yes I realize that I've been watching the prices go through the roof. I could have got a fully restored one in Canada in 2012 for $12,000. I hesitated (Guilt I had a young son at the time and felts maybe I was being selfish) and have regretted it ever since. Wanted a Jota since I was 15 years old.
If you get the chance of another one go for it, you wont be disappointed with a sorted 180 jota - they are visceral! Also good Laverda backup and spares in Canada - Wolfgang Haerter in Nacusp.
Yes Wolfgang was the person who found me the bike back in 2012. If I get the opportunity again I will most definitely jump on it. Some opportunities don't always come around again however or life gets in the way but you never know. I did swear I'd own one before I die if only my bank account agreed.
absolutely beautiful, stunning, best bike ever imho… thanks for sharing I hate you in the kindest possible way! Seriously awesome
Reading the op, this could be me too. I run a monster 1100evo and a hyper 939. I've barely ridden this year, state of the roads, cameras, traffic, weather.... All are reasons (excuses) to jump on my pushbikes and peddle. I too have thought about turning them back into money but i just can't part with my evo, I've had it 11 years and I'm the only owner. I tend to to use the hyper for my isle of man trips, if i didn't go to the TT and the manx I'd barely ride. Monster's only been out a couple of times this year. Hypers done more. Whilst I'm going to the island, I'll have two wheels in my garage but what comes in the future, I'm undecided. I can see the logic of selling but i also understand the quandary of it. Neither bike has any finance, I'll likely keep them. If anything does turn back into money,it'll be the hyper I think. When i do ride, I thoroughly enjoy it..... It's just giving myself the kick up the arse to get out. It's a quandary!
Agreed , a totally iconic bike ..... it will remain a classic forever . Yes indeed ! ..... a bit like an enigma , wrapped-up in a mystery ? ..... Yeah , but no , but yeah ..... the top end of the engine does have some serious ugly going on ..... .... or not ??
At the risk of hijacking this thread to a Laverda thread... many (many) moons ago when I wus a young oik on a CB250K4 I used to drive down to Cropedy motorcyles and spend half hour or so drolling over the Laverda's they had there. Beautifully presented in an old barn if iirc... And then I saw the Darmah in a garage close to me and there was no turning back.... and besides I'm not entirely sure my present wisened stature could cope with the seat height
And back to the originally thread... yes it is a quandary and you have to 'work' at being a motocyclist. Nothing good ever comes easy. I always think that will I ever, in 15 years time when I can't handle a bike, wander over to a young motorcyclist and talk & say I used to have bikes and feel rueful that I didn't use & enjoy them more often when I could....
Newbie here so be gentle. I'm at that point in life when this resonates so much. I've ridden bikes since I was 15, almost 50 years now. Still taking the bike to Spain most years for a few weeks but it's getting like it's more and more effort. Dropped in to my local Ducati dealer last month and started thinking about " Is it the bike ?" or is it me. So here I am working out if a different experience - in this case maybe a lighter model with a different feel will re-awaken me. Do I want to be the one wandering over to the younger biker in 10 years, ruefully regretting I didn't try just a bit harder. My Dad gave up when he got married, he always regretted it. I've been more fortunate and have a wife with her own bike and we generally help each other through the doubts. Hey ho, off to the dealer again for another fix of Ducatitis.
I think as long it's on two wheels does it matter what the bike is? There was an old boy on Bangers & Cash, 85 years + he was who was selling two or three beautiful old bikes but he was still riding. On some 125 Jap custom bike because it was small & light enough for him to handle. Now we may scoff but he was still on two wheels and perhaps that's what kept him sprightly in his old age. There plenty of new quality smaller capacity bikes out there which can still provide fun.... as you get older you can't drink as much as you could when young. Same with bikes I reckon.
Update: the Paul Smart has been sold and has gone to a new owner in the North of Scotland. Thanks to Dave at The Bike Specialists in Sheffield who did a brilliant job. The Monster 1100 Evo is currently with them and should be on their website from next week. There is a void in the garage and it looks rather empty at the moment. Still getting used to the bikes not being there but the right decision for me I think. Only time will tell.
