Off-Topic Forum

I'm around Age 40. I've always kind of wanted to learn to ride. I have a chance to buy a 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650 for around $1000 US; apparently been well taken care of - current and previous owners are work colleagues. I could make a spot in the garage and still park the family car, or make a spot in a sound, sturdy but unheated shed on my city lot in the North Plains. I've got some basic to medium-level mechanical skill and some tools. I can successfully replace car brakes, spark plugs, perform oil changes, but I am shy about touching automatic transmissions and rear gear differentials in trucks, or attempting to replace fuel lines for example.

Licensing - should be pretty easy. I can walk into the state office, write a test and walk out with a permit in a half hour. I could buy my buddy's bike, practice, and get confident enough to take and pass the road exam in a month or two. Or I can take the basic riding course in July for $125 and automatically get the license. Either way I would purchase a helmet, some glasses, and possibly a jacket.

Other hobbies - card collecting. I am on a bowling league in the winter. I have a golf membership. Making and finding time to ride just for fun, when it is not raining or too windy and the temperature is good might be challenging. I am fully expecting this will just be summer-plus (April - September) toy. I do not need a motorcycle for transportation.

I am married to a wonderful woman and want to stay married. Our 12-year old boy is coming up for driving (license age is 14 where I am) and this could be a possible bonding experience. Maybe not. My wife and I have an understanding that we do not post much about each other on the internet, so I will not comment further. I also have a girl in elementary school.

Riding - There is plenty of open highway where I live. Many of you would come visit and say there is no traffic at all. The back roads are gravel. I am very timid about leaving the paved routes for say the first year or two based on my skill and then I don't want to ding the machine up even if I do end up with a 40-year-old bike. Services are infrequent, sometimes 20 - 75 miles apart. The scenery can be breathtaking if you go far enough. I would go to Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and the state parks and National Forest just a few hours away. The Missouri River valley is right in my back yard so to speak.

What do you guys think? Riders: When did you start? What do you like the most? What are your greatest challenges? How about expenses? Is it easy to sell an old bike if you lose interest? Any specific advice I would not normally think of?

Non-riders and ex-riders: If you want to get a motorcycle but repeatedly choose not to, what stops you? If you rode and quit, why did you quit? Family concerns? Age? Disinterest? Practical things like expense and storage? Pleasure/pain balance (short riding season)? I am not shy to hear about terrible accidents if you wish to share something like that. What would it take to get you into it or get you back?

I would with tongue-in-cheek say you guys get the binding, deciding vote; that I will do what you all say, but of course I cannot do that. I will ultimately have to decide for myself. Flood me with information. Give me a story or two.

Should I take up motorcycling?

My wife would and has told me no so I imagine it will be mostly crickets here as we don't want to get in trouble with the boss

But if you do, it's a dangerous hobby where many have died or paralyzed 

I have seen way too many horrific videos of tragic motorcycle accidents to consider it for myself anymore. It doesn't have to be your fault to be permanently injured in a crash. And so many people don't look (or maybe even care) for motorcycles on the road. It might be a fun hobby for you, a way to get away. But I, personally, wouldn't do it, and I had been thinking about it for a while, as well.

It's like very, errrr...... very dangerous.   Be warned.

I would strongly suggest you take the basic riding course. It will be the best $125 you ever spend on riding. I had my license for many years and took the course with my wife when she wanted to learn. I was amazed at all the things I did NOT know even after being on the road for years.
When it comes to safety gear, it is like insurance, you may not like it, but you are awfully glad to have it when you need it. My one motorcycle accident in 30 plus years of riding came when both of my feet were on the ground. I was hit from behind by a car who saw traffic start to move in the next lane and rear ended me, even though the lane we were in was not yet moving. I cracked my helmet, scraped up my gloves and jacket, but was unharmed. Only the safety gear was damaged and of course that bike was totaled. To this day, I never ride without a full helmet, gloves and armored jacket no matter how hot it is.
We also have a short riding season here in Mass. My wife and I take the bikes off the road from November to April every year to save on insurance (living in the city, insurance is ridiculously expensive). I do love riding to play softball and just cruising in general, although the Boston area is too congested to make most riding enjoyable, I have to get out of the city for that.

Other than safety, the only other drawback to the motorcycle over the car is capacity. I spend every Saturday taking care of my father, I can not ride the bike then as I take him to lunch, the grocery store, pharmacy, etc on those days.

Take the basics class, you  may find you love it or find it is not for you, but you will forever be aware of how bikers think when riding and be more aware of them on the road, which in the end is great for everyone.

Scott

I have also thought how nice it would be to ride a motorcycle around, mainly back roads or on my short commute to work via backroads. Even without highway ventures my wife said no, so I have decided to let it go. I know there have been serious accidents, though I feel that they mainly involve highways. There's also a bumper sticker I have seen around that says "Watch out for motorcycles!", which seems a bit ominous. 

Depending how strong the pull is, it'd be a shame not to at least say you tried motorcycling instead of thinking throughout the rest of your life 'what if'. Is there a way to take a ride with someone else, or drive one around a parking lot, just to see if it's worth pursuing? Asking what your family thinks of the idea is probably good, for though it's something you want to do they may have reservations since they value your wellbeing. 

I've been riding for 55 years; since the age of 9.  Started with mini-bike, then small dirt bike, then a larger dirt bikes, then a street bike. IMHO, don't start with such a large bike. 

I rode when I was in my 20's. Mostly to get girls. I came to my senses and gave it up after a few close calls due to my inexperienced and recklessness. 

I know a lot of people who been in accidents due to no fault of their own. An uncle in a 10 day coma and a year of recovery after a car ran a red light. Son of a friend died when hit by a car, driven by impaired driver. Cousin partially paralyzed when ran off road by a car. Friend and wife hit a deer and suffered life long injuries. More, but you get the idea. 

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best!

if you want wind in your face, buy a convertible   too many people have no respect for motorcycles, i personally wouldnt put myself in the position of having a target on my back while trying to enjoy the open road. Top down , tunes up, and away we go....

I never had much interest. I live in rural NW Wisconsin and there are more than enough motorcycle hitting a deer events and they usually don't turn out well for the motorcycle driver.