How long have you kept a bike?

We may have had this post before. CBA to Google, G&T just kicking in
nicely in the sunshine.

I'm sure Nige has the record for least amount of time to keep a
bike/turnover whatever you want to call it - but who's held onto a bike
for the longest?

I'll start the ball rolling, I've had my beeza since 1976.

 

Nothing like that. Coming up to 12 years for the Ducati.

 

Fucking nora, i was playing with Tonka toys then you old ****

--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Range Rover Vogue
Suzuki GSX-R600 Racebike

 

Jesus wept, I was playing with women then you young ****.

--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Luxury. Some of us only had some bits of scrap metal and had to make our
own toys.

Thinks.

I now realise I've only ever sold two bikes. The fizzy to fund the
beeza, and a 400 four after I wrote it off.

 

I can't compete. You've had that bike longer than I've been alive.

 

That's really spooky - I was thinking of a post along the same lines[1]
only a couple of hours ago. I've had the Fantic for around 23 years.

[1] More specifically average length of ownership based on currently
owned bikes.

 

I lost my virginity in 1976, August 17th to be precise.

 

I've traded two in and sold two as runners. The rest I've demolished,
blown up or have been nicked.

 

<small voice>
I've had my ex-AA Tiger since '74. It has many original parts
(possibly).

 

12 on the trumpet.

 

Enfield since 1973 ...
C15 since 1974

 

Longest *ownership* was my old DT: bought it as a field bike around
1978; got it roadworthy and took my test on it, then it sort of fell
out of favour but got held onto for sentimental reasons.

After languishing in several gardens and having the odd new part
fitted for that One Day When I Would Get It Back Onto The Road, I
finally decide that the weather had taken its toll on things like
wheel rims and spokes and I sold it in 2005, or thereabouts. That
makes a total of about 27 years.

The highest mileage for any given bike is my Guzzi at approximately
40K miles.

 

Somewhere out there is an XS250 that I lent to a mate[1] who was then
in the RAF, that was in 1983 and I haven't seen him or it since. I
suppose I still technically own it - I've still got the V5 for it with
the same address I was at back then.

[1] Some fucking mate, but I suppose it was an XS250 so he was doing me
a favour

 

I think I had my old 9R for about four years and that's the longest
I've kept any bike. I've had the 10R for almost as long and it nearly
went earlier this year but now I've decided to keep it it's going to
take something very special to make me part with it.

Maybe that says something about Kawasaki sports bikes?

 

Had my Shite Old GSs since 89 and 90.

 

Ha, that reminds me. I did have a ZXR750 H1 for a few months, then I
sold it. I wish I hadn't now, I quite liked it. But, I remember at the
time it wasn't being used much, I wasn't too flush and didn't like
depreciation.

So, three bikes sold in total.

 

Since then... yes

 

I've had the R80RT for 25 years in August, and its done about 157,000
miles. Mostly original

Boxerboy

 

GSX250 - 18 years
XJR - 10 years
XJ900 - 12 years