My Motorcycles

I commute to work on a 2007 Kawasaki Ninja 500.

 

My bike for winter commuting and longer rides is a 2008 Kawasaki Versys.

Both bikes get pretty good gas mileage: 47 to 53 mpg. Even in the era of $4 per gallon gasoline, I can fill the tank with less than $20 and ride almost 200 miles until I need to fill up again.

I enjoy riding because something about it settles my mind. You have to concentrate and leave everything else behind, so I suppose it is a kind of active meditation.

"Wow, you ride a sportbike! How fast does it go?!" That question always amuses me, because that is SO not my focus when I'm riding. My standard answer is typically: "Fast enough to be dangerous. Which can be fun sometimes, but I tend to be more interested in riding safely and arriving in one piece, y'know?" Motorcycling is not an inherently safe activity, and going fast on two wheels carries a fair amount of risk. But there are things I do to attempt to minimize the risks. I recommend that anyone who is considering riding a motorcycle do these things:

• Take a rider training course -- The Motorcycle Safety Foundation and most Harley-Davidson dealerships offer courses for both new riders and more experienced riders. The beginner course teaches you important safety concepts and if you pass it, you can get your motorcycle endorsement on your license without having to take the test at the DMV. You may also get a discount on your insurance.
• Wear safety gear -- I know many people who don't even wear a helmet when they ride. That's their choice, but I personally cannot bring myself to get on a bike without wearing All The Gear, All The Time (ATGATT). My gear includes: full-face helmet; textile jacket with armor at elbows and shoulders; textile overpants with armor at knee and hips; gloves and boots; and a high-visibility safety vest over the jacket. Yes, the gear is hot in the summertime, and yes, it can be expensive to buy all this stuff, but it's a helluva lot cheaper and definitely less painful than skin grafts or head injuries if you come off the bike.
• Never ever ride impaired -- Riding while drunk is stupid. Riding while tired can be just as bad. And don't get me started on cell phones.....
• Keep the bike well-maintained -- You learn about this in the safety courses. Do the T-CLOCS checklist every time you get to the bike -- this stands for Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis, and Sidestand. Making sure everything is in proper working order before you ride may help you avoid being stranded or crashing.
• Continuing Education -- this includes taking the followup Experienced Rider Course, reading books on motorcycle safety (the Proficient Motorcycling books by David L. Hough are good), and participating in online forums like the Beginner Bikers Forum. To misquote the old Honda ads: "You meet the nicest people on the BB forum."