Cars, Motorcycles, or Both?

ddavidv said:

Everyone knows motorcycles are dangerous. We can do without the horror story justifications of why you don't ride in this thread. You either feel the risk is worth it or you don't.

I hear you DDavidv. I rode motorcycles for ten years. Every stop had someone rolling up to admire the bike and talk to me about how rando was wiped out on a motorcycle. Most times the story ended with "but he was drunk.." or "..he thought helmets were for mere mortals.." You learn to ignore that when riding. That old saw about two types of riders, those who've been down and those who will go down, is wrong too. I never wrecked during my riding career. That time is over how ever. I retired after an accident in a Miata going to see my wife at the doctor while she was pregnant with our first son. One foot to the right and I wouldn't be here and my son would've never known me. That caused me to rethink motorcycles AND Miata's. 

I still have a sports car but it's a bit more crash resistant than an NA Miata. I sold the motorcycles as I didn't ride it for two years after the accident. That had happened to me once before when the safest rider I knew was wiped out by an SUV. I got back on the motorcycle after that but I didn't after the Miata wreck. The risk wasn't worth it anymore. I realized I wasn't alone in thinking this when I watched the documentary "Faster" narrated by Ewan McGregor. Kevin Schwantz was being interviewed, he was one of the best MotoGP riders in the early 90's, and he talked about how he felt riding after Wayne Rainey, his archrival crashed out. He echoed my thoughts in that he saw risk there that he'd either not noticed or ignored before. Sometimes there comes a point. 

I still miss it. I look at motorcycle classifieds periodically as the tech really appeals to me. There is a lot of sensation in riding a motorcycle and I had some great times doing it. I won't talk anyone out of it, except my own kids. Even then I can point to my own experience as an example of how you can enjoy the hobby and come out as you went in with the same number of bones you started with and all. 

It's a risky hobby and cars are safer. That said, you can own many more motorcycles than cars as they are less costly to own and maintain. There's also nothing like owning one, starting out like a toddler wobbling all over the place, then you reach that level of mastery where you do a pretty good job of harnessing 400lbs with 120+ horsepower.   

I love motorcycles.  My dad had one, I got one as soon as I could, a big-bore-kit-having 1994 ZX9R ex race bike converted back to street duty (lights+title+plates=street bike, right?)  Ran that a bit, couldnt afford it, got a Honda CB750, rode that for a summer (it sucked) got a ZX11, a TL1000, and a GSXR 1000 in rapid succession,  Sold them all but the GSXR.

Then I bought a C5 Corvette.  Suddenly, when I wanted to go somewhere and show off a bit or have some fun, I didn't have to spend 10 minutes changing clothes or  wheeling a bike out of the garage.  I could have a beer with dinner and not feel like an asshat.  I could carry some groceries, or go somewhere for the weekend, or take a friend or my girlfriend in safety and comfort.

Then I supercharged my C5 and did a whole bunch more, and now it could pull on pretty much anything but the literest of liter bikes on the freeway.  I rode my GSXR 130 miles that year, just to run out the gas before fall.  That was the end of my motorcycle riding, and the GSXR went down the road.  The Corvette was more fun, and more practical. Safety was not even a consideration.  

Sure, I miss bikes, I still have my jackets and other gear, and stands, so I havent given up the dream.  Maybe some day I will find a nice Hayabusa with hard bags and a nice exhaust that I will just have to have, or a turbo ZX14, or something else equally silly.  But for fun sunny days, cars provide more enjoyment and practicality with less struggle.