Why does it matter. It is none of our business why he can't purchase a more expensive bike. Either he can't afford it or he can't justify it. Either way he has a budget that he intends to stick to. Plus if he hasn't ridden for 8 - 10 years it wouldn't make any sense to spend any more money than he already intends to spend. Either bike he goes with will be light years ahead of the bike he used to ride.