BackgroundI saved up $2,500 when I was in High School to buy my first motorcycle and gear when I was 17. I've always been on and off with them since, either really into them (racing at the track or modifying) or really not into them (solely commuting due to decent MPG). I feel as if owning a motorcycle is part of who I am. I self identify as a sport bike rider and have for the last 11 years of my life. I know it's cheesy to say but it does make me feel "cool" - but that shouldn't matter, especially now that I'm getting older and have way more important priorities besides impressing others.
Current RealitiesI have a Triumph Daytona 675. I got it for cheap from a mechanic friend. It's got a salvaged title due to a wreck from the original owner, but it was fixed so really the title just dilutes the value. It's got roughly 20,000 miles on it. Most of those are commuting miles. Some are it being driven hard. Either on winding country roads, late-night highway runs, or at the local race track (expensive, anti-mustachian hobby).
After my son was born 4 years ago, I haven't ridden it much besides to commute. And in the last 2 years I've ridden it maybe 10 to 20 times, max. I don't have any mechanical issues with it since I start it regularly and keep the maintenance up myself. However it does cost me about $15/mo ($180/y). I haven't even had it registered in those two years, so the $50/y for that cost doesn't even count (oops).
I think I could get anywhere between $2k-4k for the bike. If I sold it to a friend, I probably wouldn't try to charge a premium though, so closer to $2k. I'm not hurting for money whatsoever so the sales price hasn't really been too much of a factor. If anything, I keep saying,
"Ah, it's only worth like $2k anyways, so why sell it?!"DilemmaI know that I don't use it, so I should sell it. Especially after reading
this article by MMM/Frugal Toque. And I think I have two friends who would potentially buy it from me, making the sale quite easy on me.
But a huge part of me still wants to go race at the track. And to self-identify as a "motorcycle rider". It sounds ridiculous typing this out, but I've been thinking about it for a while. I keep thinking that when I am closer to or am FI that I'll go back to the track. But the more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards not doing that as a hobby. And if I do - I think the odds of me pursuing it in a fancypants race car are much more likely.
I think I've answered my own question, really... but it felt good to get this all out of my head.