so Ryan signed up to take a motorcycle training class and mentioned it to me. this instigated me finally getting off of my ass and signing up to take the class too. i have wanted to learn to ride for a really long time and so now i am finally taking the first steps to do that.
my idea as to what me riding a motorcycle means has been evolving over the last couple of weeks. one of the driving forces encouraging me to get a bike is the cost of operating a motor vehicle these days. the $50 tank of gas in my small car now is a $55 tank with no indication of this changing any time soon. even with me doing things like turning off my car at lights and everything else to get better fuel economy, i am still only averaging 20-22 miles per gallon. there are days now that i really miss my 1.8 liter engine, much less how much i miss my 1.9 liter diesel.
so melissa and i are talking and she brings up the idea of (if i really am willing to commit to it) selling her car and me using a bike as my primary transportation. with the cash available from selling her car, we were thinking about getting into a BMW bike. these have always been my favorites even with their price. so i start doing my research.
after several days of reading, i realize that i am not just going to get on a bike and ride it as well as i drive. i am going to need time and practice (nights spent in parking lots) to be ready for many of the bikes that are out there in the marketplace. to this end, i am leaning towards a kawasaki ninja 250r street bike. the new 2008 models are getting rave reviews and at only 250cc this is rated as one of the best beginner bikes that you can get and still have it be a great ride when you are experienced.
so i am considering getting this bike in the crazy green color that is signature for the kawasaki line. i don't really like the color (although i bet it will grow on me) but in terms of visibility out there on the road, i am not sure that i can think of a better color. in fact, i am considering so much stuff in terms of safety at this point that it is really funny. what color jacket or helmet to get? added reflectors for night riding? all of these questions have been going through my head. it is such a different place than i was when i started thinking about doing this. i have spend over 3 hours just trying on different helmets and wearing them around stores, just to try an find one that is the correct (safest) fit for my head.
in fact, just the amount of reading on safety, helmet ratings systems, accident statistics, motorcycle technology, training and practicing regimens and the like is almost comical. maybe it is the correct and responsible way to be doing this. maybe it is just that i am getting old. i don't know. i just know that i have to agree with melissa; life is too short not to do things that you want to do, as long as you do them as safely as possible.