Time to change!

[essexboydave]

Well I've been threatening it for ages and also putting off the inevitable for ages but this year the 14 has to go :(
I've started looking around and have test rides booked on a Triumph Street Twin and Yamaha XSR700 on Monday, not sure if either of these are really me though so I'm still considering a Ducati Scrambler or Monster, older Hinckley Triumph Bonneville, or Guzzi Bobber as possible alternatives.

[Blubber]

Guzzi for character 

[Tug]

xsr 700 looks good, don't know anything about them, shame about the 14, is it the size and weight?

[essexboydave]

Basically yes, I turn 60 in a few weeks and I'm finding alot of the injuries I picked up as a lairy young rider plus a few work related ones are all coming back to haunt me so I'm just getting a bit beyond manhandling the 14 any more. Funny thing is I also have a Guzzi California that's marginally heavier but as it's much lower I'm not finding an issue with that yet so I'm hanging on to that one.

[daveh]

I'd add an R1200R Beemer to that list, the low weight makes turning a though away.

[VladTepes]

Nnnnooooooooooo.  Don't sell the 14... buy something else AS WELL not instead.....

If it were me... Guzzi - no question !

[grog]

a sad time mate. my mate has a scrambler, he loves it, i hate it. i rode the small yammy, 700, nice bike. not a guzzi fan so no comment. rode a test ride on r1200r bmw, was glad to get back on 14. if not caring about loggage, pillion etc, mv brutale is light, amazing and good value. bit small for me, a bit street fighter ish but unreal made in china bike. loved it. rides perfectly. my new mission is to try ktm new models, great write ups. very ugly but so am i. have a mv test ride, let me know your thoughts, i was impressed.

[grog]

forgot, had a ride on street twin, great bike. very different to mv but a bike i could own. sort of old v new

[VladTepes]

Was riding with a fella who was on a MV Brutale this morning.  Failed - fuel pump issue.  Gorgeous bike though.

grog - the KTM SuperDuke thing is / was a freaking missile !  VERY fast and VERY furious and potentially VERY dangerous and certainly I'd have my licence for a VERY short period of time if I got one.  Ugly as buggery though.

I've always anted a Guzzi California.. one day....
The plan was to get the GSX1400 as an interim bike but there is NO WAY that I am ever going to voluntarily sell this thing it's too awesome.

[gsxbarmy]

.... but there is NO WAY that I am ever going to voluntarily sell this thing it's too awesome.

Never say never - I said that about my 14, but had to in the end....

[VladTepes]

Like I said.... voluntarily..... 

[GSXKING]

It is sad to realise that your body is paying you back for all those good/great times you had in your youth.

It must be difficult to make that decision of selling your GSX1400.

I am inspired by a few fellows I know who are in their 80's now and still riding, ever decreasing in size bikes to assist with bad knees, arthritic fingers etc. One chap "Jim" went from an FJR1300 to BMW GS 1200 then a bandit and is happy as Larry. The other chap "Paddy" is on his 3rd BMW 800 GT, he has literally worn them out, ridden in to the ground to virtually no value what so ever.

This gives me great hope at 56 that as long as I can ride I will ride, wether it is a GSX1400 will depend on me.

So Dave keep the shiney side up and just enjoy riding, whatever you choose to ride 

[gsxbarmy]

It is sad to realise that your body is paying you back for all those good/great times you had in your youth.

It must be difficult to make that decision of selling your GSX1400.

I am inspired by a few fellows I know who are in their 80's now and still riding, ever decreasing in size bikes to assist with bad knees, arthritic fingers etc. One chap "Jim" went from an FJR1300 to BMW GS 1200 then a bandit and is happy as Larry. The other chap "Paddy" is on his 3rd BMW 800 GT, he has literally worn them out, ridden in to the ground to virtually no value what so ever.

This gives me great hope at 56 that as long as I can ride I will ride, wether it is a GSX1400 will depend on me.

So Dave keep the shiney side up and just enjoy riding, whatever you choose to ride 

Its what happened to me last year, advised by my medical bloke (who is a biker as well) that the 14 had to go, as the sitting position was basically crippling me. Sad day to sell it, but sell it I did, now ride a Triumph Explorer and having so much more fun, much better riding position. Still miss the 14 though

[Basil Brush]

I'm just on verge of 54. So far, so good. Been riding since 18. 1981 W-reg.

When that days comes - 14 is going in the room. No arguments...!!!!

One I've planned for the missus to go away for the weekend...!!!!!

[Cykik]

 Just turned 54,  No intention of  changing,  either bike or ways