It has been coming for a while now... But i've been umming and ahhing about it as a plan, but today i bit the bullet and signed and sealed a deal on this beauty...
A completely mint 1st generation R1 with low miles. Buying it from Couchie as you may have seen his post in another thread.
My last R1 was superb.. .but it could never be a true keeper as there were a few things wrong with it, the clocks were a different set, as first were import kph, the steering lock/key was different on the seat and tank to the ignition. The ignition barrel was also not flush with Yoke as a different model. This implied that at some stage the bike had been nicked to me... So was never going to make it as this one is now planned to be.
Whilst some may not agree with my logic and purchase, it is what is it... it's a long term keeper that i very much doubt will see more than a couple of hundred miles a year. I see these things like Guzzi Le Mans, RS250's, Jotas etc flying up in value (in a relative context). For me, the R1 is that... the Jota of the late 1990's. This is the bike that your old bloke will want in 10 years time. As with all 'classics' it has to be RIGHT, right model (1st gen), right colours, although some will disagree and say the white with red seat, and right history and condition. For me, this bike fulfills all of the criteria.
I've paid top dollar for it, but it's a top dollar bike. Couchie knows 'immaculate' like very few people know immaculate, certainly not 90% of ebayers.. So i'm happy that this thing is exactly what he says it is. However he's also done me a cracking favour or two on this deal. I must owe him a few favours back one day i think.
The plan is that it will be vacuum bagged and dehumidified for 99% of it's time and life, only coming out for rare blasts when the weather and the stars align.
