For Sale: A Lifetime of Memories

This may go down as one of the most unusual methods to sell a motorcycle ever, but what can I say? I may be conservative about some things but I have never been accused of being conventional.

I have pondered, agonized, analyzed and second-guessed to the nth degree and I have finally decided that it is time.

It is time to let go of the Mighty Wing. I must sell our precious 2007 Honda Gold Wing GL 1800 motorcycle.

This isn't about money. I can always make more money. This is all about The Wing. It was meant to be ridden. It wasn't built to sit in my garage day after day with a cover over it. This bike should be out on the road visiting every BBQ joint, National Park and bizarre road side attraction that exists in this country. It should be pushed to the limits of a long distance rally. It should take it's rider through heat, cold, blistering sun and blinding rain. It should be covered in dead bugs, grime and even unlucky wildlife bits.

It shouldn't sit in the garage of a townhouse near downtown Atlanta with no one around to ride it.

God, I love this bike. In all of my years, I never, ever imagined that I could get attached to a bunch of metal and plastic. I never cared about my cars. They were nothing but a convenient method to get from point A to point B.

Early in my relationship with Eddie it was clear to me that I wanted to go with. That is Minnesota speak for "I wanted to travel the roads with Eddie on a motorcycle." I would never be content to sit at home while he was carving up the road and seeing the sights. I had to go with.

We tried on all the touring bikes but nothing felt as right as the Gold Wing. Eddie said, "Gold Wings are always sold from the back seat.". It was luxury on two wheels and after a test drive I knew it was the bike I could sit on for a 1000 miles in 24 hours without whining about being uncomfortable.

He knew he would take crap from his friends. Gold Wings have a reputation of being for "old" people. But when we put pen to paper, if I ever had a doubt that this man loved me, it faded immediately. We were co-owners of a Gold Wing and were committed to the relationship through a two-wheeled vehicle. As far as Eddie was concerned, we were already married. Nothing else would be this sacred.

We christened our new purchase with a round trip from Atlanta to Billings. In two and a half years we managed to put 82,000+ miles on it and God knows how many tires. Eddie was meticulous about its care and so it would travel to Monticello, Minnesota for all of it's maintenance by no one but Dr. Earl Moon of Moon Motorsports. Eddie trusted no one else to work on his bikes.

It has only had one unfortunate incident when a large, female deer decided to commit suicide by ramming herself into us on a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning in northern Wisconsin in June of 2008. Eddie's skill was amazing. We barely swerved as the weight of the animal slammed against the left side of the bike leaving both of us thinking we had suffered broken legs. About $1,500 worth of damage, a deer carcass on the side of the road and a bit of continuing nerve damage in the shin of the passenger were the only casualties of that bit of bad timing. After a short stop we decided us and the bike were good enough to keep riding. Dr. Earl and Progressive Insurance took care of the rest after we finished the rally.

It has been all over the country minus a the upper northeast and Alaska. It was ridden by an amazing man with a talent for riding and enjoying every second in the saddle. And a woman who never thought in a million years that she would become addicted to the lifestyle of the long distance pillion.

I have held on to this wonderful machine because I couldn't imagine my life without it.

But it is time. I would love nothing more than to have it go to a rider who will push the limits.

Price is negotiable to the right person.

2007 GL 1800, ABS, navigation system with 84,855 miles. Fuel cell and every bell & whistle that was available.

Contact lerbes@gmail.com if interested. Please don't make me go to Craigslist.