This is an email I sent to a motorcycling list I'm involved with. Enjoy!

So Melinda and I were at this auction on Sunday, looking for a bike for her. At the pre-inspection, we found a couple that looked promising - a Kawasaki KZ550 (no title) and a Yamaha XS400 (needs battery, 'runs well'). Both were rather far down the list in the order of auctioning (fore-shadowing).

Once the auction finally began, the sun cooked our brains right quick. The event took place in the gravel courtyard behind Midwest Cycle Supply. A relatively small area full of roughly 40 bikes and 60 or 70 people. What little wind was blowing Sunday could not reach the confines of that space.

Right away, the bargains were flying. I don't fully recollect which bikes went for what, but we were stunned. Can these deals last? Are the bidders just slow to warm up to the auction?

The third bike up was a 79 Honda cx500. A 500, we say? Well, lets get this over with while the deals last! We hadn't looked much at the bike before, but figured if its only 500cc, she'd be ok on it. The bike was started - it runs! Its clean! It has a title! Start the bidding! So Melinda, without too much trouble, outbids the competition to acquire the bike for $425. A pittance, we say, laughing heartily! Hee Hee! More bargains passed; an XS650 in pretty decent condition went for $200 (picture me kicking self here).

Meanwhile, something in the back of my head is fighting to be heard. That bike looked pretty big, and not just because of the fairing. Maybe we should settle up and go take a look, to be sure. We hung out, cooking our brains further, to watch a couple other interesting rides go - 71 BMW R75/5 for $2600 - cheap but not cheap enough; another cx500, with vetter sidecar for $1200. Finally we went to check out her new bike.

Boy, its kinda big, even with the fairing. I sit on it; its a little heavy too. Maybe even as heavy as my 650. Maybe its just the fairing, raising the center of gravity. Melinda sits on the bike. 'I can't stand it up'. Uh oh. Maybe if we take the fairing off it'll work... Can you say 'Buyers Remorse'?

Well, we ride my bike home (3 blocks) so she can drive me back to drive the Honda home. I can tell she's kinda disappointed. Meanwhile, the clock ticks...

I suggest we go back and bid on the other bikes, the ones she picked out before. Money's an issue, but we work out a plan. Maybe we'll still get a deal, and can sell this one. I have to ask twice, but she agrees; her brain was as cooked as mine.

When we return, the Kawi is already gone. Its hotter than ever in the courtyard, though there's more space from selling the bikes and people leaving (the smart ones left to find shade & refreshment). We wait impatiently for the 400 to get its turn. Several bikes are removed when bidders don't reach the min sale price, including a beautiful CT70. The guy that restored that did a hell of a job - cream & turquois paint, looks like its in good shape. Bidding got to $925, he said he'd lower his min price to $950 and nobody would! I was stunned.

Next up, the little Yamaha; an 81 XS400. That thing looked even better at the front of the crowd. The same guy was selling this one. The paint is new, the rims where shined, the tires armor-alled - uh, maybe thats not such a good thing. Anyway, its a fine lookin bike up there. Somebody else started the bidding at about $450. I bid $500. They hesitated, then bid $525. The seller said he'd let it go for $550. Fine with me. Our opponents paused, then bid $575. I bid $600. They paused again, talked a bit, then bid $625. Jeez, when're they gonna stop?? Maybe its time for tactics - make a show of consulting with Melinda; think a minute then bid $650. Is it enough? They're consulting again. Thinking. We're sweating - more. The auctioneer pressures them. Its a cute little bike, all polished chrome, metallic blue paint, shiny black seat and tires. They think; and acquiesce. The bike is ours!

We quickly settle up and go to check the little bike out. This time, there's a big 'ole SMILE on Melinda's face - she can flat-foot it and stand it up EASY. The bike looks pretty fine too, its an 81, but seems pretty clean. The battery is shot, so we have to replace that, but all else looks pretty good.

I rode the Honda home so we could swap the battery. All seems in order on that bike, but the fairing is a bit tough to get used to; the bars turn, but there's no visual cue - a bit disorienting at first. Fortunately, its only three bocks on residential streets, so I had no real trouble. It did sound good & ride well too...

We pulled the 500's battery and went back for the 400; wrong size. Fortunately the guys at Midwest opened the shop to sell me a new battery. It went in great, but we had some starting problems. Somehow, we did fire it up, so I rode it home. Man, what a bike! Small but fun - I wanted to take a detour and cruise around for a while, that thing is cool! Lighter and more nimble than my 650.

The day was a success; I suppose maybe even overly-successful. Once we got the 400 home, we parked it and the 650 in the backyard, side by side, for a couple of photos. What a pair! The 400 looks just like a mini-650, its a younger sibling to my bike. We putzed around with it a little bit, there was the starting problem that we were able to solve (bad ground in the switch); removed the luggage rack & centerstand, which was bent and rattling against the frame. Drank some beers too (it was really hot, you know) and just looked at and sat on it. Melinda started it a couple times, just to hear it rev a little; that big ole grin plastered on her face.

So Melinda has her first scoot. It should be insured today so maybe we'll start her tooling up and down the alley tonight, or maybe if its cooler, we'll travel to a parking lot for practice.

Now what to do with that cx500....

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