Sold my bikes, to get out of dept

Same.

More than enough times to remember, usually when I had crashed, broken a bone and had to pay the debt that would follow. But also if the car needed updating, ect...

Been there, done that multiple times over the years.  The last time I did it was about 12 years ago and I sold a few really nice bikes to pay off all but the house.  Also went to "all cash" purchases after that.  It was the best thing I ever did for myself and the household.  I listened to Dave Ramsey (get out of debt radio host) and generally followed some of his advice. Good luck with your journey!

Sold my bike to buy my first house at 27. I was bummed and missed it a lot! 

But I'm a pretty flexible guy and chased other stuff for a while.

By 28, I was back at the ISDE (International Six Days Enduro) going hard again. 

I ALWAYS paid cash for my bikes so I'd stick it out for a while till you've saved up.

People tend to spend a LOT of money (on new bikes) to look cool.

I settled for just the experience of racing (on a good used bike I paid cash for), and use the money I saved to pay for the season. 

I hate the debt department! 

But yes, I'm a bit idle at the moment for economic reasons. 

When I was younger, I had to sell my bikes several times to pay a debt or another emergency, It's part of life. But it gets better the older you get, or at least it should. 

Haven’t owned a bike in 10+ years. The last few years I rode I would pretty much starve myself just to afford enough gas to ride for a couple hours and it just became too much of a burden. Needed to pay for a move across the country, sold everything and been without a bike ever since. It’s just a hobby I can no longer afford. 

"I listened to Dave Ramsey (get out of debt radio host) and generally followed some of his advice. "

Yep paying interest $$ on anything (other than a home) is money down the toilet.  Regarding mortgage, I would add a "principle payment" each mo when paying off my mortgage as well as an EXTRA payment at the end of the year. Payed off my low interest re-fi 12 yr MTG in eight years. Saved about $80,000 that would have gone to the bank. Not sure of exact #'s  but for sure saved some dough and recommend to the young guys to listen to Dave Ramsey. And yes this maybe Captain Obvious but Credit Card INTEREST is the worst kind of all! ZERO IT OUT EACH MONTH! 

BTW nice bike--had a 78 Can-Am MX4 250 that was an awesome machine to race against the peaky powerband Japanese bikes of the day.

I haven’t had to do it with a dirt bike that I recall but I sold my near new tournament bass boat for a down payment on a house in 1993.  It killed me but turned out to be the right thing to do.  

Yup. Sold my YZ250 in 2019 to pay off debt. Stopped riding last year to make sure everything got taken care of. Kids are now riding so they have become the priority. I'll start riding consistently again eventually. You're not alone.

Agree regarding the credit card debt but I would say it's more important to not buy something unless you have the money for it already saved.  After I sold my bikes to pay off debt the last time, I put a "self imposed" need to have 25% more money saved than what I wanted to buy.  Once I got there, I won't do it any other way again!

My profile pic is of a 1980 Can Am 400 Qualifier (it's basically an MX-6 with an extra head shim for lower compression). I have a couple MX-4 250s in the queue for resto as well as an 370 MX-4. Since I sold that 400, I will update my pic.  Thanks for the reminder!

Good for you, you should be proud. This country needs more people like you.

By the way, life will reward responsibility in the long run, always does.

I currently have a 22 yz250fx, currently looking for a first home at 28

The idea has bounced around in my head a bit. But I guess luckily my house price amount I'm looking for should fit the bike payment in the budget. 

Ironically the bike is why I was able to get on the approval with my fiancé lol I needed credit, she is a loan manager and said 

"well buy a new bike to get some credit" 

I wouldn't ever think someone was in the wrong for selling a bike to make finances a bit more comfortable, life isn't all dirtbikes and cold beers sadly.  

If i ever have to ditch that bike I would probably buy an older yz250 and make a woods weapon out of it down the road, there is always more time! 

Not sure what you mean "by it's more Important not to buy something unless you have the money".

 Of course that is correct and just like I said it's captain obvious so is that.

 I never buy any toy that I am going to finance.

If I need something that say cost a $1000 and I charge it to my credit card to get Flight Miles knowing full well I will play it off that month and get 0 interest charge.

Selling bikes to pay off debt is a terrible idea- I’ve done it a few times over the years when I wasn’t as financially stable as I am now. I regret the hell out of it! Sold bikes for a measly 1 or 2k..the bikes were sold and money spent. I should have found better ways to earn money! 
 

Keep the bikes and find an alternative means to earn that money….money comes and goes, regret is forever! lol

I let my beloved 84 CR500 go in 08 because I was in a shit situation. 

I think about what I could have done differently, but times were sucking then.

I regret it regularly, but I wasn't going to start selling off even more sentimental firearms, so, yeah it sucks.

What sucks even worse is I also just lost said firearms in a crazy boating accident. 

I have been incredibly fortunate in my life, I must say. I will never not appreciate it. My parents had me on air cooled Hondas from 1999 to 2009. I bought my first big/race bike on my own at 19, an 03 yz250. Had to sell it to help pay for school in a hurry and didn't ride for 2 years. Thankfully, I met a young man who became a great friend and got me back into it in 2015 on a clapped out 08 yz250. I must say, I did work my ass off and got on a big metro fire department, so the job security/injured time off/salary is all great, but again I am very appreciative to live a life I can always have a bike to go play on if I choose. Also, very fortunate to never have had a bad riding-related injury (KNOCK ON WOOD). Every time I go to the track I wonder what everyone's story is, what their journey has been like. I admire the older gentlemen who keep at it, and envy the young kids who are just starting out..

I wish everyone the best! 

A man has to do what a man has to do. 

These words ring so true....I hated selling every single bike I owned.....I had to pay the bills....low income, high bills=no fun

Sometimes you feel there is no other choice, but in hindsight there was.....

Yep, traveling back to my home land, Reno's and a kid on the way, cheaper hobbies have to take up the space for a while.

There it is, lol. Couldn’t resist could you

You made a tough, but very mature decision.

Everybody’s got something going on at one time or another, whether they admit it or not. Sometimes it’s tough to do what needs to be done.

 I sold my ‘07 CR250 back when I had the wife and little kids running around. We just needed the money. I hated to do it, but it had to be done. Believe it or not, it was almost harder getting rid of my helmets. 

Nice to see there are still people in the world that make the hard choices when they have to.   Too many today just say screw the debt and let others bail them out.       Good on you.

Sucks now....but this too shall pass.  

Back when I was young and very dumb at age 22 I had to sell my basically brand new 2011 yz450f after getting a dui, sold my yz250 a few years ago after buying my first house, was just difficult to have money for track fees and finding time on the weekends to ride and it was basically collecting dust

I duno.. for me its mental. My mental health is important too. I have less anxiety if i know theres a bike in my garage, regardless if i get to ride as much as I'd like. I typically finance because if i cant afford 110 a month im in trouble. Id never choose a bike before making sure my families needs are met, but if i can skip two nice dinners for that mental gain in the garage, i will.

Im bikeless for the second week due to theft. All i can think about is what im buying next. 

If its super bad, like on the verge of losing shit, i get it. Climb out, get another. My bike never prevented me from buying my home. A bike, truck, and house is about the only things ill finance. We did decide to finance our toy hauler but it was strategic in the fact my wife had nothing on her credit for almost 10 years. Again tho, its a modest unit. Not what i dream of but for 149 a month it suits our family well. 

Kind of a ramble, and just my opinion. 

I was in that spot when I was younger during a career change. I knew it would be a tough couple of years but would pay off.  Sold everything moto and just rode mountain bikes for awhile.  Once things started looking up and we bought our first house I was riding again.  I’ve told several guys “they aren’t going to stop making bikes” when they are in a tough spot debating on selling theirs to free up cash/house/ whatever it may be. It really sucks having to hang it up for awhile, but some things take priority and if your doing it to pay stuff off and take care of bills I’d say your mind is in the right place. 

Sold a rifle once to make my insurance payment back when I had way too nice of a vehicle. Never sold a bike though because then I'd have to buy a new one and end up deeper in dept 😂.

I sold my 2001 CR250 in '02 to pay for a relocation for work. Looking back, it was the best bike I ever owned and I've regretted it ever since. I will ALWAYS have at least one bike in the garage as long as I can still physically ride. 

Sacrifice elsewhere, go get another bike immediately! 

To me, this is a good balance.

A few years ago, I almost sold my Yz125.  I actually listed it on Craigslist, then figured out a way to keep it, and pulled the ad.  I'm so glad I was able to.

Priorities are priorities.  Sometimes you have to part with stuff, but the way riding helps me mentally, I'm positive I've earned well more than the price of keeping my bike...by keeping my bike and riding it once in a while during that time.

Within reason, I'm an advocate of financing a bike.  You can always wait, and save, and get a better, newer bike down the road, but you cannot get your time back.  If 5 years goes by without riding, those 5 years are gone.

Especially as I got older, I realized that at some point I'm not going to be able to ride with youthful intensity.

Paying reasonable interest on a bike, and/or buying used is well worth not losing 5 or 10 years of more youthful, and intense riding.

Quote of the day.....  Took me waaaaaay too long to get this one, but it's the truth.  Karma works both ways kids....

I paid 3k for my bike. and its a 2010. To resell, it would take weeks of sitting and I wouldnt get much. 

and i know i would be looking again as soon as things turned around and the reentry cost would be steeper. 

but i went through a few tough times where i bought and then sold not long after for the reasons of paying debts or other things and i got to the point where im just going to make it work