Below is a consideration of that 'always wanting the bike you haven't got' feeling, which, thankfully, has now disappeared - anyway this was published in the VJMC magazine some time ago when I was in that unfortunate mode:-

The possibility of the grass being greener on the other side of the fence is the motorcyclists bane. It is what we do, we look for that next or better bike then regret selling the one we had. A new bike to try out, talk about, tinker with, admire and be proud of. Seemingly, what could be nicer?

Maybe this comes from one's early days, working up to a bigger capacity machine. There are any number of reasons why these thoughts might continue in later life. It may be to do with technological improvement, your preference changing, a chance to buy an earlier model that you liked or simply force of habit.

The grass could be greener on the other side but then it might not be. Will that new to you bike make you happier? Conversely, is there anything wrong with the one you've got? I have three motorbikes; one works, one is half restored and the other as spares but I still search around, like a demented hoarder!

It is hard not to be inquisitive about other bikes, to ask owners questions and compare both the look and performance of their bikes to your own. This fascination can go forward into the future or back to the past, for a given amount of money there is a choice between the latest look or nostalgia of yesteryear.

Looking at motorbike advertisements can initiate a drift off into a personal reverie that may not have a firm grounding in reality. What it would it be like to own those other bikes and would they live up to expectations? Unfortunately, the need to be rational, practical and avoid financial excess drags one back into the land of the present.

Magazine reviews, exhibitions and dealers showrooms don't help of course and maybe the bike you have has lost its novelty. There is a relentless quest in the back of our minds for that intriguing and elusive motorcycle, the mix of horse power, weight, handling, practicality and economy. So it goes on, round and round, in a confusing and unresolvable muddle of indecision.

At a bike meeting, someone was talking about upgrading to another model when a club member said that they should try giving their own bike a clean and polish as he found that this helped him appreciate the bike that one has already. Taking it a bit further, you could invest in your existing bike, a rebuilt seat, superior tyres, spot lights or engine overhaul might restore interest in the old steed.

Reinvigorated and revitalised for a further spell of useful service might satisfy the wonder lust for a while. Then that irritating little voice comes back urging you to check out some detail or other of a bike you saw mentioned somewhere and before you know it back come the day-dream, mulling over what might be available.

You can call collecting motorbikes a hobby but really it is buying old motorbikes for its own sake. It's not about status, next year's design, new equipment or a more competent ride. With us, it's more about intrinsic attributes, fascination and elegance as opposed to the fast or the new. The difficulty is knowing when to stop.

The majority of us have a limited budget and finite storage not to mention a partner who may take a dim view of family funds being depleted in this way. We have to be careful. Even then, owning a number of motorbikes can mean that some get neglected, you can only ride one at a time and it costs to keep several on the road.

Restorations can be expensive and buying a machine as an investment means keeping the bike pristine by avoiding road salt and winter grime. Yes, one might be able to justify their purchase although it is tainted by the need to maintain it to a high standard. Most of us want everyday use and accept that conditions will not always be fine.

Indulgence and temptation are terrible things and owning several motorbikes is a pleasant prospect. My boss had 17 classic motorbikes, gathered over time, then his second divorce and wife no 2 took them to auction. It didn't matter that he had built up the collection before he got married again.

Message to Self: Forget the hype, stay off eBay and keep focussed on the existing bikes. In my case it is the style of bike that I have come to regard as my type of machine. I am lucky to own them and be fit enough to ride. I should be content with fettling and adjusting my bikes rather than hankering after more.

Still, if the right one came along at the right price then it's hard to say no, of course it won't be one of those unreachable ones that I dream of unfortunately. They probably aren't the bikes that I think they are anyway and possibly, just as important can be the journeys themselves rather than rather than the bike so lets all enjoy the here and now, for the time being.

Seems about right...