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I got back into motor biking in 1999 at the tender
age of 59. Whilst thinking about how to spend a well
earned (IMHO) early retirement after too many years
of 60+ hour weeks and 3 A.M., calls I came to
the realization that I had three activities that I
has always wanted to pursue, but had not the time
for. These were: 1) getting a pilots license
and flitting, much like Tinkerbelle, up and down,
around and about through the air; 2) learning to
scuba dive and like Willie, flitting up and down,
around and about through various bodies of di-hydrogen
oxide and, 3) returning to the art of the
motorcycle. An art that had laid dormant for almost
40 years when the choice was between keeping a
motorcycle and college tuition. The bike lost.
Choices, choice, choices - but it tis nice to have
choices.
Lets see.
Get a pilots license,
rent a plane, fly to exotic places, pay airport
fees, rent a car, pay lodging and meals. Hmmm, to do
that as much as retirement time allows I would soon
go bankrupt and have to return to work -- and "work"
tis not the purpose of "retirement". On a more
mundane/affordable level could stay at home
and fly around in circles. Not an exciting
retirement. Addendum: But in can be a blast,
intermittently
Air Combat
;-)
Learn to scuba
and swim with the whales. Scuba/swim in Wisconsin?
Under the ice? Dodging the packs of frozen fishes?
Well could traipse to the south seas for diving - -
BUT - - same problem as flying. Have to, in addition
to paying for scuba stuff have to pay for
transportation, lodging, etc,. and so would have to
return to work -- icky poo!!
Both flying and diving are also intermittent
activities, at least within my affordability, and I
was looking for a more active retirement.
Well what about
motor bicycle riding?
Can get a good bike at a reasonable cost. It goes
places so do not have to pay others to transport me.
I have a long history of camping and (somehow)
eating my own food so the cost of meals/ lodging tis
markedly reduced and the bike sits 20 feet away, in
the garage, ready for use at a moments notice
whenever the fancy strikes.
Seemed to be a no-brainer!!!
OK, now I don't want to retire and immediately kill
myself (as a friend did, one week before his
retirement party), so how do I get back into
motorbiking?
The internet, to research what would be a
reliable, easily maintained, good handling bike for
one such as myself. Not a new one but a good one
with a solid reputation/history. Visit sites, talk
to people, review ratings, repair records,
strengths/weaknesses and more.
Rider
training, while researching bikes enroll in a
Motorcycle Safety Foundation Beginners Class. This
was done as a result of my severe allergy,
visual difficulties and devout beliefs. That is, I
have a chronic and severe allergy to pain, I dislike
the sight of my own blood and I a devout and
practicing coward.
As a past governor of a neighboring state once said,
"I don't have time to heal" and would rather
enjoy a long and comfortable retirement.
Took course and began shopping. Research had
suggested one of two bikes, a Honda Shadow or a
Yamaha Virago. By luck of the draw the first that
became available was a Virago, I liked it, it was
comfortable, had an excellent history and, equally
important was that SWMBO, liked the color,
Teal Green
with Sparklies.
A long story, dear reader, if you are still awake,
to learn that in this section will be presented the
cast of characters, the bikes and rigs which have
contributed to a happy retirement.
To date (April of 07) the list, in order of
acquisition, tis short. but this is in process of
being corrected.
1995 Yamaha Virago 750
1983 Yamaha
Virago 920/California Friendship 1
1995 Yamaha Virago 1100/ 2005 Motorvation Formula 1
Actually, as of last week the 750 has taken up
residence in Rochester, MN after I pt about
24k on it and as of today the 83 rig moved to
Chaska, MN after putting 31k on the clock. (Written
Spring of 07) The 1100
rig tis in the garage with it having carried me 36k
+.
It tis currently quite lonely.
This is a condition which will be rectified as soon
as a decision is made as to what tub/tug needs to be
tried out next.
NEW NEWS!!!!!
(NOT GNU
NEWS)
THE DECISION HAS
BEEN MADE
THE LONG
DISTANCE RIG TIS NO LONGER LONELY AS A REVIEW OF THE
MYAL URAL LINK BELOW WILL SHOW.
General pictures of these and future bikes can be found
elsewhere as "ADVENTURES"
are recounted and as friend Jerry says "ADVENTURES"
are important. Here is modifications specific to a
bike or rig as well as a hodgepodge of bike past "STUFF"
because as friend Jerry also says, "STUFF"
is important. |