My wife liked your response! lol

 

?? This is a real question? Do you go online and ask the same question about your car/truck? I'll bet not.

 

Personal decision.....I get a new bike when I find one that has new features and functions that improve safety and ride ability. I get a new one when I find one that I just have to have.

I won't comment on the wife thing.

 

I don't trade if I don't have to

 

For me, the time to trade was about ten years ago, when the dealer actually made me an offer for my then eight year old Softail. Instead, I opted to repair it for half the cost of trading up to a Road King. I've come to realize that, for me, the bike I have now is "the one", and likely to be the last bike I will own. At least, in the last 18 years, I haven't seen another bike I want badly enough to part with this one to have it.

 

Here I am 2 years later just finally getting my bike the way I like it. I converted the tail lights to running/brake lights a while back. I still have to install the tourpak LED lighting kit I bought. I'll probably do that this winter while the bike is laid up for weather. Right now if I have the time I'm riding it. My progress from stock to where it is now has taken a ligimate 2 years. Handle bars / seat (went thru 2 seat changes) to get the bike to "fit" me. Adjustable backrest for me - tourpak with wrap aound backrest for the wife. All the doodads - alarm system w/pager, windshield bag, mufflers, tuner have taken time to do and I'd like to think I'll be riding this bike for a while to come.
I made the mistake of trading in my Sporty (damn I miss that ride) and I don't think I'll be so fast to trade in again. If I stumbled into a sh**load of money I'd be tempted to do a custom paint job but I truely like this ride and wouldn't get rid of it so fast. It has given me everything I had hoped for and then a bit more.

 

I don't like my car and truck as much as my bike! LOL

 

For me, it's been every 1-2 years then I usually trade up but so far my RKC still does it for me so I plan on keeping it a while longer.

 

I keep them till I want a new one. On average, I keep them at least 10-12 years. My oldest at the moment is a 1994 and my newest is a 2000. I'm not even seriously thinking of replacing either of them. I got a new in Harley in 1971, 84, 94, and 2000. That's it except for my first which was not new when I got it. Since I got my first Harley, I haven't been without one, and it's been a long time since I only had 1. Other makes, I haven't kept all that long. I had a Triumph I kept for 4 years and a BSA I had about as long. I hate to admit it, but I also once had a 305 Honda Scrambler I had for a couple of years. I love my bikes and it's hard for me to think about getting rid of one of them. Over time, I kind of develope a relationship with them that makes it difficult to part with them. I'm comfortable with my bikes and I know every ding, repair, and modification that has happened to them, and I've traveled every mile that they have. Trading a bike is like getting rid of a friend, so I don't do it often. A new model, or a new tech advancement is what usually sways me. I guess when my current ride is far enough behing the curve and I'm ready for a more advanced bike than I have, I trade. It doesn't happen often. Currently, I'm looking at ABS, Brembo, and a new frame as being what I want and don't have, but it isn't enough "want" for me to trade.

 

Only time I get rid of a bike is after it has tried to kill me or gone down otherwise like my sig bike I've had 30 years now they aren't going anywhere .