A few years ago, I bought a motorcycle. It was intended to be an economical means of commuting to work. I got a Kawasaki KLR 650 dual sprot motorcycle. Not long after, I was allowed a take-home vehicle from work. I decided to keep the motorcycle for recreational purposes. I had all sorts of ideas of minimalist camping and the like. I got some hard plastic “saddle bags” for it and set up a few vehicle preps that would fit for a motorcycle. I also had the idea to keep it for a survival vehicle. You know, the I need to get going in a hurry with just the items I can carry on my back type of thing. Then there’s the whole issue of “how do I take MY FAMILY with me on a motorcycle?” I could go down the rabbit hole of keeping it for those solo-mission scenarios that preppers come up with when they war-game the end of the world scenarios. But I’m going to want to be with my family and travel as a unit. The motorcycle just doesn’t fit that bill.
As it turns out, I have not ridden the bike in OVER A YEAR. I’ve cranked it a few times to let it run, kept the battery charged with a trickle charger, and done minor maintenance type things, but that’s it. I just don’t use the thing. Every time I need to go somewhere, I either have someone with me, need to take too much stuff, or have weather concerns. There just haven’t been enough opportunities to just get out and ride.
So, I’ve decided I’m going to sell it. It has about 1,500 miles on it and is in phenomenal condition. It’s always been kept in a garage and just needs the dust cleaned off. With the money that I get for it, I could really shore up some other areas of my prepping. It’s not a high dollar motorcycle but just the few thousand dollars I could get for it would go a LONG way.
What I’m really getting at is that prepping isn’t always about obtaining gear, vehicles, etc. Sometimes it’s about getting rid of things that no longer fit into your plans. The motorcycle no longer fits. It was fun when I got to use it. But it’s not worth the loss of value and limited utility to have it just sit there for some unknown day when a couple of hours of enjoyment may come.
I’m selling it. I’m putting that money toward whatever areas of life it needs to go toward. I’m getting some of my general life preps in better order (emergency fund, finishing up the smaller projects that are near completion and just need that little remaining money spent, etc.). I feel good about my decision. It’s one less vehicle to maintenance and care for. It’s one less item to put money toward. It’s that little bit of free space that could be better used for something else, or nothing at all. It’s getting something out of the way, in many regards.
Get rid of things that don’t fit your plans. Free that money up to save or fund another project. Take one more thing off your list of duties. Gain a little peace from having one less thing to have to worry about.
Don’t just prepare. Prepare to thrive.
