This picture was taken in front of California Cycleworks while I was starting my last year at SDSU. That was a damn fast motorcycle and my abilities weren't yet caught up to hers. This was before spending too much money and too much time on performance mods and stupid shit. She was with me for a few years and we were very happy together.

Later, after investing in thousand dollar shocks and thousands more spent on a compelte rebuild, my thoughts and eyes strayed to her more purposeful cousin, the Superbike. It broke her heart and the day I test rode a 916, my beautiful 900SS broke her frame.

A good man in Washinton offered his `98 VTR 1000 as tribute to relocate my 900 that I loved so to a new, welcome home. I had already slept with her sexy cousin, so there was no going back, especially after spending $11,000 on the `96 with 9000 miles.

My cheating ways caught up with me when the 916 showed me her damaged rocker arms. That's a pretty rude payback! You can read about that in the 4V maintenance section.

• Read about the first time I tried to sell my bike: why I was selling, and why it sucks to sell a bike and why I gave up last time.