Need your opinion
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 729
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Need your opinion
Just wanted to see what you guys thought and I am sure some of you don't. I am having a really hard time with this one. I have a 2003 night train. Live in indiana so riding season can be hit and miss. 29 years old and had the bike since 2006. Wife (doesn't ride) and 2 kids (4 year old daughter and 1 year old son). I'm debating on selling the bike and waiting 10 years or so before I get another one since the only time I have to ride is to work and back (then I have to go home and get the car so i can pick the kids up at daycare). I probably only put 1000 or a little more miles on the bike last year and not even that many this year. With family, sports, busy life and knowing 4 or 5 people that have gotten killed on there bikes this year (none that were there fault. Either deer or a person in a cage). Have any of you guys been in my shoes and if so what did you do? And did you regret it or make the right choice in your opinion?
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, IN
It sucks when a fellow rider gets hurt or killed. But, you can't let fear get to you.
Yes, 4 or 5 fellow Indiana residents (hate the term "Hoosier") have gotten killed on bikes this year. But how many rode bikes and DID NOT get hurt? When you start to think about that, you realize your chances of being "that one" are fairly slim. And the fear starts to fade.
Also, don't wait. I'm 42 now, and I wish I'd been riding since I was 29.
Yes, 4 or 5 fellow Indiana residents (hate the term "Hoosier") have gotten killed on bikes this year. But how many rode bikes and DID NOT get hurt? When you start to think about that, you realize your chances of being "that one" are fairly slim. And the fear starts to fade.
Also, don't wait. I'm 42 now, and I wish I'd been riding since I was 29.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,307
Likes: 2,443
From: Eastern NE
IMO..."some" riding's better than "none" so those work rides would be considered Personal therapy. Yes life's definitely hard with family activities, but keep in mind the option of running one or the other to/from their activities on the bike...?? My daughter loves sitting on the back and she's my riding buddy. Best way to possibly get them involved in 2-wheels later in life too. I'd say keep the bike, seek out riding opportunities (whenever possible) and enjoy!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 892
Likes: 8
From: Central Florida
I quit riding for many years while raising kids. It seemed like the responsible thing to do. If I had died or been unable to work, things would have been hell at home. Not sure I would do it that way again....didn't realize what I was missing until I started riding again. Maybe just get REALLY good life insurance, and maybe disability insurance. (Make sure there are no exclusions for motorcycle riding) That way, even if something happened your family would be covered. With the small amount of time you have to ride, the odds of a mishap are less. But you will love those times you do get to ride. Only you can decide what to do. Just my thoughts on the matter. Good luck with your decision.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: 'Merica
Hi I'm from Indiana as well. It's a hard decision but if I had no payment for the bike and likely reasonable insurance prices for it, I'd probably keep it. I can understand selling it off if its costing u a loan payment each month but my insurance is only like $40/mo (26 years old perfect driving record) and that would be worth the trips to work and back for me
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 729
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Yea the bike is paid off so I don't have to worry about a payment and I also get 40 mpg compared to my 17-18 mpg I get in my trailblazer. Full coverage insurance is only a couple hundred a year and plates are cheap. I will probably be keeping it. Some riding is better than no riding.
Trending Topics
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 19
From: Illinois
Dude, I know exactly where you are at, I been there. I got divorced in 99 and a year after that I had to go back o court to try to get custody of my kids, which I did win and I raised them alone. I had a Heritage classic at the time but I had to sell it to help pay for Lawyers. It took me nearly 10 years to get another one, the one I now own. You have to figure this one out on your own though, your the one who has to live live your life and you alone is responsible for your wife and kids. Me? I never put anything before my kids and making sure they were raised the best way I knew how and that they had everything they needed. In order to do that though I had to make huge decisions and one of those were selling my last bike. Make no mistake about it though, I would do it again tomorrow, in a heartbeat, if I had too. Keep this in mind as I have personally found it to be true that it is much easier to sell something than it is to buy something. I say that unless your kids needs food, clothing and shelter keep it, ride it and enjoy it, life is short Dude.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
I sold my '75 FXE in '81 after having it for 6 years because I kept thinking about crashing. I stayed away for 31 years and never regretted it. And honestly, sometimes I question myself about getting the bike I have now. I'll never get it paid off, so I'm sort of renting it.
Do what you need to do for your family, who should always come first.
Do what you need to do for your family, who should always come first.
