If it was your family member???
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 70
Likes: 6
From: North MS
Thanks, I've been in the motorcycle game with my dad for about 17 years. We've ridden thousands of miles side by side. He was killed in a crash late last year on his 12 street glide. I knew he wouldn't want his pride and joy in a scrap yard and neither did my mom. Me and my wife took our savings and bought the bike. There was a lot owed on it but we got it. We dumped the rest in it and it's back to better than when he crashed.
I've gotten some bad looks and some great thanks for fixing it. I just wanted some opinions!! It's kinda like he's still riding with me when I'm on it. The money issue is not important because it's got a forever home now!!!
I've gotten some bad looks and some great thanks for fixing it. I just wanted some opinions!! It's kinda like he's still riding with me when I'm on it. The money issue is not important because it's got a forever home now!!!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 57
From: PA
Sorry for your loss, Man. We went through a similar thing with my Dad's car when he died.
Personally, I feel that it's just a bike/car. I don't develop emotional attachments to things like that, regardless of who owned it before. I don't need to drive/ride a deceased loved one's possession in order for me to feel a closeness to them or to use as a remembrance. For the same reason, I rarely go to the cemetery - I'm not a heartless bastard, it's just not necessary for me.
If I was in your situation, I'd have made sure that the insurance money went to the right person and let them decide what to do with it. If I was beneficiary, I'd have probably donated the money to a charity and let someone else benefit from it.
Personally, I feel that it's just a bike/car. I don't develop emotional attachments to things like that, regardless of who owned it before. I don't need to drive/ride a deceased loved one's possession in order for me to feel a closeness to them or to use as a remembrance. For the same reason, I rarely go to the cemetery - I'm not a heartless bastard, it's just not necessary for me.
If I was in your situation, I'd have made sure that the insurance money went to the right person and let them decide what to do with it. If I was beneficiary, I'd have probably donated the money to a charity and let someone else benefit from it.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 594
Likes: 1
From: Martinsville, IN
I'm in the restore it and ride it camp if it is affordable. In today's economy, a real possibility is that you simply can't afford an expensive restoration even if that is what you would like. But if the expense isn't an issue, I think the more relevant question is - What do you think that HE would have liked you to do with the bike?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 193
From: Las Vegas, NV
I don't think I could deal with it. I guess it would depend on who it was and how close but I'd have difficulty. If was my father - no way I could ever ride that bike. That's just me though, not my advice to you. You need to do what makes it right for you.
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Novice
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: MS
I agree with restoring it. My brothers and I are in the process of restoring my father's '07 Ultra Classic. He was killed in 2011. We bought it back from the insurance company because he loved that bike. It was his pride and joy. There was no way we would let it end up in a scrapyard.
