In spite of the censure I expected from age-related friends, I finally did it: I bought a motorcycle. It wasn't impulsive, mind you, but a combination of recent experience as well as rose-colored memories of forty-plus years ago. While in college in the 60s, I had a car and a friend had a 1949 Indian (remember suicide shifters?). He had a girl and I had a vacancy (ah, those good ole' days). So, he occasionally needed a car to become "more expressive" with his girl, and I wanted to take his bike for a spin. Great trade, wouldn't you say?

To this day, I remember the exhilarating feeling of winding through the open and somewhat hilly parts of southern Ohio. No amount of travel in a cage could equal the freedom and sense of excitement I felt while cruising with that powerhouse underneath me. (The Gods were with me; a floating valve kept speed below 60
mph.)

Advance forty-five years. While visiting my daughter and her husband in Rogers, AR, an unexpected miracle happened--not planned or planned for. My son-in-law, a rabid Harley-D owner with whom in several previous visits I had asked many questions about his bike, suddenly asked me if I wanted to take his 1998 Softtail Classic Heritage for a spin. My initial response was to get some ear cleaner and perhaps make an appointment with a hearing-aid specialist. Of course, I mumbled something that sounded like,
"What?"

He repeated the offer, and the next thing I knew, deja vous. I had his helmet on, the steed was spurred, and off we were. Instantly, I knew that my fond memories of biking were mingling with the joy of this new, open road experience. After several miles on the backroads, chosen because I recognized the gap between my current skills and fond-though-superannuated memories, I reined in the mount, stopped in front of their house, and told my wife to get on a helmet and saddle up. We spent about thirty exciting and wonderful minutes trekking the less-traveled roads, not wanting to return to the routine at the ole homestead.

The next day we were down at the H-D dealership in Bentonville, AR, which just happens to be a model for the new H-D stores--coffee lounge, plasma TV area to kick back and take in the show, and a couple of pool tables in the posh combination waiting/relaxing room.

The bug had bitten, and I went right by the smaller bikes, convinced that my wife and I wanted to tour. Of course, the salesman saw my dilated pupils as I sat on the really-big Hydra-Glides, all decked out for max comfort. But we showed great restraint, not wanting to rush into what I had determined would be my next escape from the mundane world of teaching, grading papers, and consulting.

Back home in the number four state for registered motorcycles (great climate, many roads in moutains as well as along the beaches), I did what most of you have done: read, asked questions, and read more. I must have hit almost every Web site in existence, looking for reviews, suggestions about best bikes for newbies, and trying to decide if I was a newbie or, since I also had once owned and rode a powerful steed--Ducati 125 Mustang--would I be considered an intermediate. After all, the very informative book
"Motorcycles for Dummies" used those classifications as a basis for deciding what new bikes to buy.

By the time I was ready to make my bike-purchasing decision, I was firmly convinced that I was a death-wish fool for wanting to return to biking. One little piece of advice really caught my attention: take the attitude that everyone driving out there wants to kill you. Ah, are people who want to bike secretly harboring a wish to die quickly--and soon? In spite of the scattered remarks about how fun and exhilarating
motorcycling is, you will sooner or later suffer road rash, disfiguration, great pain, all the while dressed in enough safety garb to make you look like the Michelin man on steroids. Quite intimidating. But life is choices, and I was convinced that I wanted a bike to offer me some adventuresome recompense for the routine course my life had taken.

So I did it. I heeded the advice not to go for the biggest bikes, which require more skill in riding techniques than someone at my level of experience could quickly apply (and live to talk about it). I also decided that I didn't want to get a "beginner's" bike that would be underpowered and which would lose its appeal as my skills improved. A "small bike" also
would not accommodate those long weekend trips my wife and I envisioned in the relatively-close future. Here again, the forums on this Web site and others gave me a good idea of what would meet our needs. We decided upon the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT. It had the rave reviews as a cruiser that would meet multiple challenges, such as urban/suburban and highway travel, the capability to handle two up, and the performance to meet the kinds of demands we would put on it. Tough to choose, however, considering motorcyclists have a fondness for their brand of bike harbors on fanatacism.

Anxiety and great apprehension did not accompany my choice of bikes and putting a deposit down; it arose mightily as the days clicked off and came closer to the time I was going to pick up my bike and ride it home. Could I do it? Should I wait a week until I had finished the Motorcycle Safety Foundation riding skills course and then pick it up? Sleep was restless, as I went through, over and over, the information in the MSF manual and a dozen other texts about hazards, avoidance techniques, which foot to put on the ground first while stopping, and the life-saving left- and right-hand head swivels to check for traffic. Am I too old? Do I have a will?

The day before I picked up the bike, I took the DMV written test and eye test. While talking to the DMV examiner, I began asking him questions about his own biking, safety clothing, and other things. He stated that your attitude will determine what you do to ensure your safety--solid advice. He then asked me what kind of motorcyclist I envisioned myself as being, and I responded, without thinking much, "Alive." Funny how my worries kind of crystallized at that moment.

Thursday arrived, my new helmet was at the dealership, and I was ready to roll. As my wife drove me to the place, she kept asking me if I was sure that I wanted to hit the road with my new bike (not literally, of course). I told her that I had thought about paying a delivery service to bring the bike to my doorstep, but discarded that option when I thought more about why I was getting the bike. I couldn't learn by just reading books and watching videos, so I knew that I had to rely on my common sense and drive MY bike home, via the back roads.

At the dealership, I asked the mechanic about my bike, the questions I had written down while reviewing the owner's manual several days beforehand. He was great. He went over all the systems with me, showed me where each of the gauges/fill tanks were, and rewired, right then and there, my light-bar halogens to be on when the headlight was on low beam. I sat on the bike for several minutes and familiarized myself with the controls.

When ready to practice before venturing out to the highway, I motored down a dead-end street several times, getting familiar with the clutch's friction point, rolling the throttle, applying both brakes, and tight U-turns. After thirty to forty-five minutes, I felt confident enough to head home. (Now I can imagine what a carrier fighter pilot feels like when his jet is ready to be thrust off the safety and comfort of the carrier deck.)

The trip home was a combination of joy, exhilaration, and anxiety. If X happened ahead, what would/should I do? When should I enter a right-hand-turn lane? My techniques became smoother as my vision cleared and I assumed a more reasonable yet still alert perspective.

I pulled into my driveway sweating in my new safety gear, but quite pleased that my bike and I had made it home in original-equipment condition. I shall continue to learn, practice, and yet enjoy the experience of biking as each day goes by, never becoming complacent, always vigilant, and very happy that I took a wish out of the bucket and can enjoy it now.  

HI; I think your adventures have just started. You made a good choice. I did much the same thing as you a couple years ago. Been having a great time sence. Ride safe and have fun... scruffy..  

Thanks, scruffy. Glad to hear that you, too, went through the experience I am having. I'm planning on also having a great time. So far, so good. Take care of yourself.

Gil  

In reading your post I had to join in to respond.  It has made me laugh by reading the thoughts that went through your head as I am currently having the same thoughts and processes.  My wife and I just lost a very good friend to cancer who had been a biker for many years. His passing has reminded me that time waits for no one.  Having learned how to ride about 25 years ago (Yamaha 550), I gave it up to become a responsible adult - wife, kid, mortgage etc. :> Now, I am looking to remind myself of the pure sense of freedom that comes from riding.

Thanks for sharing your insights.  

Thanks, Tony, for letting me know what my wife suspected: that there are others out there going through what we are. What I really like about cycling is the community of bikers who are more than willing to share advice, information, and helpful tips and techniques.

Go for it and enjoy.  

HI; Getting the bike has been the best thing that I have done so far. It is a great way just to get away form all the everyday stuff. Just have fun and ride.. cause every day above ground is a good day. RIDE ..  Everyone I ride with has a smill and are friendly. Have fun on you bikes.... scruffy  

Great story, There must be thousands of others in the same boat. As a young person (40) i bought my first road bike, picked it up on a saturday morning in the city, raining, and rode the nearly 400km home. That was 2004. Should have done it 10 years ago. I ride about 8 out of 10 days (Not happy on the other 2) I have a 2004 1600 Road Star
Stay Safe and Upright  

Grandpa's back in the saddle....Last time on a bike, in the dirt around '73; got the itch recently, read on the net, "if you're considering returning after a long absence...get back on a dirt bike and see if you still got the balance." Very good advice for baby boomers wanting to make a comeback.

Took a 175 Yamaha out for some 'snow cross' a couple of weeks ago. I had a blast and never dumped once. Balance and instinct still intact. Studied and aced the motorcyle knowledge test...booked a beginners course, and currently enjoying researching my next bike purchase.  

My experience is similar. I was walking thru a mall in 2001, and on the ground floor, they had the new Indian Chief. As we headed down, I told her "I could see myself on that bike" (not just any bike... THAT bike). I talked to the dealer and found out $23k.
I'm just a poor cheap Yankee, and that was out of the question for a 1st bike when I might hate the whole thing.  I then found the 800 Drifter... most of the same lines, same fenders, and only 6500 for a brand new 2000.
I rode that bike for 6 years, and 37k miles.
Not bad for a starter bike.  

The "her" in the previous post is my wife of many years.
She went thru a Savage, an Intruder 1400, and ended up with a Mean Streak.  

Good to hear your stories and how most of you were in sync with my thoughts and feelings when I took the plunge. Since my original post, I have taken the MSF Basic Riding Skills course and put 600 miles on my Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT. The rider course was excellent and gave me the knowledge I needed to get out there and ride. The bike is a great ride, and my wife and I look forward to rollin' on the roads whenever we can. What pushed me to the Vulcan was the review on this Web site--a comprehensive, objective, and well-written piece comparing the Boulevard with the Vulcan.

Ride safe and enjoy the freedom.  

i recommend you to get ready to pass DMV written test before you'll go to DMV office.
Here's good site to study:
Online sample questions with answers for DMV written tests
for all states  

Hi all I am a newbie on your forum plus a Kiwi(New Zealand)hope I am not intruding..Would like to say that it is great you are all injoying your new found passion (motorcycling)fear nothing and ride with confidence..Where your eyes go your bike should go also...  

Like you, I just got back into riding after a 30 year hiatus.  Also, like you, I went with the Kawasaki 900 Vulcan Classic LT.  So far I love it (can't find anything not to like).  Did my last riding in 1975 after having gone thru BSA and Triumph 650's, a '48 Harley Panhead, and a Husqvarna 360 Enduro.  I was a little leary of trying to hop on a bike again, but I'm just sorry I didn't do it sooner.  As another rider put it to me, "Life's clock only gets wound once, my friend.  Go for it and enjoy".  

I have just purchased a Honda CB750K. My wife was really shocked when I told her that I was interested in learning how to ride. I'm 52 and the kids are grown and the grad kids have outgrown the baby seat on my pedal bike, so what's next. PAPPY'S Ride! I went out and started looking for something that fit me, I'm 6'2" and weigh 230, and with the advise of my experienced brother-in-law, I bought the Honda. Used, by a nice bike. I figured that being that this is my first bike and not having any experience, that this would probably be the best way to start out. I haven't yet hit the road yet, still working on the tight turns and manuverabilities, and trying to be patient waiting on the title to come back with my name on it. I live in Youngstown, Ohio and I know what you're talking about with having the winding roads in the country. I used to own a MGB and ran the country roads with it when I was younger. Great times! I have heard all of the terrible stories of bikers and what happens to them. I'm also thinking that being the age that I'm at and having the elder thinking cap on, that I'm going to remember thoise stories everytime I ride. I just found this web site and couldn't believe how folks are out there that are doing the same thing as myself. Keep your head up, it isn't for pride, just safety.
Flip4