Your philosophy of bike ownership

Having been laid up for a while, I have found myself keeping an eye on bikes for sale.  
I currently have four registered road bikes. Adding up to $18g of investment for me. 
Taking a close look at myself, "do I really need another bike? "  "No!"  "So why am I looking at bikes for sale?! " I started to ponder that I could have a frigging awesome brand new bike for the coin that I had spent.  

But then I would have only one shiney new bike. I would have to take care of it like a new bike. Be worried about scratching it, putting km on it, resale value,  insurance, etc. 

So I thought about my philosophy that has me being happier owning older cheaper bikes. 
I have only ever owned one new bike. My 2nd bike. Virago 250. Every other bike has been used. I've owned over twenty bikes. 
I had to buy a pair of touring bikes for a trip around Tassie. Found two awesome Bandits that had been well sorted by previous owners.
I don't have to worry about resale, I'll get my money back. Mostly. Don't have to worry about scratches too much. Don't have to spend all the money to modify them to their standard.

Four different bikes each with their own merits, four different riding experiences. Four times the annoyance for the wife. I could go on about my reasons for having four bikes.

To some people, their bike is just transport. Others, its fun. An investment. A passion. Something to sell on. Something to tinker with. Something to race. 
I would like to hear from others about why they own the bikes they do.

I`ve always been drawn to two wheels.
It started of all things with cycling. I used to cycle competitively, and when training, used to like to blow my lungs up, climbing a mountain range, and the reward was the decline. Many many times reaching up to 80-92 km/h in the process. Sadly for me, due to a knee condition, I can no longer cycle.
 This then got me into motorbikes for the thrill of freedom, maneuverability, and of coarse speed, with the advantage as a way of life, as commuter.
Motorcycles still have a physical element that attracts me to them, and will never leave me unless through a sickness or aliment that prevents me from using one.
I`ve owned chook chasers, to sports bikes, to sport tourers. If I was to say the one that suited me the best, I`d say, it depends on my mood on the day, or the suitability of the commute of the day. But if budget permitted, I`d have one of every kind.
I`ve always liked to do my own maintenance, but never really got into tinker/modifying, until I bought the Bandit 11yrs ago.
I`ve owned two new bikes, and didn`t like the depreciation that goes along with the new bike thing.
I certainly don`t have a problem with old bikes, and don`t think its necessary to have the latest bit of marketing to enjoy riding. 
I feel, some are meant to be tinkered, and some are meant to just get on and ride it for what it is.
Can`t wait to buy the next one for the never ending collection.

my last two bikes have both been new. The first was a GS500F new for $8k sold it 18months later for $5k That works out at $2k loss per year
The GSX was bought new for $12,250 (lets not add the extras) if I was to sell it now I'd reckon I'd be lucky to get $7k for it. My plan is to keep if for several years more. In the end depreciation on a new bike really comes down to how long you intend to keep the bike. The longer you keep it the less per year you lose.

At this point I doubt my next bike would be a new one

Until 1990 I'd only had (been able to afford) 2nd hand, in 1990 I bought a new VX80 for $7300 on the road, 21 years later I got $2200 for it, so I lost $5100 in depreciation, that works out to a measly $248 per year I had it

The Bandit was $12990 with a full set of Givi luggage, I've had that 3 years now and it's probably depreciated nearly as much as the VX did in 21 years, I reckon it'll be at least 10 years old by the time I part with it so the $ per year lost should be minimised by then

Depreciation always cost less than keeping them insured and registered because of Oz's insane insurance practices. Something's wrong when 5 bikes which do a thousand k a year costs 5 times as much as one bike which can do a million ks a year.

In Canada to have a licence you must take out insurance on yourself and that covers you for any vehicle you drive.

#Tag wrote:
In Canada to have a licence you must take out insurance on yourself and that covers you for any vehicle you drive.

That would be too sensible for Australian Insurers, and too costly. the only way they could do that would be to make that one policy very very expensive.

Nice to see another cyclist on here.If you reckon motorcycles depreciate quickly you should check out the second hand push bike market.My specialized venge is only 12 months old I paid $3800 new and would be lucky to get half of what I paid for it.Was thinking about adding a dual purpose bike to the shed but by the time you pay two lots of rego and insurance it's just not worth it.With the limited sealed roads around Moree i think I'd be better of with a large capacity adventure bike.The Bandits a great bike but I find myself looking at bmw gs 1200's a lot lately.It may take some negotiations with the minister of war and finances though.

I must admit that the adventure-tourer things have a certain attraction.  AMCN rang a bit of a test of them, suggesting there are 6 sub-classes! It didn't help me sort any thinking out at all, probably confused me to be honest.  There must be something to this whole phenomenon or people wouldn't buy them. But is seems to me that there isn't much point owning one if all your buddies have have bitumen only machines and as you head off down the Barry Way they all wave and say "see you later".  And the further off the bitumen you go the more you need a riding buddy.

I was always going to ride , right from when I was a kid & attached cardboard strips  into my spokes with pegs to the rear frame of my push bike or I watched in awe when an old British bike thundered past .
To me , it's a hobby , transport , a chance to meet other people , something to keep my mind & body active , but most of all ......... I just love to ride .

Nice to read your post.

People who don't ride will never understand why you "need" four motorbikes.... Don't they all do the same thing?

I "only" have two. I've only got a single garage, so thinking now about how to get less stuff in there so I can fit in another bike.... Being in the ACT is good... I often have one bike registered for three months, then let it expire and register my other bike for three months.... that saves on costs a little. 

I'm not worried about depreciation.... riding costs money... it's all good. My bandit only cost me $4300 so it's not like it's got a long way to go....

I've only been riding for around three years.... always meant to get on a bike earlier, but just never got around to it... This might sound strange (  ) but I started dreaming that I was riding motorbikes, almost weekly, sometimes more. Would always wake up going hhmmmmmmmm.... so I FINALLY got my licence got a lovely little GPX250 and now here we are.

Burning money.

But hey what else is money for if we can't spend it on fun.

Now I also have a girlfriend who loves being on the back of the bandit... within weeks of hooking up, she's bought herself a jacket and gloves (had a spare helmet); planning some overnight trips together on the bike.   That is cool.

I ride for many reasons, least of which I feel free on the bike. Also, I like going quick... heh....

(and I have three bicycles in my garage as well.)