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Motorcycle Tales: How I ended up with a $25K Exotic Italian Superbike
New York, 1998
For the beginning of this story, we have to go back to 1998. I was in my 20s, living in New Jersey and had just left my position as a Software Engineer for the US Army to work as a software consultant in New York City. It was summer, which in NYC meant it was hot and humid.
I was visiting my sister in the city, and we decided to go to this motorcycle exhibit at a museum. I wasn’t riding motorcycles yet then, but heck, it was something to do. Turned out it was at the world famous Frank Lloyd Wright designed Guggenheim Museum, and the exhibit was The Art of the Motorcycle.
It’s been so long ago, but I remember there was a huge line to get in. The line wrapped around the city block, literally the definition of a blockbuster. Although we were going to a world class art museum, the attendees in line came from all walks of life. This was not a stuffy art opening with wine and cheese. It drew in all kinds of people, including regular joes like me. In fact, the total attendance for this exhibit was over 300,000 people, breaking all records at the Guggenheim up to that point.
The Guggenheim is built like a reverse spiral. You enter on the ground floor, and follow the exhibit up a spiraling ramp to the top. The exhibit is organized by…