So I spies a very nice Tiger Explorer Alpine Edition on AutoBay or eTrader or suchlike.
"Mmm", thinks I. "Shiny and new(ish) - 4 years old - with fancy metal panniers. What's not to like?" Same place as I bought the Thunderbird. Decent bloke, knows his bikes. He actually sold my mum her first scooter in 1983. (It was a 90cc machine, she only had a licence for a 50cc - what a rebel!)
My Tiger Explorer is 11 years old with the best part of 60,000 miles on the clock. I do 12 thousand a year. It's had a new shaft, new rear shock, new fork seals, new ignition barrel, new heated grips, new led spots, exhaust repair - and a few other bits besides. Some of the work I do myself, some the garage takes care of. It's just a matter of time before the exhaust / clutch / radiator decides to have a bad day.
Wouldn't it be nice to get something new and shiny?
Goes on confuse the market dot com...
No it wouldn't.
The cheap quotes are well over £1,500.
I think last year I paid just over £200 for Third Party Fire and Theft on the current bike. I'm expecting a hike in August, but still...
For the difference, I could keep fixing up the old bike for ever.
I think they call it Bangernomics.
Oh well, back to reality...