Finally We Are Letting Our Beloved Motorcycle Go

[amethist]

The time has now come to finally let our beloved touring motorcycle go. She is being sold to a guy who will enjoy her as much as we did, with care and attention, not ridden to harshly she will keep going for miles.

We have not been out on her since before hubby's accident, though 6 weeks before that we have been to the Isle Of Mann and ridden the TT course, at race speed over the mountain section. (You are allowed to do this as long as you don't put yourself or anyone else in danger).

To think when we got this bike it was in bits, engine, wheels, wiring, frame, everything came in boxes and bread crates. The engine and carburetters sat under our kitchen table for weeks while we built the rest up. It took 6 weeks from start to firing it for the first time, hubby even rang me at work so I could here how she sounded.

She has never let us down once, from the Isle Of white, Isle Of Mann, Devon and a lot of places in between, most time's loaded with camping gear, which was fun for me trying to get on and off. She has carried us without any complaint for miles and hours, through wind, sun and rain, never faltering, it was us who complained when we were caught in bad weather, not the bike. She stood fast and kept us safe.

So now is the time to say goodbye to our wonderfully old unusual Kawasaki Zephyr 1100.

All because of PTSD, which means my husband can not handle the weight and power of it anymore, as he says he does not have half of the confidence he used to have.

I will post a picture of her as soon as I scan one into my laptop.

Amethist

 

[Nicolette]

Oh...that is sad Amethist but I am sure you and hubby can find a new way to have adventures once all the paperwork is out of the way. :Hug_emoticon:

 

[intothelight]

Hi Amethist,

I hate what PTSD takes away, but I am hoping it gives something better back. I don't know what it is yet, but you and your husband will find it.

ITL

 

[ISupportHer]

I had mixed feelings as I read this just after it was posted.

First was a strong sense of sadness. I know how much the bike has meant to both of you. Bikes in general but this one specifically. And it must seem like saying goodbye to an old friend. Sad too because it represents what you have lost since the accident and the resulting PTSD.

I do see positive, however. In the face of the sadness, I smile a little as I see that you have the ability to recognize that it is time to let go of it. Time to move on. And I guess if I have a sense that it is great that someone will have it that will enjoy it, perhaps that is some consolation to you too. BOTH of you.

I'd love to see a picture of it!

ISH

 

[Jestadud]

Much as I like bikes I think your hubby has made the right decision, If it makes him feel sad or unsure it's best gone.

There was a letter to Motorcycle News 11th August which seem's relevant to this so I'll just quote a bit from it.

A Weight Off My Mind.
I have always owned large capacity bikes but in recent years I have not enjoyed my motorcycling so much.
So some time ago I decided to sell my BMW Boxer due to problems associated with its weight - wrestling with it in the garage, adverse cambers and shale covered bends - with a view to retiring from motorcycling. But what would I do with my time? Where could I get a buzz? When could I see my motorcycling buddies who live far afield?
So I decided to get another bike and settled on a BMW GS650 Single which is 40kg (6.3 stone) lighter than my Boxer. What a revelation. I could still cruise at 70 - 80mph and I could manhandle the bike in the garage, touch the ground with ease, then best of all, renew the joy of biking with my buddies.
My message to others is get a lighter bike, get on it and get out there. (Terry Stevens.Age 76. York.)

A guy at my bike club recently brought a Triumph Street Triple. He say's its the best bike he's ridden (and he's ridden a few). He's a few years older than me and has a badly damaged leg so he clamps his crutch to the bike and doesn't use the rear brake!

Kawasaki Zephyr 1100 weight over 240kg. Triumph Street Triple weight around 170kg. BMW GS650 around 180kg.

 

[amethist]

Thanks everyone.

Jestadud you understand how the weight of it to start with can be a problem, 240kg, or 58 stone dry weight. A hell of a bike to tow about, but sooooo smooth and comfortable to ride, even riding pillion. The longest ride would be comfortable, as long as we could take a break every so often. So an 8 hour ride to Devon was a doddle. The Isle Of White and the Isle Of Mann, a piece of cake.

We have still got a Honda 125, real Japanese import, not just a UK model. Hubby still rides that a few times a week, when he feels safe enough, though he does not go very far. This was going to be MY bike, to take me to work and get out on my own. We were even planning to go back to the Isle Of Mann, so I could do the course on my own bike. sadly this will not happen now.

We have still got all our camping gear, and do plan to use that again some day. We will buy a car when all the legal stuff is finally over, I will pass my test and drive it too.

ISH we are going to warn the buyer to treat this bike with respect, or she will spit him off and run over him just for good measure. It is not the top speed that is the problem, it is the power it puts down through the back wheel. You have to feed the power in steady, or you will be off and in a hedge bottom. We set it up for this, so we could use it as the Sports Tourer it is, to have the power to carry us and the camping gear. To get us over hills and down dale's, to get us through the driving rain and the howling winds, (When she had to). She never moved, but stuck solid to the road, it was us who got blown about, not her.

The best part about it is, when all the new electric this, fancy that bikes, are breaking down, our just kept going, laughing at them sat at the side of the road, waiting for the guy with his fancy gizmo's to get then going again, yep we have seen that happen too.

I'm getting too nostalgic over this now, so will leave it here for now. To think, 10 years ago I would never have thought in a million years I would have done any of this and more.

 

[James B.]

I am sorry you are letting your motorcycle go. Riding is a powerful experience. Parting with a bike is never easy. Sound like you got to ride some really neat places, and tour on a great motorcycle. Fine memories, sad, does not make parting with the bike any easier.

I grew up around bikes. My brother had a BSA 450cc. And my dad had Harley Davidson. Three of them. Finally I had to have a bike and saw my window of opportunity. Kept the bike a year, rode safe, rode well. In the end had to admit that it was too scary, and was aggravating my anxiety disorder. Sadly the bike went.

Glad you’re keeping the Honda. Here’s a pic of my Yamaha.
View attachment 3536