In my day job as the Used Bike Guy at a local motorcycle dealership, I have had the chance to buy and sell a lot of used bikes. I often see motorcycles with low mileage, sometimes crazy low, 5 year old bikes with 1000 miles or 3 year old bikes with less than 500 miles.
More than once, I have had guys looking at the motorcycles on the floor and hemming and hawing and saying things like "500 miles in 3 years, why did the guy even bother to buy a bike" or I get questions like "what was the guy afraid to ride ?" I have to admit that back when I first started riding and my bike was my only transportation and I was putting 20-30,000 miles a year on a bike, I use to think the same way.
Now many years later and with far more obligations and far less time, my road miles have lessened quite a bit. I have had the chance to talk with the people who have traded in these low mileage bikes and I have had an epiphany. In the grand scheme of life it doesnt matter one bit how many miles you put on your bike or car as long as you enjoy every one of them.
I have met guys who have terminal cancer who finally decided to start doing what they have always wanted to do and bought themselves a bike. One guy only has the strength to put on 10 miles a month, but every second he spends on his bike is priceless. I have met others who live busy lives working 2 full time jobs and live paycheck to paycheck to provide for their families . But that rare occasion that they have a little precious free time and can sneak in a ride for an hour, help them stay sane. One time, I met a young man who had put only 350 miles on his bike in 3 years of ownership. He watched his friend have a fatal accident on a group ride, and try as he might, he could not bring himself to ride again. On more than one occasion I have also had buyers that have bought bikes just to be able to say that they finally were able to own a Harley-Davidson. These guys spend most of their time in the garage tinkering and polishing and are as happy as a person could be.
My point is this, before you look at a bike or old car and start judging how little miles were put on the odometer; why not think about whether the prior owner was able to find joy in the time that they were able to spend with their machine while they had it. When it comes to miles, in my mind quality will always beat quantity. Our love for our machines is rooted in many reasons and they fill different needs and desires in each person. So ask yourself this...if you were unable to ride your bike or drive your car for a while, would you just sell it, or would you still go out in the garage or driveway and spend some time with it, and find comfort in knowing its yours to do with what you please?
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