If you're running a Duc then 2 bikes are essential to have 1 on the road while the others being fixed, thats my logic.
If your a family man with limited income I would say spending £15K on a new Ducati would take some justifying. Plenty of cash then its not a problem, probably why you see so many old gits on bikes.
If it wasn't for us old gits Ducati would go out of business. and trying to justify not getting another one.
keep the 848 or get an mot station. is my currant dilemma but i will have a completely different plan by the end of the day
I don't justify it. After buying the Ducati I also purchased an R1200GSA. The Ducati does not get near the miles that it should and my fiancé has approached the idea of selling it. My reply is I will sell the bike when you sell a kid. They are amazing escapes from the stress of daily life
It's a good thread, this. Without wanting to get all philosophical, I told my missus that without a bike, I'm not the same person. And she wouldn't like that (no wait, yes she would...). I've been without bikes briefly before and I was proper miserable. She also knows that if she forces me to choose, she might lose - not because I love the bike more than her (thinks...) but becasue I can't live with someone who would force me to make that choice. I had bikes when we met, got married, had our wee boy and all that, so why would she expect me to change now? If all else fails, I blame me dad... The spend on projects is harder to sell (though I don't burn money smoking, gambling, drinking every Friday etc. like some of her pals' hubbies do). Finding time to do said project, and ride the one that works, is another matter.... Mick..
I dont have to justify anything anymore, been married 25 years, we both work and have separate bank accounts. I pay all the bills, she pays for all the food and the kids stuff and anything thats left over we spend on ourselves, always have done, we never question each otheres finances, although I do pay for her car which costs me god knows how much in depreciation, she knows that as well. I think my compulsive habit of buying bikes and carbon, exhausts, clothing etc over the last 25 years has pretty much worn her down, when I buy another one she doesn't even bother to come out and have a look or she'll just say ''it looks like the other one'', that's because they're all red I guess. Thats a shame in a way !! She also knows they give me an awful lot of pleasure and are my only real interest outside of the family. There's a few things I say to anybody that says how do you justify it: Your season ticket up the 'Villa' costs more than my yearly costs on the bike. How much do you spend on some membership up the gym which you never use. How much did your last holiday cost ? compared to my family holiday. It costs me the same all year for this bike than it would to hire one for a fortnight. I lost £5k in depreciation on one car in 2 years, don't think I've lost than in 10 years on any of my bikes. One thing I have learnt, I don't buy new, for my 1000 miles a year ( if i'm lucky ) buying new would be difficult to justify.
I've had a few too, notable ones include; 1959 Ford Zodiac 1989 Renault 11 turbo 1968 Lotus Cortina 1967 Cortina 1300 delux with rover V8 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass (which led to my first Internet forum, hence my username on all forums) 1986 Chevy camaro V8 1989 Chevy Astro 1996 Ford mustang v6 (the worst car on the entire planet EVER, a Lada would have been better in every way) 1999 Alfa Romeo 166 2.5 V6 manual (utterly gorgeous car) There have been many many others. The one common thread is that none delivered the kicks of a bike, but cost far far more.
