An old motorcycle keeps its value, not the new one drops its value quickly.
I once had 3 motorcycles at the same time: Yamaha 50 cc (bought a new, 1983, my first, one cylinder, 2 strokes (so I had to pour two stroke oil in a small tank, because it was burning the oil with gas), $700, about 90 mpg, maximum speed was 55 mph when the enginge reached at 7000-8000 rpm, sold for around $300 (around 2000 miles and after 5 years), if I remember correctly, the insurance was around $20 a year); Honda 360 cc (bought an old, 1976 model, two cylinders, 4 strokes, my second. I felt 50 cc was too small, so I bought this my second, soon I sold it, bought it for around $300 and sold for another $300); and Yamaha 750 cc (used, 1975 model, 3 cylinders, shaft drive, had very nice driving sound when you heard its silence when you drove, only 26 mpg, bought for $450, 3 yeas later sold for another $450, I hated this sale, like I sold my best lover, but my future home was 1000 miles away. Insurance was around $80 a year).
I even drove 50 cc from NY to NJ in winter with my winter coat wrapped as pants) to visit one of my relatives from China on his business trip. I also drove my 750 cc with my sister's father-inlaw as a passenger around in the New York City. The problem of 50 cc was too small and two light: once I stopped in front of a red trafic light, then I started too fast, the front wheel was in the air, not on the road, as high as my eye level, I was so scared, I did not mean to. Honda was the worst: I did not even drive much and quickly the cylinder heads were bent, I had to take the engine block apart in a graduate student dorm in summer, brought the engine head for a shop to install the valves. Soon I sold the bike and not long after I sold it, the buyer complained the clutch was broken. But I was really sorry for him and apologized to him but I indeed did not know, I was new for knowing the bike as well as Honda, the greatest brand in the world but I hate it the most (do you guys remember I wrote several entries (after some one talked about Honda these past two years?). I like 750 cc Yamaha best. Very fast, I stopped in front of a red light and then then started, I beat a BMW, until I reached the speed limit so he caught me from a measuable distance, by next red light, he stopped at my right side, turned his window down, looked at me, stared at me with an eye sight I never never understood, I really felt I was falling in world's greatest trouble, realy scared, I wondered if he had a gun, with a gun-carrying-permit to shot me, an inocent winner. (Lu Xun said a true winner hopes that he wins if his opponent is the stronger, not the weaker. I beat BMW, if you are a motorcyle driver do you vote me as the stronger winner? ) The greatest feeling for driving a motocycle was at the moment when you met a another bike driver from the opposite road waved his hand for your waving hand, though we never met. It seems all motorcycle drivers are in one family. You only live in that family you know the family.
Motorcyle driving also has a chance to make a friend and know people (American people), how nice they are. My way to the driving test was helped by a lab technician, with his pickup. He was almost my best friend, like my elder brother, though I don't have one. But he passed away too early. Many helpers from unknown Americans. Once my 750 had a flat tire, a passing-by American took me to a shop, I bought a inner tube and I installed with his help (750 had inner tube, not tubeless tires, but for a shaft drive, it was very easy for tire changing). He later invited me to his home, I remember clearly, just before he entered his house, he asked "Honey, are your clothed?" We became good friends, exchanging visit several times for 4 people (Sino-American friends). But unfortunately he divorced. Good people for me either short lived (including my best) or have not so good life. Another time my 750 cc fell on the road, I was trying to lift it up, a 550 lb. giant for a 110 lb. to do so, a passing driver stopped his car to try to help me as quickly as he could, but miracle happened, by the time he reached me, the 550 lb was standing! I also had once in winter, my 50 cc fell, I felt pain on my hand, leather grove (I still have this piece, a sole witness) was broken, a pretty girl asked me if I needed help and said her home was neraby. I just felt I did not need it so I honest said "Thank you, any way, I don't need help". Later I regreted very much (in my whole life). I felt I might have had a greated romatic novel (again, Sino-American story) in the world to write If I had been saying yes.
By the way, I still have a motorcycle license right now. It is a M on my license, with a nice Memory for Motorcyles. It is biggr M than BmW's m.
