Dilbert's Visitor

Prospective Buyer

John called by with his Son to view Dilbert. He's the highest bidder on ebay at £1200 and was passing through to IOW from Brighton. He climbed out of his car and eagerly greeted Dilbert who was spruced up and in pride of place on the driveway. John was very enthusiastic but struggling with whether to buy Dilbert for his PAT-Testing business or go for a more expensive Suzuki Ventura thing.

Dilbert was started up. Questions were asked, and the alternative parts offered for a look-see. I had used vinyl gel (on recommendation Mike at MSG Motorcycles on buying Shadowfax) on the black internals of the panniers and confess the result was improved even on the elbow-grease and Back-to-black I'd used during my own tenure.

John's a pretty big bloke returning to bikes and was aware (having had a Harley in his past) of what he needed in the way of comforts. For interest, he sat astride Shadowfax. Which would I buy? The Pan, of course, but I'm selling the Deauville and in honesty it better met his brief and would also provide the benchmark on which way to go in the future, too, as he had for me. We agreed.

John's Son was less enthusiastic but gave a positive verdict when asked for his opinion. Both were surprised by Dilbert's good condition given his 9-years of hard work. In fact, Dilbert did his best in showing off to make me feel an even deeper thread of regret on abandoning him.

John offered to ride Dilbert away at his current price. I had to decline; his was the winning bid to that day so Dilbert could easily raise more from his 1000 views and 96 watchers. I showed John Dilbert's receipts. Point taken.

As John left I swapped the bikes back over and hurriedly packed to join Ka and the Kids already positioned in our caravan in Cheddar. Pushing the ideal light-weight Dilbert and the effort-requiring heavy-weight Shadowfax I again wondered if I had done, or was doing the right thing.