Goodbye, Maxine
This fall, I bought a motorcycle. 2014 BMW R1200GSA. My 5th GS and my umpteenth motorcycle since I started riding back in the fall of 2004.
I had big plans to do so much adventure riding and camping and cross-country trips. I was going to commute on the bike (about 80mi round trip). I even did a bit of each of these endeavors in the late fall and early spring of this year: I did an Iron Butt Saddle Sore 1000 - riding to Tuscon and back in 24hrs. I went on a short camping trip in the Carson National Forest. I commuted to work a bunch of times. I had fun doing all of these things.
…But not enough fun. I’m honestly not sure what it is, but it seems like in my ~3 year absence from riding I have lost the spark for it. It isn’t the bike - it’s probably my favorite bike I’ve ever owned. It isn’t the location - I have moved since the last time I owned a bike, but arguably to a better locale. It isn’t some other life or career change, although things have changed a lot - I actually feel better about the idea and time commitment of riding today than at many times in the past. I really, really just do not know what it is, but I just don’t feel excited about the next ride.
Honestly, it sucks. In some ways riding was a core part of my identity. Getting this bike wasn’t an overnight or otherwise easy process. When I eventually admitted this realization that I kinda don’t want to ride I actually felt pretty crappy about it, even apologizing to my wife (to be fair she is amazing and said their was no reason to do so).
Maybe I’m just getting old and the suiting-up, being hot/cold, changing clothes, needing focus, etc are just not outweighing the “wind therapy” for me any more. That’s really all I can think of to justify it… But also I’m a grown-ass adult and I don’t really need to justify it. I can always come back to bikes (and I’m sure I will) in the future. Oh well.
So anyway, I’m selling the bike. I call her Maxine. We will see how much of a loss I end up taking on the sale, I’m sure not too terrible but I live in a much smaller market of buyers than I did in the past. Is what it is.
What’s the next adventure? Unclear, exactly.
Right now, I’m thinking about buying a truck or full size SUV with the bike sale proceeds (some of them). I did really enjoy my recent camping trip and I also still enjoy road trips. I’ve been interested in hiking and doing some remote radio ops - some of which are pretty difficult to go to in my other car (a Mustang). So that’s the thinking behind a nice older-but-not-vintage 4x4. We shall see. I’m sure whatever I end up with, I’ll write about it here. Wish me luck on an easy private-party sale for the bimmer. 🫠