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When I was learning how to ride, the biggest realisation I had about riding was that it was very much a solo pursuit. Should anything happen to me - touch wood - I can only rely on myself. I ride defensively and never assume that good Samaritans will come to my aid. I'm not one for group rides, and the missus does not want to ride pillion. So, riding a bike is something I do alone. But after I scrapped my first bike and bought a second one, I realised that motorcycling also turned me into a playboy of sorts. Gleaming, curvy, and tempting. (Image: Ronnzy Moto, Unsplash) Terms of use As far as I'm aware, a playboy (or player) refers to a guy who prolifically dates a lot of women without committing to anyone. Or he could be someone that gets into one short-term relationship after another, moving on because the 'chase' is over and/or because he's tired of his partner. The first two definitions don't fit me. I don't go around renting/trying bikes. Nor do I buy a bike only to sell it after a month so I can move on. However, I am the type who fully commits to a single bike - mentally and emotionally. But at the same time, I'm aware that the bike - no matter how I attached I am to it - has a shelf life. Depreciation will eventually crater its value, so I must move on before that happens. I feel guilty for thinking about my bike in such transactional terms. But as a friend pointed out, unless I was planning to keep one bike forever (forsaking all others), I had to cash out while it still had value. That way, I wouldn't have to spend so much on my next bike. In other words, dump the older bike and move onto to a younger model. (Image: christian romei, Unsplash) (Mixed) feelings vs reality I bought my current bike when it was four years old and it will turn six in November this year. Already, the wheels in my head are turning. The calculations are being made. The older the bike gets, the more TLC it will need and the less it will be worth. I will be further from the bike I wanted. And so, I find myself thinking about when it'll be time once again to bid adieu. The relationship is still good, yet I'm plotting a breakup while fantasising about another machine. There's a heartlessness to this endeavour, and it takes a while to process. I can't go from feeling attached to wanting to detach at a moment's notice. There's no internal switch you can flip to change your emotions. And it'll be especially difficult to part with a machine that's not going to bike heaven, but to another owner. What if I spot it on the roads again? Will that be joyful, awkward, bittersweet, a guilt trip, or all the above? Maybe I am a playboy when it comes to motorcycles. But I genuinely love the bikes I'm with. Plus, I sort of have a conscience. Otherwise, I wouldn't feel torn up when it's time to move to the next one. – Jeremy Main Image: Tuyen Vo, Unsplash