selling and delivering the old bike

[wanderer]

I started riding not long ago, at a ripe middle age. Bought a Honda CB500X in 2015. Great bike. And I took it places. It took me to Mt Shasta, Pyramid Lake NV, up and down the CA coast. But I did come to want more power. By 2017 the FJ09 was on my radar, but then I saw the  Tracer900GT was coming out so I waited impatiently ... In December 2018 I had 27,500 miles on the Honda and a new Tracer900GT in the garage. Come January 2021, the Honda had 29,800 miles and the GT 18,600. One weekend I said to myself "I should ride the Honda since I have it", looked it over, and it needed a new front tire, and I decided it wasn't worth taking care of an extra bike.

So I sold it to someone in the Bay Area who asked if I could "meet him half way". Which at first I said I could not, I don't have a trailer or anything, it is just extra hassle. But then it occurred to me that I could ride. And we had a scheduled family trip to visit the folks up north, so I could get picked up. The plan became I'd ride it to Santa Nella CA, conveniently on I-5, deliver the bike, and my wife and kids would pick me up for the rest of the trip.

So while the rest of the country is freezing, I started Presidents Day weekend with one good long final trip on the bike and revisited some of my favorite sites. I added a final 582 miles to the odometer, taking the total to 30,564.

The route took me on SR-33 over the mountains by Ojai, up to 58, over to the infamous 229, then by Indian Valley Rd, Peach Tree Rd and 25 to Hollister, and over to the meetup at Starbucks.

Someone on this forum once said "No-one actually goes to McKittrick." I did for the first time, I went expecting gas, and I was sorely disappointed. After pondering my chances while staring at the "Next Services 70 Miles" sign on 58, I turned around and went back to Taft to find gas.

Great trip, only a little rain at the very end after Hollister. Sale went well, the buyer loaded it on a trailer, I got picked up in the minivan, and the garage is down to one bike.

 

[wanderer]

PS - I did have to buy a cheap front tire just to deliver it. But it was worthwhile. It was a fun memorable way to say goodbye to the bike.

[koth442]

Very nice. A proper way to say good bye. The rest of us freezing can live vicariously through you. 

[nhchris]

I'd say you met the seller more than half way!!

Did you roll the 500 in a single push?

[1moreroad]

You sold him the bike with the check engine and oil lights on, more miles than advertised, and a cheap front tire?! That's what's wrong with this country these days. 

(just kidding. Glad you got such a great last ride in. What a great idea.)

And 50,000 miles in 6 years? I miss living in SoCal. 

[wanderer]

I can explain the cheap front tire, at least. He intends to make this more dirt worthy and sort of an adventure bike for dirt roads and light trails. I don't know what all he intends to do to make this a more dirty bike - it is not really a dual sport and I made that clear, it has a 17" cast front wheel, etc. But he had no interest in a street front tire. If I got a Michelin Road 5 (my usual) he'd have just torn it off with only a few hundred miles on it. 

The tire was a loss for me in the deal. But I considered it the price I paid for the fun delivery and fond farewell. 

[fr8dog]

Popular meet place. Looks like Starbucks. Jealous of the weather. Following a guy on ADV forum riding something like this down in Mexico. Bike seems to be bullet proof.