Bittersweet day in the motorcycle business

[OldRider]

Today is the day I've looked forward to and dreaded for several years. I started working in a local mc shop when I was 14 years old and started my own shop in 73 after graduating from high school. I knew the day would come when I had to hang up my wrench and take it easy for however many years I have left. Today is the day. I've been selling down the inventory all year and today at 5:00 I'll hang that closed sign up in the front door for the last time. Always been closed on Mondays so Tuesday morning it will be strange not putting on work clothes and heading to the shop. I know a little Dachshund that will be happy as she never likes to see me leave in the morning. I just bought a new Scag mower and a Kubota tractor with several implements, so after taking the Winter off, I'm going to jump into the mowing business in order to stay busy. I like mowing grass. Maybe able to show the S10 a little more love too.

 

[AntrimMan]

Retirement: Finally a job I'm suited for. It doesn't get much better. The only thing I miss is paid holidays.
You'll see.

 

[Sierra1]

Today is the day I've looked forward to and dreaded for several years. . . .

I know what you mean. I loved the job, but it was time to go. I have adapted well to not having an agenda or schedule, sounds like you will too.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

50 years...that's a hell of a run OldRider. Congratulations on finishing out such a long career in your motorcycle business. That's a true accomplishment. Best of luck to you as launch your retirement mowing gig.

Enjoy, you've earned it.

 

[AusTexS10]

Congrats and best wishes. After my step-dad retired back in the 1980s, he said the only negative he'd found is now he didn't have any days off. Maybe you can attach a mowing deck behind the Super Ten.

 

[Cycledude]

Congratulations on your retirement, pretty soon you will be wondering how you ever found the time to go to work everyday.

 

[tntmo]

You paid your dues for sure, time to relax. Congrats.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . Maybe you can attach a mowing deck behind the Super Ten.

Since you mentioned it:

 

[VRODE]

Congrats! Enjoy the new lifestyle!

 

[MFP]

Congrats and best wishes to you for your new paths and endeavors.

 

[Boris]

Best wishes for this next stage of life.

 

[magic]

Congratulations and good luck. Hope you enjoy your retirement.

 

[Bill_C]

Congratulations on 50 years of success and a hard earned retirement!
I'm looking forward to it myself. Everyone tells me I need to do it but my retirement account tells me 5 more years.

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[Wallkeeper]

I can personally attest that retirement is under rated!!!

 

[cyclemike4]

Not sure to send you a sorry or a congratulations! You must have loved your buisness to work at it that long. Individual shops are work to stay afloat that long! So here is both! Sorry and congratulations! Time to move on and enjoy the next phase in your life. You definitely earned it!

 

[Highwayman]

Congrats & enjoy!

 

[blitz11]

Congrats! Sort of a similar story - started in a motorcycle shop at age 16. The day i graduated from high school, my boss offered me a full-time job at $1.200/month. (This was 1979.) At the time, a degreed mechanical engineer was making ~$1,500 per month. (Just at the beginning of the highly inflationary early 1980s.) I thought about it, but college in Iowa was cheap, so I went to Iowa State and in 4 years, graduated with a mechanical engineering degree. I often (still) wonder how things would have been different had I worked at the shop for a while, learned more, and then opened my own shop.

Congratulations on 50 years. That's quite a run. Good on you for having the moxie to open your own shop. That's not a trivial undertaking. Enjoy "plan B."

 

[DamMechanic]

My wife sold her bookstore back in June with an offer she couldn’t pass up. After 35 years of no weekends home and working 50 to 60 hours a week and just suddenly stop was hard for her at first. Took about 3 months for the adjustment period and now she is happy as can be. 4 more years for me.
Being in retail that long you will probably miss some of your customers and there children watching them grow up.
But congratulations on making it. Bike shop is a tuff gig.

 

[WJBertrand]

Six Saturdays and one Sunday every week! I’m about a week shy of celebrating my first year of retirement. No desire to go back.


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[Checkswrecks]

Six Saturdays and one Sunday every week! I’m about a week shy of celebrating my first year of retirement. No desire to go back.

You know how to tell a Sunday when retired? It's the second of the two days to cut grass, do house stuff, and avoid avoid the crazy people who take over the stores.

Congratulations OldRider. It's amazing how many other things will suddenly take up your time.