I had my Bonneville from 2004 to 2012. I think I paid something in the 4-grand sort of area. I rode it off road and in the snow. It was an utter hoot except for the odd bit of hassle with the coil.

I used to get pulled up by the typical Bonneville polishers for my dinged silencers and general filthy appearance. They’d also shake their heads because I’d run semi-knobblies rather than Avon Roadrunners or whatever they thought looked right. I’ve had them wanting to call an ambulance because I’d lost an indicator (but gained a Transit van mirrior!) days earlier. I did end up buying new silencers off e-bay, but they weren’t that expensive as everyone wanted loud and shiny not standard with the odd scratch.

After 8 years of not giving a **** the Suzuki dealer gave me £1300 for it. I think he sold it to a guy who probably put a lot of time in but basically just did a deep clean and sold it on e-bay for £2500. This guy told all sorts of half truths and I wouldn’t have wanted to live with the come back, but I think the figure says something.

£4000 less £1300 divided by 2900 days gives a cost of 93p a day. I can live with this.

The same figures for the Suzuki which I found didn’t fit me give a scary £2.00 a day . The error is not in how you keep it (only issues when sold were a lightly scratched hand guard) but how long.

My 14 month old V7 is now parked outside. It has semi- knobblies and my wife has written “Dirty Boy” in muck on the tank

Enjoy that DR, bikes for riding are way more fun.

Andy