Regrets on the one that got away?

[jpv7]

1997 900ss/sp.  Had suspension sorted and flat slides.  Wish i still had her...

[guzzimatic]

This one haunts me still... I had a good friend in Kewaunee,Illinois who had a 50 bike collection,was in the vintage bike club that does the Davenport swap meet,so very connected in the northern Illinois bike scene. He called me up and ask if I was interested in an early 70's Ducati,not sure what model but missing carbs.I had and still have an 1977 GTES that runs so why would I need another... Well it could have been a round case worth five times what my square case is or a750SS worth the Moon! Here is where it becomes a dream/ nightmare, in Cycle World there was an article on a guy named Bruce Findlayson,friend of Peter Egan,slimy crud,etc who found a 750SS in northern Illinois,restored it loved it,then shortly after got cancer and died...his slimy crud friends bought a park bench and had it installed in a city park near Blue Mound Wisconsin as a memorial.A friend and I rode up took a picture on the bench and to this day I wonder if it was the same bike...

[radguzzi]

About twenty-seven years ago I sold a stunning 1975 Triumph T-160 Trident and as the tail light was hitting the horizon I regretted it, there was no real good reason to let it go...  Within a few years I started looking for another.


Found one about two years ago.  This one stays.

Best,
Rob

[Bill Owens]

The one that got away from me would have been my first bike if you don't count the briggs and straton powered mini bike of my childhood. It was 1979 and the bike was a 78 Lemans leftover priced at $3200.00. Wish I had it now,but on the other hand seeing how it would have been my first bike i'd probably would have been dead long ago. Fortunately at the time I was smart enough to have that exact thought. Settled for a 78 T-3 leftover for $2800.00.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Vincent Comet
It was a basket case but if i had it now I would spend the time and money to fix it up.

[Joliet Jim]

About twenty-seven years ago I sold a stunning 1975 Triumph T-160 Trident and as the tail light was hitting the horizon I regretted it, there was no real good reason to let it go...  Within a few years I started looking for another.


Found one about two years ago.  This one stays.

Best,
Rob

That looks like the one in my garage except for the seat which seems to have a lot more padding in yours.

My getaway was the Norton 850 Commando I passed on for $700 back in 1982. Then again there was the old Bonnie, and the SR500. Miss both of them.

[tusong200]

35 bikes over the past 55 years.

Second biggest regret would be '84 RZ350 with Toomey pipes.

But number one regret for sure would be my Monza.... Bub mufflers, Dyna coils and ignition, custom made Works Performance shocks (I lived about a mile from them), 32mm Mikuni flat-slides, powder-coated wheels (blue). Bought it from Sonny Angel in 1986. Rode it for 20 years. Sold it because "I needed the money". What a mistake!!!

Of course the guy I sold it to did not honor his promise to offer me first refusal if he decided to sell it. Supposedly it ended up in or around Albequerqee NM.

If anyone knows where it is I will buy it back. Easy to recognize because of the mods.

[radguzzi]

That looks like the one in my garage except for the seat which seems to have a lot more padding in yours.

My getaway was the Norton 850 Commando I passed on for $700 back in 1982. Then again there was the old Bonnie, and the SR500. Miss both of them.

The seat on the T-160 is a replacement that the previous (original) owner had put on it.  I have the original as well.

Ya mean a Norton like this...?  The 850 MkI is here for a mechanical clean up, belongs to a riding buddy here.  It looks great in this photo however, the engine has small leaks and some other little issues.
Not to make you really regret it but this things runs so friggin' good, just a beast, great power.

[Furbo]

Hmmn,

'72 Honda 750 and '74 Kaw 900. Only because I could retire on those bikes today!

'75 Laverda 3C with handmade Cico faring.  Again, because of the $$...AND it was red, 

'71 Laverda 750SF. Geat bike, great brakes, had 3 major accidents on it and wife wanted it gone. So.

72 Guzzi 850GT. Strongest running loop I ever had. Took from Germany to Italy/Switzerland twice. Bone stock. Really wish I had that one back.

'80 Husky CR250 - 2 stroke crosser. lovely!

'78 Honda CR 250, Red Bomber. Great dirtbike and now really worth some $$$.

STILL HAVE: 72 Eldo bought in 1988. 72 N. Falcone. 69 LAverda 750SFC Replica. So, not so bad.

 

[Kristian]

Out of the following owned between 1986-2003:
78 KZ1000Z1-R
85 GPz900R Ninja
89 FZR400
90 ZX-7
92 851
95 Sport 1100
93 FZR1000
86 Le Mans 1000
99 ZRX1100
98 VFR800 x 2
00 ZX-12R
03 VFR800
91 VFR750

Out of this highly accomplished group, the '95 Sport 1100 was the only one that really burned a mark on my heart, despite having output shaft and drive box main seals go on road trips and generally being a PITA. I sold the world's fastest, most high-tech, twin to buy it, too. After I had remade the Sport in my image, it made it into Greg Field's book "Moto Guzzi Big Twins":




I was burned out on bikes between 03-16, but wanted another Sport 1100 with which to rejoin the sport. Couldn't find one, so I bought another 98 VFR800, the best overall bike I ever owned. But, as soon as a mint, local, Sport 1100 came up, it was game over for dull perfection. The Sport is now up to my standards, having had all potential failure items addressed, and much more, besides:




I'll never sell it for as long as I ride.

[Peter from Sch'dy]

A Rickman Metisse with Bultaco center port power. Bought it from a local racer with Cemoto connections in 1972 or 73. Dad cleaned out the shed while I was out of town working, thought it was junk...oh well. Rarely sell anything now.
Best,
Peter

[Bulldog9]

Only 1............ NEVER should have sold it. I bought it to replace my XS1100, but a buddy fell in love with it and I sold it to him. It wasn't a great bike, but was unique and definitely scratched an itch. I've kept the others I truly love, and will never part with my XS11 or GRiSO, even after they are just display pieces in my garage and I cant ride anymore.



At least I kept my XS1100.

[Sheepdog]

The '60 BMW R60 and the 1974 Norton Commando Interstate. Both departed during big life changes...a baby and a big move. I should have found a way to keep them.

[bentombed]

I almost instantly regretted buying my airhead, drunkenly bid high on ebay and won....  never again. when its good it is fun. It is never good.

  currently, i am watching a good looking Mark III waltz on by cos i cannot sell my stinking airhead.

[John Croucher]

Brian Reynolds red Ducati GT.

[JeffOlson]

I often have seller's remorse... So many regrets... So many bad decisions... I should have kept them all!

I regret selling my Ducati ST2 the most.

[slowmover]

I almost bought an American centennial 1976 Triumph Bonneville.It had a subdued red white and blue color scheme. I can’t seem to find a photo of it anywhere.

[Roebling3]

The good? In some ways polar opposites. Most of all '77 LeMans, sold 2 years ago. RG500 Suzuki. Sold many years ago. No one should die that young. Worth serious $$ today.
The only bad bike I owned? Bought new. Contrary to every other opinion; The worst piece o' crap ever on 2 wheels, right out of the crate.  R3~

[JohninVT]

I've had sooooo many motorcycles over the years.  Many were UJM's but there were a lot funky ones too.  CX500 Turbo, multiple Interceptors of different displacements, a Bridgestone GTR, a few Triumphs, a Norton Interstate, some CZ and Bultaco dirtbikes, a half dozen Guzzi's, an RD400 and a RZ350, two Ducati's and at least a dozen dualsports.

The only one I've ever truly regretted selling was.....every TW200.  I've had 4.  I don't know why I keep selling the ones I buy because I immediately regret it and start looking for another.  On the surface a TW200 is about the least appealing motorcycle ever made but I just love riding them. 

Now...if you asked me what one motorcycle I regret not buying...that would be the brand new 96(?) 1100 Sport I test rode at AJ Cycle in MA on a whim.  It was the first Guzzi I'd ever ridden.  The intake honk made me think something was broken.  It was really uncomfortable and felt heavy.  Every time I looked down at the speedo during the test ride it was going at least 20mph faster than I thought it was.  It was beautiful and ugly.  I don't know why I didn't buy it.  I still want one 22 years later.       

[Lannis]

I almost bought an American centennial 1976 Triumph Bonneville.It had a subdued red white and blue color scheme. I can’t seem to find a photo of it anywhere.

There was a '77 Silver Jubilee (QE II's 25th anniversary), and a '81 Royal Wedding commemorative model, and an '02 Triumph "Centennial Commemorative" model to celebrate Triumph's 100 years  ... but I was buying and drooling and keeping up with all the Triumphs back then, and I honestly don't think there was a Triumph "American Centennial" model made by Triumph.   Maybe a local dealer did one up?   There was a lot of "Bicentennial Fever" back then....

If someone's got a pic, I'll be ecstatic to learn something new ...

Lannis

[Toecutter]

I almost instantly regretted buying my airhead, drunkenly bid high on ebay and won....  never again. when its good it is fun. It is never good.

  currently, i am watching a good looking Mark III waltz on by cos i cannot sell my stinking airhead.

Details? What year? Where? How much?

[slowmover]

Sorry I believe it was for the bicentennial and not sure about all the details. I’m trying to contact someone who remembers the bike.

[wittangamo]

There’s a few Nortons on this list. Mine was a ‘71 Commando Roadster. Bought it new and kept it for 15 years. Great to ride, look at and listen to, but a pain to maintain.

If not in perfect tune, the kickstarter would wear out my knee joint. Every nut and bolt vibrated loose weekly, and I had to stop every 50 miles to find a rock to screw the exhaust flange back in. With no dealers, no parts and no mechanical aptitude, it was hard to rationalize keeping it.

But it read my mind in the corners, and it hurt my heart when I left it behind to take a new job in the urban wasteland.

[Dilliw]

There are bikes that I miss but without them leaving the fold I couldn't have my Griso and my Griso is the one that will never get away...

[yogidozer]

The title sounds like a new Taylor Swift song 🤣

[inditx]

These are great reading!
Thanks and keep them coming.

Haha yogidozer, I don’t think I can name a single Taylor Swift song....

[bentombed]

Details? What year? Where? How much?

1976/77 R100s - Brisbane Australia - ummm it needs the brakes sorted and has a minor electrical issue.  it owes me well in advance of 12k.  i'm guessing its worth around 8k AUD

[JukeboxGothic]

I don't regret the bikes I have sold except for the Laverda Jota. An 81 model that had won the club concourse and was built on a good day. Stupidly sold to chase my Austrian girlfriend around Europe a long time ago. I still have dreams I'm riding that bike but it would probably cripple me now. I'm friends with the girl though and we keep in touch regularly. I regret some of the scooters I have sold however.

[wymple]

Beautiful 1975 Suzuki 750 Water Buffalo. I had no money, wanted it REAL bad.

[SmithSwede]

1997 900ss/sp.  Had suspension sorted and flat slides.  Wish i still had her...

jpv7:

Please elaborate.  Why the regret over selling this Ducati?