You’re as classy as I figured you’d be. Thanks, and no harm done.

Purely anecdotal, but most of the BMW riders I know around here are much more hardcore about riding than I am. I see a couple every morning on my commute. High teens/low 20s this morning, and they’re motoring right along! I’ve long since parked the K75 and started taking the Ranger– something I only do on rainy days when it’s over 50 degrees on the morning commute. But since I don’t take many of those long weekend rides my fellow area BMW riders take, I’m not racking up anywhere near the 30,000+ miles they do every year!

At 22 years of age, my K75 has just north of 20,000 miles on it…so maybe in their view, the view of the hardcore BMW guys I know, I really am a “poser.” But you’re right, I appreciate the machine regardless of the blue-and-white propeller.

I dunno. I’m having a hard enough time buying replacement parts (stale rubber gaskets, anyone?) for a bike as old as I am, the K75. It’s an every-winter ritual, anymore, to shut ‘er down for about three or four months and do minor maintenance little-by-little. I’d love to buy a new one, but have much more important things on my mind. Like buying a home, if we ever see any of this reported “housing slump” they keep talking about in the news. So far, home prices are still rediculous here, when compared to real wages. Chalk it up to lots of retirees who think they’re getting such a “good deal” because they’re comparing the prices to what they were used to seeing up north/in the city/wherever.

So discretionary, yes, I’d say so. But I’ve not got a Beemer dealer nearby to gauge interest.

And WhatTheHel:

Sorry. I was trying to be nice about it. Didn’t want hard-working Schmitty to face the wrath of a truly snobby BMW rider/driver. As noted, my bike is old and half the enjoyment I get from it is derived from tinkering on it to keep it in top running shape. My four-wheeled ride is a stripped-down Ford Ranger, by the way. Which was fun to break loose a little bit this morning as I rounded an empty intersection at ~15 mph.

I am firmly of the belief that “fun” is not a concept limited to overly-expensive Bavarian Moters.

Just a minor nag. Otherwise, I’m enjoying the “While America Slept” series, even if I happen to be having trouble sleeping for some odd reason lately. Keep it up!