Last summer I decided to take up motorcycling. An explanation for this decision is either impossible or unnecessary. Suffice to say it is something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember.
I've enjoyed bicycling for many years, though not strictly for recreation. I put better than a thousand miles on the bike in a typical season, three quarters of that is commuting to and from work, four miles each way. It is my primary exercise program, a good 15 to 25 minutes of exertion each morning and evening when the weather is good. It is also a demanding mental exercise; sharing the streets with cars, trucks and buses, doing my best to get there quick and avoid getting mashed. I'm a firm believer in helmets, I've smashed up a couple but have yet to be seriously injured.
Having a few colleagues at work who motorcycle, and one who teaches the Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses, it was clear to me that the first step would be the MSF's Basic Rider / Road Skills course. I highly recommend the course, I took it in June and passed. I also discovered that I was having so much fun zipping around a parking lot in second gear on a 125cc Suzuki that I had to get a bike.
I took some time to consider the options. I like the riding position of standard bikes, but there are not too many choices in that class. My friend Jack's Nighthawk 750 seemed huge, the 250 Nighthawks too small. Found an '82 450 Nighthawk, but wasn't ready for all the care it would probably need. Sport bikes seemed too dangerous and fragile. A cruiser seemed like the best choice.
Finally, in September, I bought a '97 Honda Shadow VLX. It had been well taken care of, with 4432 miles on it when it arrived in my driveway.
It didn't take to long to get the hang of my new bike. I consider it a good choice for a first bike, and one that I will be able to enjoy for a good while. It came to me with an upgrade from the original stock pipes (no idea what make) with a good sound and good power...just loud enough to activate hypersensitive car alarms...
Now, in December, I've put over 700 miles on the bike and am regreting that it will soon be time to put it up for the winter. There will still be a few more nice rides, whenever the temperatures hit the upper 30s...
Comparing bicycling to motorcycling, I find that there is some similarity, but not a lot. As far as the riding dynamics, handling and control are similar, but reversing the rider/bike weight ratio makes a big difference. As for the traffic dynamics, I'm fairly bold on the bicycle; typical urban traffic can be a real pain when you are your own engine. I've encountered my share of blind, ignorant, and downright ornery drivers on the bicycle. I feel much more constrained on the motorcycle, but more comfortable in the knowledge that I'm on a much more level playing field with other vehicles. I don't expect to give up bicycle commuting, I still enjoy the exercise and it is still the quickest and most economical way for me to get to work.
My riding skills and confidence have improved, but I am also well aware of how much more I have to learn before I can have any claim to being a truly skillful rider. As the MSF reminds us, the more you know, the better it gets!