I asked Katie a question the other day.
N: "Katie, can I get a motorcycle?"
K: "Sure."
N: "...what? Really?"
Totally not the answer I was expecting. This is something I've been thinking about for the last couple of months, and it materialized when I was at lunch, talking with someone I work with who owns an older Suzuki bike. Logistically, it makes a lot of sense for us. I can take it to work and get a really good parking spot, the gas and insurance are a lot cheaper than getting a second car, and Katie would have the use of our car during the day. Plus it would be a blast... in daylight when the roads aren't slick with a helmet and protective clothing, Mom.
So here's the game plan. I'm casually researching for the next few months to get a feel for what are generally things to look for and also what to look out for in a used bike. Then sometime in the spring after I've become the magical 25 for insurance purposes, I'm going to take a motorcycle training class that I found out is fairly cheap to learn some technique. Plus, if you take a training class, you don't have to demonstrate anything at the DMV, just show them the certificate of completion and take the written test. A used bike will do fine, especially since I could get one in good working condition for under $1000, which I think is great for something with generally faster acceleration than most cars under $80,000.
I was joking with Katie that this motorcycle idea is my mid-life crisis. I don't think it is, but that's why I'm prolonging the process of getting one, just in case.
8 comments:
WHAAAAAA?!?
I am so excited for you. After having a little 49cc scooter I'm totally read at some point to get something a little bigger. It's actually become one of my new dreams to scooter cross country. I've been eyeing these old Vespas and Stellas that people take cross country.
You know what I think made Suzanne ok with a scooter is this book we both read called Ghost Rider. It's by the drummer from Rush. Within a year he lost his daughter and wife, one to an accident and one to cancer. After that he rode around Canada, the US, and Mexico on a BMW touring bike for about a year and had some really amazing experiences. Kind of an interesting book.
Oh man, yesterday I went to the bike shop to get some oil for the Red Devil and saw the bike I want. It's a beige Ducati. It was AWESOME. It had kind of a classic style, didn't have the almost-laying-on-your-stomach seating that some Ducati's have. You could just tell it wanted to take you places you never knew existed.
Oh, and don't forget the gas mileage that can't be beat!
Don't get me started on bikes...hey, maybe one day when we're all older we'll get some Honda Goldwings and roam the earth the 4 of us!
Oh man! Do you know what model? I bet it was a SportClassic GT1000, if it was beige. If I had $10,500 to spend on a bike, that's the one I would pick, hands down. It looks awesome, and it's exactly the style of bike that I'm after. It's more powerful than what I'd want initially (almost 1000cc!), but you don't always get what you want...;)
Thanks for the book recommendation. That's another to put on the to-do list. The Goldwings idea sounds like so much fun. If we do roam the earth, it would be so cool to pick up languages and dialects as we go from place to place. My co-worker's wife learned 5 languages just by tracing the boarders of Japan, Italy, Spain, and a few other countries riding her bicycle.
how about this my dear motorcycle desiring friend. I'll come to your house, push you off the roof with not protective gear, and save you 10,000 dollars. I'll bring sandwiches as well.
Oh good...only 20 days of daylight and dry pavement per year in Seattle. I won't have to worry about you now.
man my comment was hilarious
congratulations mate. my missus won't let me have a motorbike. She says there is nothing wrong the pushbike!!... whatever...
its not her who has to ride it 5 miles every morning to work is it!!
Anyway, even though you are the magical 25, don't expect your motorbike insurance to be cheap. The growing number of casualties and injuries which are attributed to motorcycle riders means the premiums have been steadily rising over the last couple of years... My advice is to look for your motor bike insurance online. You will be able to easily compare and contrast the different policies on offer in addition to finding the best price.. Good luck with it mate... and be safe :) - its the best way to keep your premiums down
Stickyboi, i agree - these days its becoming much more common to get not only motorbike insurance online, but all types of financial services. The main reason being the price transparency at the customers disposal which allows them to find out a much more competitive Online Insurance quote by comparing the offerings of different companies.
I am pretty confident that soon, everybody will buy their motor bike insurance online!
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