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After the big trip They came, went... and did it! But where are they now? DID that big trip change their lives? What to do with all the travel experience and how to use it? How to get a job afterwards! Was the trip the best - or worst - thing you ever did?
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 3 May 2011
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??? bike ???
hi all hubbers . what do most people do with there bikes after a big trip ? im thinking it would be nice to keep the bike that took me all the way RTW but then on other days i also thing it is just a worn out steed that would be better replaced .
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  #2  
Old 4 May 2011
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Turn it into Art
The formula one driver Niki Lauda had the car from his famous near fatal car crash 30 years ago mounted on the wall of his living room as a piece of art.

I always thought that one day I may become eccentric and do the same with one of my bikes.

Worth a thought(?)

Marty
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Old 4 May 2011
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Hey Kito, mine was worn out tens of thousands of miles ago (as you saw), but for some reason it keeps on chugging onwards. Tomorrow I'm taking a highway jaunt down to Seattle with it to celebrate the first sunny days of the new season. The other day I had this brief fantasy it might make 100,000 miles (160k km), but I know perfectly well that's not at all realistic.

Seriously, when I consider I can get an identical bike with 80k less miles on it for just a couple of thousand rapidly-depreciating dollars, it's not worth rebuilding or taking chances riding far from home. On the other hand, I climb on board and it starts, goes, stops, turns, and in other respects acts like a motorbike. Plus I've got all these spare parts laying around.....

I don't have a big living room, and I don't have much wall space. Maybe if I took and sawed the thing in half lengthwise I could glue one section into place....but what about the other half?

Mark

Edit to add: the auto-edit feature seems to have a different sense of the word "c-h-u-g-g-i-n-g" from mine.
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Old 4 May 2011
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I feel the same (and mine hasn't been RTW...yet) I met an older gent in Spain who had all these rego (road tax) stickers on his bike from about 5 or 6 countries which he had visited over the last 20 years on the bike. After my trip I got to thinking how good would it be to open the garage in 20 years time and see the bike that taken me on all my journeys.

I say keep it if you can..
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Old 4 May 2011
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thanks guys .ill have to tidy the ol garage and make some more space for the old XT600 and a nice new bike
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Old 5 May 2011
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Kept it!

I nearly sold it but realised I wouldn't get that much for it, not in any real sense (maybe a grand). I am so pleased I decided not to. It is such a great bike - totally reliable, tough as old boots, will do anything I ask of it and requires virtually no maintenance. (it's an XT)

I now have that, an enfield (which is getting sold) and I've just bought a 1967 BSA Bantam. When the Bantam is laid up in the garage (like it is now) I know I can wheel out the XT, push the starter and have a grand day out in the highlands.

Given that it will never be worth a great deal I reckon I will keep it as long as I can ride it. I like the idea that I'll be popping up to the highlands when I'm 65 on the bike that took me on one of the best adventures of my life.

Matt
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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Old 5 May 2011
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KEEP IT if you possibly can. I'll NEVER sell my trusty old XL600LMF, would'nt get much for it anyway all covered in scratches and battle scars but EVERY one means something to me (and there's probably still some desert dust trapped in the little nooks and crannies). I even keep putting off the full strip-down and rebuild i've been promising her for the last 6 years for that very reason. It won't make her go any better if i do so why should i erase all those memories for the sake of cosmetic looks.
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Old 6 May 2011
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Definitely keep it.

The RD350 which took me RTW in the mid 70s still sits in my garage. Semi restored, but it wears its patina of dints and scratches with pride.

My Burgman which I rode from Korea to Italy 3 years back is still a daily rider - rode it to work this morning.
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