Friends in Odd Places—A Letter from Florian

All of us probably have too much stuff. Whether your material possessions have simply accumulated over time or you’re a little too trigger-happy late at night, we have more than we need. I’m still entertained by the spring and fall yard sales I see but rarely participate in.

Need a sign that society isn’t doing too badly? Look no further than the yard sale. Still, having people rummage through my personal belongings in my driveway and offering me pennies on the dollar is just not my style. Fortunately, there’s a much better way to sell your superfluous tangibles.

If you have the patience, Facebook Marketplace is a wonderful place to get rid of your old items. We have a fast rule at home. If we don’t use something for a whole year, it has to go.

Instead of yard sales, we simply list things online and most of the time not only get a better price than we would have gotten at a yard sale, but usually sell it for what we bought it for. Of course, we buy most of our stuff used to begin with. The only annoying aspect are the endless messages asking, “Is this still available?” Time conditions all, and at this point it’s just part of the process.

I currently have one of my motorcycles listed for sale. It has been up there for almost a year. Every month, somebody is genuinely interested, and we start a natural conversation about motorcycles. Then I find myself texting back and forth for at least a week.

Do I ever sell the motorcycle? No. But it seems like I keep making friends in the most unusual places. I typically end up giving advice on motorcycles, gear, and, of course, where to ride. I just can’t help it. 

When the first Yamaha Ténéré 700 came out, I was one of the lucky ones who got it early. With pent-up demand and not enough supply, I found myself in a fortuitous position. So, I did what any family man would have done. I listed it for sale (and ended up buying another later because I regretted it immediately).

One of the first people to message me was from the next town over. He was very clear that he did not have the cash to buy it right now, although he offered to trade me for an Africa Twin, which I wasn’t interested in. He asked a lot of questions, and at some point I simply offered him a test ride. No strings attached. I’m not that hooked on material things, and it’s way more fun sharing motorcycles. 

Within a week, he showed up with a friend. In hindsight, that was probably a smart move, because you never know what kind of weirdos people are online. I mapped out a short half-day ride, where I rode his Africa Twin, and he got to test my T7. It was a great day on two wheels sharing what we love to do.

Since then, he’s invited me on an abbreviated MABDR ride with his friends, and we are still in contact. At one point, he even loaned me a 150cc dirt bike for about two years. While I’m terrible at selling motorcycles online, I’m great at making friends on Marketplace.

Stay friendly out there,

Florian Neuhauser
Editor-in-Chief