Sorry to hear about your crash and hope you heal up fast.

Edge, sorry to hear what happened man.. Hope you're feeling better!!!

update
bike is totaled
they want 3.5K for buy back which is too much to make it worthwhile for me
I ended up making out with just under $2.5K back from the insur co.
You can bet I'm gonna tear off everything of value that I put on that sucker before they pick it up tomorrow.
Even if I only get a couple bucks selling bits to you guys at least the insur co isn't profiting.,

I'm having a terrible time making up my mind what I'm gonna do next.
I have always wanted a full tour HD and I got a line on a 05 with 39K miles for around $11K which I know is a good deal.
Yet I can't get past the mileage with that price. There's also an ex-police bike with under 9K for the same price but not near the options.
It's for sale at a car dealer who sells hds also. I talked to their 'knowledgeable' bike salesman last night and I got the whole HD attitude with his pencil neck douche of an ass which really pissed me off and turned me off too. " I got a '94 HD at home that leaks oil has 50 some thousand miles and runs great (who the hell do you think you are stupid(me)), it's a HD."
Well sorry but the HD on the tank doesn't give it immunity to the aging process every bike is exposed too. IMO

I know I will never get a better deal than this on a HD I want, but how do I change my expectations for performance and maintenance after twenty some years of being on jap bikes? I believe the only reason the HD keeps it's value is Japs are in greater numbers and varieties and HD have an air of BS around them regarding longevity.

On the other hand, I'm not sure I want to go back to sport bikes ATM. Kinda thinkin a short intermission is needed. Besides there are so many people against my riding a bike again I'm getting tired of the constant opposition. Even the wife is in on it now. She used to be my biggest ally! And now she's fucking worried. Honestly, I couldn't care less. I really have no sympathy for people who want to limit my freedom inorder to make themselves feel better. Fuck you! But to skirt that rant, I'm not gonna give up riding that's for certain, but I'm also not gonna sit and listen to my wife try to give me guilt trips and psych me out when I do ride something. She hasn't been that bad yet but I can see it building. She says she just doesn't want to see me rush into another bike before I know what I want. And I totally agree with her there, hence my big f'in delemma right now. I mean, I have a cast on my arm preventing me from riding anything for another three weeks and by then riding season will be over up here. What's my hurry?
Well, I know how when you wait money magically disappears. And I know how right now is prime deal making season! If I wait til spring everything will be marked back up again.

I'm already approved for a loan for around $10K and that's all I'm willing to spend ATM. I'm excited about having an old man's Harley (I know, sick isn't it?), but I can picture myself sitting with my old HD friends on the side of the road and seeing sportbikes and thinking, I wish I could have both. Because I LOVE sportbikes! I just love HDs too. Unfortunately, I happen to hate a lot of HD people, which can also be said about Sporties.

I'm just blabbering here so I can see myself think and work this all out in my head because I think you guys understand me from a biking perspective and have some of the same opinions.

I need some biker therapy. My broken wrist has damaged my biker 'ego'. I don't know who I am anymore...lol

then again maybe I should just buy a bass boat and grow old staring safely into a lake till I die.
Oddly that doesn't sound as bad as it should. hehe

Could it be I am feeling 'old' at 37 years of age?

Maybe I pay off a HD then go for the gusto with the 2018 ZX2000 when it debuts!!

Yer pride and joy's broken....now ya want to make it worse by havin survivor guilt.You want to ride?At least buy a brand new Harley if yer gonna get one.Screw that previously used deal.NEW BABY....ALL YOURS.How about Privateer's zx?All set up for the long haul.Looks pretty good IMO.Anyway...take it easy.Relax bro.I doubt you'd be happy with a used bike.Seriously.Not now.You want a cruiser...wait a bit.Find ya a good deal on a new one.Just don't friggin ditch the forum....no matter what ya get.I'd like to hear some stories about Harley owners here.They aint bad bikes.

Anyway...you heal up.Psssst......'take it easy Mary,take it easy' .

* Last updated by: blue07 on 8/25/2011 @ 6:22 AM *

Blue. I will never, ever be able to own a brand new touring HD. They want too much. New isn't always what it's cracked up to be.

As far as healin. In my mind I have healed enough. Right now I'm just making the doctor happy so I wait a few more weeks. Not that I'm crazy about getting screws n pins in my wrist. Thank the gods that hasn't had to happen but it prolly would if i didn't have this damn clamp holding my arm still.

I'm a gearhead without a wrench hand. I'm lost and bewildered.

lol

Is this urgent need to buy something normal or even rational? I feel empty without a bike.

There is a 5 point something about your condition:

1. I don't remember them all. One says you got it, so live with it.
2. The other one says, you can't blame yourself, it is what it is.
3. I am now lost, confused, perplexed...
4. About 3 and 4.
5. Accept it... Data is correct after you turn the last page of the book. You have to buckle down, knuckle down, wrist watch and keep watching that break. You crying about not having pins in place? Are you saying you are better off than someone else you go look around. Are you filling in the blanks of 3 and 4 as in; you want more time.

Yes, time will pass, time will tell. Go ask bean. So you won't be breaking bolt with wimpy wrist will you. Now you think about it. You are throwing so many assumptions up your shading, you need to retain #5 is all I remember. You'll have some residual that you'll have to live with. With some crashes, you walk away like Kruz.

Others, you have 'sheetime' with the blood stains and goo oozing out. A stink you don't wanna talk about. Can't use your arm and guys/gals are coming home without arm/leg(s) and you have to look at your condition and see if 3 or 4 fits somewhere in that slot, I don't know. But once I feel a residual from decades past, I keep going back to #5.

Alright, I'm going for a 04 cop bike with 9K on the clock. See what happens..

One thing I evidently wasn't clear about (somehow I don't know why) was that I am not feeling sorry for myself. I have had far worse and things can always be worse. That is what I always say to people when they want to give sympathy. I had my foot freakin chopped up and discarded like some hamburger that went bad in the fridge, I think I can get over a couple little fractures in me wrist. For pete's sake I was back to work in under three months standing on my feet for eight hours a night with the foot thing eleven years ago. I can handle this. LOL
I'm actually quite past the whole accident in my mind. That is why the cast is just an annoyance. My scabs are falling off. My arm no longer hurts. I feel like a normal person walking around getting credit for an injury I don't have anymore and it's embarrassing for my cantankerous pride. I'm a stubborn ass who doesn't like slowing down even when it does me good. I just really don't know better and I don't want to. Life is too short! And I got way too much to do before I die. I just have to avoid these types of delays as much as possible from now on and still get my jollies somehow. And that is what I'm fingering out ATM.

But I'm really unfazed by the accident.

It's the direction I want to go in regards to motorcycle ownership and style that has me on edge. But I just had a talk with a bud of mine and I think I got my priorities corrected.

party on!

I was lookin at the new Harleys a while back....the 2012's.There was a really nice one in their lineup for right at 19,000.A cruiser(natch),but not as huge as their ElectraGlide Classic.Just below that.Nice bike.???????????If I didn't enjoy my big road burner...I'd prolly go for that 20 grand one.It was nice.Ride two up all day long.

BTW...glad yer not gettin pins.I hated those things!Finally ended up pullin em out after they got loose anyway.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 8/25/2011 @ 10:35 AM *

I say wait until winter for the good deals the dealers always have fall sales and Christmas sales and new-year blow outs and you can find some great deals with the way the economy is people are buying food not toys!

Edge, living life to the fullest is most important so whatever you decide to do, well just do it. Whenever I see that special HD or Victory, I say damn those aren't so bad but then I take my 14 out and realize this is what I want & need for now. Who knows maybe once the 14 is paid off, I will get that cross country type bike. I could be wrong but I don't think you ever mentioned trading the 14 for a HD prior to your accident. One thing that I still think is crazy cool is the median age and experience of 14 owners on this forum with the exception of Cooter (LOL), which makes a strong case that the 14 is something special you should consider to go back too. Like Blue said Priv is selling a sweet bike setup for a nice price..........

Thanks for the plug, Shogun1. LOL. In about 2 weeks I should have the new Zumo 665 with M40 XM smart antenna installed.

So she is going to be even sweeter to sport-tour with, because the 665 rocks.

But Edge may not feel right about another ZX14. I understand completely. When I threw my ZX11 away in the Santa Cruz (CA) mountains, I spent most of the next year being really turned off about sportbikes. For not good reason, but its something we go through nonetheless.

I just hope you recover your health completely, and I don't just mean physical, Edge. You've been an active and very cool forum participant and I hope you will stay a member no matter what you decide.

Which is all that is important.

nope, wouldn't be the same. my zx14 cherry has been broken. never to be replaced...

I might go back to a smaller sportbike to zip around on if i can afford it in the future. However, I do too much traveling and commuting to make having a 14 practical.

I'll be lurking around here for now.

Got some zx14 goodies to sell once life slows down a bit and I get some time...

If you have the girl that goes with the boobs, I'll buy her.

privateer; you might want to see the whole package before you buy. You never know...

One thing that I still think is crazy cool is the median age and experience of 14 owners on this forum with the exception of Cooter (LOL)

47 minutes of AFRunning. Drag you through your minutes... The good part is the other half. Tells you to go kiss my ass with your closed course. That place will really kill me. This limits me to slow down. Almost felt like it took half the day to reach 120. Spoiled little brat is me. I could almost match those manboobs. I'm ooooold!

HEY Edge allthough I'm now am gunna buy another Nissan X-Trail, as my wife is not keen on me just getting around on my ZX14 as my only transport, I reckon ya know in yer heart which way yer leaning mate, it would be nice an selfish of all us to see still you as only a ZX14 owner, but hell mate your spitting out the doh & have to pay fer it, IMO besides my ZX14 the only other type of bike that would be great fun would be a large "Dual purpose" type bike, I miss flying around on the dirt, maybe thats why I want to replace my 07 X-trail that I traded on my ZX14 in the first place & now am getting the Current X-trail as I cant resist exceeding way past my limits & self control to ride on dirt again Again mate get the most out of "Your" next Choice

Found out last night I have a torn disk in my lower back. It's giving me a shooting pain down my hamstrings every time I stoop to pick something up or get out of a chair or bed. Been getting worse for about a week and a half now so I went to a Kineseologist/Chiropractor last night to find out what was going on. He said it's good I caught it now because this is how 'slipped' disks begin, years before you find out they have to do surgery! So I'm taking the rest of the week off and going RV'ing this weekend. Gonna just lay around and heal.

As for how I'm really doing... I think I'm coming back. I have always been a 'throw what you say about what I can do back in your face' type of person. Right now I'm starting to get real sick and tired of these constant reminders of how weak and afraid people are. Every Tom, Dick and Harry's thinks he's entitled to give me their opinion about motorcycling and especially 'crotch rockets' and I'm about to give 'em a cast up their gullet.

I love me some speed!
I love me some sexy sportbike lines.
I like all motorcycles to a certain extent. But I can really sit with a cold beer and spend countless hours pouring over a bike noticing things and think about things I would like to change and picture it doing great things.

I don't go around telling people my opinion about how I think having kids is a pathetic waste of time and effort and they should really think about it when the woman just popped out her little monster. And this isn't any different to me.

Since I've been an adult the main focus of my life has been motorcycles in one way or another and for people to look down on me because of it makes me mad- lookin' at me like I don't know how serious what I'm doing is. Like someday I will come to my senses and I'll be lucky I if I won't be an invalid crouched in a chair by then (my mother's exact words). But she definitely isn't the only one. As a matter of fact I've been dealing with her all my life and it doesn't bother me any more except the fact that they don't accept my lifestyle because if something happens to me they will hold it against me and feel sad. I don't want that to happen either, but WTF people? I gotta quit doing what makes me happy so you can sleep at night? That's your F'in hangup not mine. But their doing all they can to make it my hangup. And maybe that's what I should say, but I'm not heartless either. Just angry and fed up.

From now on they're getting the hand. zip,zip! shut it! I don't want to hear anymore from you. capice'?

I think there's a cool saying on some shirt company...can't remember which one right now...but...it says something like.."I'm not going to live my life as 'safely' as possible(never do anything risky)only to wind up safely at the grave'...something like that.My Mom does kinda the same thing....tells me...'be careful,there's a lot of bears out there'.I don't do any offroading with my Ninja.I always kinda smile to myself and tell her...ya...I'll watch out.I've seen some as well....but nowhere NEAR close to me.They don't like running in front of cars or bikes.S'all good.I've told her on occassion when she gets a bit 'overboard' with the 'be careful' stuff...Mom,whattaya want me to do?Sit in the corner of my room and watch everyone else live their lives?Sorry,can't do that Mom.She gets it.Bikes are risky...I don't care what kind a guy has.That's part of the draw and package when ya sign up.You don't have to decide nuthin.When ya want to ride,you will.I can't see you EVER giving up on riding.EVER.But...I could change my mind about ME anytime.You know,just decide I don't want it anymore.Nothing's permanent.We can change our minds.I love the blast and rideability of my Ninja.Harley's are cool.It's becoming less and less important to me about "what the other guy's ridin".Kinda.Sure is fun to snipe Harley/Cruiser riders though!

You know...riding is like,well,"if I have to 'explain' it to you...you really don't understand'.S'all good.You CAN always say..."You know,I don't need you to harp on me about riding anymore...so,stop...and thanks..I know you care...."

You know...I'll admit it...no biggie...there's been times while riding my Ninja that I've thought(seeing others on bikes)...'what am I really doing this for?'Ya...I have.You know,I'm single,57 goin on whatever,and "should" I really be doing this 'at my age?'.Well...yeah,why not?Why shouldn't I?It's my fun.I like rollin through big sweepers and 'playin' the Rossi.Whatever.Years ago,I could have never done this.I'd have wound up dead.But today...ya...I can do this and actually like it.NOBODY that I know thinks I ride a crotch rocket.They all say....I can't see you on 'one of those'.Ya...that's me alright.The REAL nonconformist!I don't care.I love my big Ninja.If I die ridin her..so be it.I have a simple life.My bike is really my only deal,besides God and my Mom.It's all good.Life is good.Wreckin yer baby is serious shit.I don't care WHAT anyone else thinks.It IS serious.I know.I wrecked mine.You'll do what's right for you...ride or no ride.That new Ninja comin out...gonna be sweet!I'm seriously considering one...IF...it's on the level.Why not?Harley's are Harleys...sportbikes are...well...THE premier road experience IMO.here's just somethin about 'settin up for that next curve' and all that just does it for me!

* Last updated by: blue07 on 8/30/2011 @ 4:09 PM *

I gotta quit doing what makes me happy so you can sleep at night? That's your F'in hangup not mine.

Man, I haven't slept a wink thinking if you are going to get back on or not, boobshe. Stay mad and sad. At least I'm getting some rest now. Hey, whathe f did you just say? You saying I got hangups me worry too much? I don't even know you, but I'm getting nervous and I already called my doctor for some medication... I can't take this thinking you getting back on a bike.

Hey, did boobs just die? So, you still wanna go to lunch at mickey'd's or try that hole in the wall with the cute chick and her fat ass we chew and watch her bend over... We go. A few days later at boobs funeral... Yeah, boobs did it his way... Speaking about have it your way... Wanna go to burgerking, hold the pickle hold the lettuce, hey, I know! That hole in the wall chick... Lets go there... Should we just get up and leave? Yeah, he's dead... Can't ask him to come along, right?

And life goes on you're dead! You'd have about 15 minutes of, 'ah gee' and they go on with their life and you had to get involved with mine? Better you worry about the shit coming out of your ass give me any shit about me riding what the f I want... Pee Wee ID, ego, me-me-me and all the rest can go get happy on your own, I got mine go f off now!

My Ma rides and has tasted asphalt way more than I have... so she can't give me shit. lol

Anyhoo... Don't sweat it Edge... People that worry about ya luv ya... and if they luv ya now, they'll keep on luvin' ya no matter what you decide... So do what you think is gonna make you happy... And if it doesn't, do something different. It is ok to change your mind.

Glad to hear you're healin' up ok... but sorry to hear about your back... I literally feel your pain... Got your "Green Card" yet?

Wow I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with that SH!T everyone I know expects me on a bike the only thing they ever tell me is to be safe and I’m fine with that and as a matter of fact my wife and parents think I’m better off on 2 wheels I have been riding in some of the top 5 worst cities to drive in the USA daily for the past 5 going on 6 years without gear (just got a riding jacket recently and working on the rest)and I know I ride at my own risk but I like it that way I am just so happy I don’t have to deal with that crap like you do edge because I would kill someone because they think they know me better than me! Man I get high blood presser just thinking about it just my
And +1 to what Dago said.

* Last updated by: COOTER on 8/31/2011 @ 12:16 AM *