my sanity .

 Dusty

But Dusty, you lost that before most of us ever knew you.

[Toecutter]

I'd never fit on the thing, and if I bought one now, it would be to restore and put on display only...

but I miss my first "ride". A 1980 XL80S. So many great memories on it, my first taste of "on my own" freedom... in tiny little isolated rural towns on the Labrador coast, and in the mountains of the Western Northwest Territories. I loved that thing. Prior to it, I spent all my time on monkey bikes in backyards, or clinging to Dad's back on his CB350.

yeah, I miss it. I want one again.

[Lannis]

1976 Yamaha RD400c.   One of the nicest bikes I've ever owned.   Sold it for a stupid reason.

Lannis

[Adk.IBO]

My Beta 200 Trials bike. It was easy to maintain, kept my skills sharp and satisfied my need for wheelies! I can't replace it for what I sold it for but I'd still like to get another one. It would have been/will be perfect for teaching grandchildren to ride in a safe(er) environment. I believe you can't spend your riding time on the street trying to figure out how to shift/brake/stop/go amongst all the crazies... Learn how to ride/ find out if you like it in the dirt. Just my opinion, of course.

[rtbickel]

My 77 Yamaha XS750D.  Bought it new and rode it all over the country, sold it in 2001 for $600, but it was so I could buy my first Guzzi.  I still wonder where it is today and if it is being well cared for.  I also wish that my 75 Can-Am 250 hadn't siezed up and there were no parts available to fix it, so I literally put it out on the curb for heavy trash pickup (someone got it before the garbage man).  I just loved the endless 2nd and 3rd gear throttle wheelies all the way down the block.

[oldbike54]

 Do kinda miss being able to throw a football 65 yards in the air , or being able to ride 600 miles a day and want more . Still kinda miss a couple of dogs , and a few friends that have passed or decided they are already too old to have some adventure .

 Dusty

[fotoguzzi]

[Fontain25]

My first road bike was a V700 that was titled as a 1966. Rode it all over Colorado and the southwest. Moved to Illinois , got married , bought a house that needed repairs so with a child on the way I sold it. Had a 1997 California a couple years ago but it wasn't the same. 9 months ago I bought a 1971 Ambassador and got it road-worthy - it's almost very similar to my V700.

[Guzzi Gal]

My youthful vigor.

[Sheepdog]

I honestly don’t have any regrets about parting with material things. They can always be replaced one way or another. However, I wouldn’t trade the memories associated with my special stuff for anything.

...where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

[indian]

I really miss my 1951 mustang scooter .  I painted it a chevy hugger orange and used a mustang seat emblem just to get an argument started.  No one even knew the difference.  Then this beautiful little bike was stolen from my shop in year 2002.  I am still looking.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I don't really miss any toys. I've lost a couple of pretty good friends this year, though..
2018-06-05_10-42-19 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr
1-012 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr

[zebraranger]

For me, I really miss my old classic dune buggy. I use to ride this thing just about anywhere, the streets, cow pastures, and the woods. It was a lot of fun, even in the rain.

[Lannis]

For me, I really miss my old classic dune buggy. I use to ride this thing just about anywhere, the streets, cow pastures, and the woods. It was a lot of fun, even in the rain.

That's cute!

Lannis

[Guzzidad]

    I have 2 bikes I wish i would have kept. I was just too young and dumb to know how to keep them running. One was a 64 Norton Atlas. It was incredibly satisfying to ride. Gave it to a friend of mine. The other was the most fun bike I ever rode, a 67 Norton P-11. I loved that right hand shift, one up and three down.

[Dave Swanson]

My question is:  what bike did you sell, trade, wreck or otherwise lose that you regret losing the most?


More generally, what material possession do you no longer have that you most wish you did?

I regret selling my 2003 EVT.  A well sorted Hydro motor is a beauty to behold.  It was a great all around bike.  Sportier than it should have been and a good road burner.  I sold it in a fit of searching for something more perfect.  I didn't realize it was staring me in the face the whole time.   I really like my Norge and would never sell.  But now I know I could have been perfectly happy with the EVT.




As far as a material possession that has come and gone I really can't come up with one.  Maybe I am too much of a hoarder.   

[Guzzistajohn]

My first car. 69 Camaro SS. Kinda wish I hadn’t sold my 2000 Gas Gas txt 248 trials bike.

[PhilB]

The bike that I lost that I regret losing the most is also the material possession I no longer have that I most wish I did.  It was my last bike, which got mashed last October by a hit-and-run minivan.  It was a 1993 Ducati M900 Monster, which I bought new, and had ridden pretty much daily for 24 years and 265K miles.  I was just about to put in a new set of piston rings, and head for turning over the odometer a third time.

PhilB