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?