I love motorbikes.  I love ones that play in the dirt, ones that play on the asphalt.  Two wheels, three wheels, four wheels… makes no difference.  They make my heart pitter-patter.  I remember as a little 10 year old begging my parents for a subscription to Cycle World.  I would longingly thumb through bright-colored pages of high-revving, large displacement big-boy toys.  I would daydream of how awesome it would be to ride a curvaceous two-wheeled bullet of my own; my day dreams were so good that anytime I was in a moving vehicle I would pretend that I was chasing myself on a motorcycle.  Weaving in and out of traffic, jumping ditches, flying over ravines, speeding through intersections I would do this for hours and hours whilst on road trips or errands with my mom.  What can I say… I was entertained easily.  Nonetheless you get the picture.  Andy likey bikey.

 

I have had the privilege of owning several bikes over the years — against the best wishes of my parents I got my first bike at the ripe old age of 18 1/2.  It was a 1982 Honda Ascot and was not in running /street-legal shape when I purchased it.  But I got it running, past inspection and had a blast riding it for a few months before I left on my mission for the Church.  When I returned from my mission all I could think about was getting an other bike ASAP — I happened across a good deal on a 2003 Ducati Monster 620ie and jumped on it.  After a year I was able to sell the bike and upgrade to a 2005 Honda CBR 600RR.  I rode that bike for a year and then I got married and I sold it.  I went for a year without a bike and then Ducati announced a new super bike.  It was a huge surge forward for the under-powered Italian powerhouse, it came in red.  I didn’t stand a chance.  I begged, bargained, pleaded and promised my endearing wife to let me get it.  During my ownership of this Itallion stallion Tash took up an interest in motorcycles as well and she got her MSF certification and motorcycle endorsement.  We found a 1980 Honda Twinstar 200 for her to ride around on.  We were quite the pair.  And then I had to graduate. And move to Houston.  With all the uncertainty of a new location, new job, unfamiliar transit we decided it was best to sell the bikes until we got settled.  Well along the way we had two little surprises come along, namely in the form of a little baby girl and a little baby boy.  Wife, mortgage, two kids and car payments does not make it easy to justify another bike.  No matter how bad I ached for one.

 

This spring I was perusing on Craigslist and happened across a fixer-upper for a low price.  I talked with Tash and she agreed that we could ‘try’ this out to see if I could make a few bucks on the bike.  It was a 2008 Honda Rebel.  Mechanically it was in good shape, low mileage.  But the cosmetics were a bit rough.  It needed a lot of elbow grease, chrome polish, wax and TLC to get it looking sell-able.  I got it as cleaned up as possible and got it sold.

 

 

Having earned a little faith from Tash I received permission to look for another bike — my idea was to find a more ‘permanent’ bike that I could own/ride for a while.  I wanted something bigger than a 250cc.  I found a 2006 Suzuki Boulevard 800 Touring bike in my price range.  This bike had low mileage and was in much better cosmetic shape than the rebel.  It had decent power for a cruiser, had a windshield, saddlebags and floorboards.  I was stoked!  Granted it was no Ducati, but after a 3.5 year no-bike-diet I was just happy to find a clean bike that I could afford to own on a poor man budget.  I spent several hours getting the Suzuki polished up (unfortunately I am bit anal retentive when it comes to my bikes — they need to be spit-shiny clean ALWAYS.  It drives me nuts to see a shiny bike under dust, dirt, water spots or bug juice) and then I was ready to ride.  I rode it for about a month and started to feel an old inkling way down deep.  I tried to ignore it and convince myself that the Boulevard was enough… but I just couldn’t close the sale.  I will be honest and admit that straight-line speed WAS a contributing factor — but the largest factor was simply the handling ergonomics.  It is difficult to move a fat heavy cruiser.  They are not meant to corner, they are not meant to weave or lean.  They are meant to float down a long stretch of road (and they do it wonderfully).  But I wanted the maneuverability of a lighter, more agile bike.  Something with a bit more hot sauce under the seat.  So with the boss’ permission I sold the Suzuki.  With the money earned from the Suzuki I was on the hunt for something a bit more sporty.

 

I don’t know how I lucked out, but I came across yet a third really good buy on craigslist, this time for a sport bike.  It was a 2009 Buell 1125CR.  It had 650 miles on it and was basically brand new.  It was within my price range!!!!  I was ecstatic.  I had to wait three never-ending days before I could go see it in person, but as soon as I saw it and rode it I was hook, line and sinker sold.  It needed a little elbow grease to come up to par with my unrealistic standards, but it was something very doable.  So I joyfully brought it home and it has been awesome ever since!  I LOVE having a bike again.  I would rather be on a bike than just about anything.  I have always said that if a person ever gets a chance to drive a motorcycle on their own they will never want to go back to a car again.  The wind in your hair, the rumble of the engine between your legs, the unadulterated driving experience.  No radio, no cellphone…nothing but the exhaust note soundtrack to accompany you…. pure bliss.