Well, the guy who bought my 919 (a friend of mine) was in a small accident a couple of weeks ago. Nothing major...a lady pulled out in front of him and made an illegal left turn. Definately her fault. Donald wasn't going fast, about 15-20mph, or so, and got thrown from the bike. He's a stout guy, no injury except being sore for a few days, so that part's cool. And there didn't seem to be much damage to the bike either, besides a smashed front fender and bent forks. The problem was that when he took it in to get the estimate it came back as right around $6100 to fix. When i heard that i knew it was worse than it appeared. Forks are usually about $1-1.5k to replace/fix...but the impact also bent the frame at the pivot head and a new frame was required. They're not too expensive at ~$2k, but the labor to transfer everything from one frame to another is what did him in. If it was still my bike i'd probably just buy the frame and forks and do it myself, but he just doesn't have the time to do that sort of thing. So the insurance totalled the bike and gave him a decent amount for it. He wants to get another one, but i don't know where he'll find one in black...

He absolutely loved that bike and put about 3000 miles on it in the first month. He saw it for the last time this past Saturday and said it was hard to see it go. I'm sure someone will buy it back and either part it out or fix it back up...at least i hope so. It's just hard to know that it's gone for good. R.I.P, my faithful bike... :cry:

PS: He said the sliders worked great and there was no other damage to the bike at all, as far as he could see. He rode it back home no problem...except for out of line forks.

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7189/20070410022yi6.jpg

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How could you sell that bike?! It's so cool. Maybe the bike wanted to end it all knowing that you abandoned it. :(

Aww man, that's heartbreaking. :( Fortunately that guy's ok. I can definitely imagine how hard it must be to deal with something like this, considering the amount of personal and sentimental investment that can be put into a motorcycle.

The one solace in selling a bike you love is knowing that someone else gets to take care of and enjoy it as much as you did. That and the money you get for sellin it. :wink:

At least you still have some nice pix so you can reflect on the joyous times you had with your beloved former bike. That thing was pretty gorgeous

I know...i really wanted to keep it, believe me. But having just bought our first house and our first kid being on the way (at the time...he's here now!!!), i just couldn't justify keeping two bikes. And although this one was a bit newer and nicer, i could also get twice as much for it as the F4i I kept. That was what sort of made the decision for me. Having one bike you love (even if it's older and cheaper) is better than none...and the money definately helped out. But i did have some good times with it, and still remember my last farewell ride...all day with a friend of mine out in the country. In fact, i think i still have some pics of that ride...

Started out as a quick run to Lowe's. I rode the F4i there, but switched to the 919 for the rest of the day as i knew i wouldn't have it much longer. (That's my car beside us. My friends love driving/riding my toys... ;) )

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6672/n7244508902353076956vd1.jpg

Then out in the countryside somewheres...

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6326/n7244508902401737123aq2.jpg

My glove shot...it didn't want to stop riding... ;)

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The Missouri countryside

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8591/n7244508902401839725kw8.jpg

More big sky...

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6659/n7244508902401829480wn0.jpg

My friend pointing the way (he's on my current bike, the F4i).

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Me in all my gear. (Yes, i practice what i preach!)

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Back home safe, after the last ride. Sigh.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7796/n7244508902401706394wb2.jpg

Just looking at the pictures makes me want to go for another long ride...

So i guess this is my tribute to the bike. Ah, memories...

Sweet glove shot! Definitely unique. Goes in the Top 10 for sure!

vonD

Two weeks after I sold my second bike, a Guzzi V-65 SP, a truck backed over it. I found out from the dealer (who serviced it for both of us) and it was just awful to hear. So I empathize.

...it didn't want to stop riding...

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7880/n7244508902401808962op9.jpg

whoa, that's creepin' me out man :shock:

the phantom rider...

That sucks! But at least the guy didn't damage himself too badly. I would have felt horrible if someone bought my bike and hurt himself sometime down the line. I also see how it's painful for you to hear about your baby being crashed...

When I caught up to a yellow 599 that one time, and realized that it was my old bike, all fixed up and looking good, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know that someone out there is taking good care of it.

The shop that I deal with these days carries "non current" never titled models as well as "this years model." One of their "non-current" models is a 2003 919 in Asphalt. No miles, never titled. It's not glossy black, but it is black.

Where you located, troyo?