Bike show!
Talk about great timing. My decision to get a bike was shortly followed by the large Toronto Motorcycle shows in December and January. I missed the December show, however made it to the January show with my friend Mike. For the first time I actually got to sit around on a few bikes and got a bite of reality just how big and heavy those things really are.
Trying a Duke on for size
It was suggested to me that I should get a Ninja 250. I was hoping I would get a chance to sit on one at the show but never found one.. I did try to sit on a bunch of bikes (just about any I could). The ones on which I could touch the ground for the most part I had to tippy toe on, I think ONE bike I could actually flat foot on one side (which didn’t inspire much confidence). Pretty much all of them felt very akward and I didn’t feel comofortable without someone standing by ready to catch the bike in case it fell over! I found it surprisingly difficult to push the bike off it’s stand to stand upright. A couple of the bikes I could get to stand up at all.
On the way out I was feeling disappointed to say the least. How am I supposed to ride a bike I can barely touch the ground on not to mention I might not be able to get to stand up in the first place. As we were exiting the show and walking past the line up of private bikes for sale, I thought I would try a couple more. I did end up sitting on a bike I actually felt completely comfortable on! I could reach the ground, I even felt comfortable to “toss” it side to side while on it. That sure put a smile on my face and gave me hope that maybe this isn’t hopeless after all. The bike was a ’98 CBR600. I’m going to take a look at those too when searching for my first bike. My friend Mike did point out however that this bike probably had old sagging suspension, hence I could touch ground on it. He also pointed out that a 600cc bike might not be a good idea for a first bike and that I could always end up having a bike lowered if fit is an issue.
Happily sitting on the CBR
Ideally, I’m hoping I can find a cheap bike (hoping to spend in the 2k range, plus some more $ on the gear) I feel good on. I think I should give this a try and see if motorcycling is for me. If I can handle a bike and all is good, then down the road I can spend more money on upgrading to something nicer. If not, then at least it’s not a big loss.
Have fear! Blackie’s here!
I have always loved bikes and drooled over them when ever I saw them. I rode horses when I was younger, loved going fast, bikes seem like a natural progression… less the slowing down because the horse is taking a dump.
I have finally decided this will be the year for me to dive in and get one. Restructuring my life a little and hopefully if all goes according to plan I’ll be getting my first bike in the spring (maybe summer? ). I’ve never even been on a bike in my life, so this is all very new to me.
In the summer of 2004, when I had my 350z, a friend convinced me to come out to a lapping day with my car. Actually it didn’t take much convincing, I have always loved to drive and especially drive fast. Getting to do that at an actual track sounded like it would be fun (I didn’t even know at that time this was possible). All it took was that couple hours at the track and I was so hooked. Signed up for my first advanced driving school the next month and one more lapping day before the season ended.
First school of next season I no longer had the Z so I brought my CRV 
Hey, it had 4 wheels and was mechanically sound, so why the heck not. I ended up lapping an STI on the DDT Next I did a couple schools and lapping events in an S2000 although that’s also gone now. (I go through cars like shoes! 
and not necessarily by choice)
I have driven all Shannonville configurations, Mosport big track and DDT, and Beavrun. I hope to visit those places on my bike one day.
Oh yeah… and I’m only 5′ and 100lbs wet. I understand that will pose some issues in this endevour.
Beyond learning to ride a bike and staying alive, I hope to make some good new friends along the way and hang with people with the same appreciation for going fast.