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A very good friend of mine purchased my '86 Tour Glide today.
What an experience the last 5 years had been.
I worked so very hard to renovate and update the old Glide. In the end I had a great time with our ride through Pennsylvania last August.
I had cured all the issues and rebuilt it back to better than original before the late September collision that caused a considerable amount of damage, mostly to the body parts.
I even acquired everything to repair it but it would never have the luster and the almost pristine appearance without more effort than I'm able to do anymore.
The turning point came when I decided my life, and my wife's were important enough to move to a more modern vehicle with ABS being the priority. The day back in February when we spotted a new 2014 Rushmore with a distinct color combination and style that we just couldn't pass up with the discounts involved made it a no brainer to sell my project bike.
I had 3 weeks where everything was working perfectly and the reward of investing into the Tour Glide seemed to have finally paid off.
My friend that bought it has a real appreciation for older bikes and knew I invested as best I could to build this bike into something he wanted. Even with a few bruises and the need for some fiberglass work and paint he wanted to make it his own. I'm helping by putting the stereo system back on it with the only caddy I could find which is an aftermarket unit.
He knows everything about what I did and what happened to it which makes closing a deal with him very positive. He wanted everything I had that goes along with the bike and in doing so I got a fair price and was able to clean out my basement and garage of everything related to the bike.
I took it out for one more ride yesterday on a sunny 36 degree day with a 28 wind chill. It felt so quick and nimble. Riding it was second nature and I felt it was easier to handle then my new Rushmore. More likely because I'm not as experienced in handling the new bike. I wish I had the money to keep it and spend a few more years making it perfect with the repairs and new paint, but as I've gotten older I've started to simplify my life and couldn't afford to keep it.
The payoff on the Tour Glide from the insurance made a great down payment. And selling it will pay for the first year's payments. So all in all it worked out to our advantage. I don't recommend having an accident or breaking 5 ribs and your hand to get ahead, but as time has gone by the pain has given way to the next chapter of our lives. My wife and I are filled with excitement about the upcoming summer of touring on our new bike.
I'm moving now to the Rushmore section and wish all of you, with your classic vintage EVOs, the best. It was a learning experience I'll always be fond of.
One last series of photos of my old 86er taken on Labor Day last year just a few weeks before the collision.
And here I am at Bikes On The Bricks in Flint, MI just 2 weeks before the collision.
Good luck Johnny. You will really enjoy your new ride and be a LOT safer with the ABS system. Day and night over Evo's brakes, not even in the same ball-park. I've been on ABS brakes since Beemers went to ABS in 1994, except for the Evo Harley. I just had a 4 year run on ABS Harleys, one 96 and one 103. EVERYTHING was better, a course after making the normal changes. People shouldn't knock what they don't know about or ridden for twenty thousand miles. I'll be the first to say, I loved the new Harleys. Yeah, why did I sell them, thought I wanted back on the Beemer, got one (04 R1150RT) and now miss my Harleys (with abs). Really haven't completely decided on keeping my son's Evo. I love the looks, but hate the brakes and crazy starting procedures, really got use to EFI. Hit the button and go no matter what! All the other Evo stuff is neat, but stopping is a big concern for my old bones.
Take care
Johnny, yours is the only bike I've seen in that colour combination, which looks great, even though I can't see it in the flesh. Best of luck with your new ride - and you might just post a photo of it so we can see what you've both let yourselves in for! Sounds as if your Evo has also landed on it's feet - er, wheels - as well!
... you might just post a photo of it so we can see what you've both let yourselves in for! Sounds as if your Evo has also landed on it's feet - er, wheels - as well!
It actually makes me happy to know my old '86 is not in a salvage yard somewhere being stripped.
Here's a few of my Rushmore: Let me introduce you to "PEARL".
On to bigger and better things Johnny, good for you. My evo days, and riding in general are coming to an end, although had a chat with doc today about a new hip, who knows next year I might be good as new and STILL have this TourGlide (should have taken the $4500 offer).
On to bigger and better things Johnny, good for you. My evo days, and riding in general are coming to an end, although had a chat with doc today about a new hip, who knows next year I might be good as new and STILL have this TourGlide (should have taken the $4500 offer).
A close friend of ours had a new hip fitted about three weeks ago - under local anesthetic! He even took a cell-phone photo of some of the team working on him during the operation FFS! So there is hope - he was home and walking after a few days. Chin up old chap - that bike of yours will wait a while for you I'm sure.
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My Evo days have ended.
