How far?

[dpotter58]

How far have you/would you travel to pick up a bike? I'm looking at one 800 miles away and most folks I tell about it think I really have gone over the edge.

[trbig]

I drove over 6 hours one way just to pick up a motor. If it's running, might be cost effective to take a quick flight and ride it home.

Tod

[Geezer]

It depends on the time of year, if I can borrow a truck and where the bike is.

For example before I joined the list I bought a parts bike from RockJok off eBay. He lives near Bozeman, MT and I traveled from my home about 8 miles south of Portland, OR to get it.

What made the trip work out for me was that I had family in Bozeman that I hadn't seen in awhile so I made a 1.5-day layover and my nephew was out of work (we used his Nissan truck) and he needed to get away from his old lady for a couple days. With out his help and the layover, it would have been an insane trip.

Geezer

[JWSanders]

My limit would be 200 or so. Went 230 one way to pick up my XS400. I guess it would depend on the bike though. Might be worth it to go further. Flight in/ride home sounds adventurous.

[Ken Talbot]

The first one, I drove home from 2 hours away. Another one I rode home from from approx 5 1/2 hours away. Also had my BIL bring one back in his truck from Vancouver Island - approx 10 to 12 hours depending on ferry connections. The fourth one I drove with my truck approx 2 hours to meet a guy more or less mid way between my place and his.

[prometheus578]

"I'm the Champ... A Plymouth Champ"

Five years ago, threw the wife out of the house and decided that I wanted a motorcycle. ...don't regret either decision. (ain't mid-life crisis' a bitch?)
My brother calls,"Hey, a guy I work with is sellin' his old Yamaha fer $500. I think he said it was an 'XS 1000' or sumptin'. Runs great, looks beautiful... but how would you get it home?'
"Let me worry about that. See ya in two days. Oh, and borrow an engine hoist from work, will ya?"

2,400 miles round trip from Tacoma to Denver. [IMG][/IMG]

[motoman]

Yeppers........Prometheus, don't think anyone will top that one! You were either bored to tears for adventure or had a XSfever!

[motoman]

Maybe I could win for closest. Bought back my Venturer 15yrs. after selling(always regretted it,even now). It was 5 miles away..............bought 81 matching motor(plugged and played). It was 3 miles away........

[Geezer]

I got the Mongrel from a guy that lives a block away and he dropped it off when he bought another XS11 from me... ;o)

On the other hand the front end and other parts from the standard I brought back from Montana are on the Mongrel. The mongrel is about 1/2 special and half standard...

Geezer

[motoman]

Well, cept for the drop off Geezer, still got it for closet then..........come on, gotta' let me win something..........Murphy got loose and has been winnin' so far.........

[prometheus578]

"XS Fever?"

Motoman, the only bike I had ridden before had a centrifugal clutch and a mighty 1 1/2 HP Briggs and Stratton.
You get points for realizing your error and getting your old baby back.

The mongrel is about 1/2 special and half standard...

A very apt self description there, Geezer!

[wingnut]

Long day

Won mine while I was in Atlanta on bussiness. Flew from there back to eastern NC. Drove from airport back to home( I live 8.5 miles past the end of the earth 5 miles sign) Jumped in the truck and took off for northern VA. 6 hours latter it was in the back of the truck. Drove home. Total adventure took 24 hours. Still could not go to sleep after getting home at 6 am. Had to play with the new toy. Would do it again tomorrow!

[John]

A friend and I drove from the Ft. Worth area to the south west side of Austin, to Webbcraft's house to to pick up a non running, sight unseen 81 Special. The only reason he sold it to me was the fact that I promised to get it running, and not to part it out. He had others that wanted to buy it, but because it wasn't running, they wanted to part it out.
The trip only took eight hours from start to finish, and we spent about an hour or better just shooting the breeze. I had it running within three hours the next day, by just swapping the carbs with a spare set I had for Twilite Special. The bike is now known as Foster Child. I had planned on selling it after getting it running, but instead, I lowered it about an inch and a half for SWMBO to ride while That Damned FJ was down. Damn good bike for $200!
Thanks, Keioki!

[Jerry]

To get my XJ I drove from Whitewater, Wisconsin, to some town up in the NE corner of Maine...took a U_haulie and 3 nights on the road. 3,600 (?) miles or so. It was fall, though, and was a good trip in its own right. A couple weeks later I saw an XJ for sale at a dealership about 45 minutes away; they had just taken it in on trade.

[DiverRay]

I picked up daily ride in the South East California desert. The P.O. lived in Utah, and brought it by truck to his moms house. I drove down with a friend, and a 3 rail trailer on the roof rack so I could still do 70 without a ticket. Money was tight, so we spent the last of the night in my old Montero, picked up the bike, and drove home.
After a few months an a LOT of work on little, important things, It just turned 60K.
Round trip was about800 miles, and I was going to drive out to Utah if needed!!
Ray