Poucher, I totally agree with your sentiment. My ‘66 plate 1299 has 11,500 miles of fun on it. I’ve been to Scotland, Nurburgring, Le Mans on it. It’s not as high as yours - but I also keep a ZZR with 79,500 miles on to commute on when the weather permits. I’ve added 50k of those in my 8 year ownership. I’m hoping to get to 100,000... The way I view depreciation is the same as yours - I’ve lost £12,000 in my 4 years with the 1299. If I’d not used it much I may have ‘saved’ a grand - but then what’s the point in owning it?
I’m convinced that people don’t use their bikes enough for fear of depreciation, like you Ian, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the memories I’ve created and we’ll look back on those times when we’re old and decrepit and smell of wee and smile to ourselves at all the fun we’ve had, you won’t get that if your bikes tucked away in the garage! I’ve got a couple of other bikes I use as well as the Panigale, this old BM that I bought new in June 2000, it’s got 42,000 miles on it now and it’s a hoot, Ohlins shocks on it and you would not believe how well it handles down a twisty back lane, it’s my “keeper” and when I pop my clogs I’m gonna have it buried with me! Also this year we had 3 decent European trips planned, about 8,500 miles in total, so I bought myself a new “Tour” bike in March,.....well you know what happened next....Covid-19!! Only had the bike 2 weeks and then lockdown hit, so couldn’t ride it, then one by one all the bike trips got cancelled, so I’ve bought it for nothing really...bugger!!..it’ll keep I suppose! I got the new updated “Ninja” 1000SX Kawasaki Really pleased with the bike, a dead slick sports tourer and since the lockdown was lifted I’ve managed to get 3,000 miles on this and I’m not going to be too precious with this one, don’t care how many miles I put on it ( bulletproof jap bike ) and I won’t be too worried about it when it’s parked outside a hotel at night when we’re on tour. Bikes are for riding, sod the depreciation, everybody just get out and use them and have great times !!
I just don't like getting the Ducati dirty. If it was sunny every day I'd ride it, albeit I get a bit bored of being on a sports bike after a few days, and go back to the beemer for a change.
I’m the same Flatty, I don’t like getting the Ducati filthy, but we’ve done weekends in Wales or Scotland where it’s p1ssed down for days and the bikes come back home in a right state, but I just set to and clean it for about the next 3 days to get it pristine again, can’t help it,..I’m bloody anal with cleaning the bikes!
Well, you certainly made a good job of that one ! What happened? ..Someone rear end you?...or was it operator error???
Tbh I don’t know, left hander nice warm sunny day, 30mph or so, done all my braking and gear etc and lowsided it into a VW Passat estate? It had been serviced the day before, I did find a slippery substance on the front tyre after the accident, and there was a “warning plant turning” sign just after the corner into a field where tarmac machinery was parked, so don’t know if it came off the road surface, the dealer service or where I cleaned it during the week before the service? Had it not been for the Passat it wouldn’t have been a bad off, when I picked it up I thought I could ride it home, then it wouldn’t roll, and I though oh a flat tyre, then I saw the wheel and the fact it was trying to come around and meet the front one, it was curtains from then on. Had it not happened though I’d probably still have it (despite the mrs not liking being on it) whereas now I’ve got a Multi and we are both much happier
