M
Today is short post title day here at Perfidy, apparently. The M stands for Motorcycle Endorsement, the which I have added to my Driver's License. I sold my motorcycle back in '98, and hadn't ridden since - but increasing gas prices, and the increasing size of my vehicles, has led me to the point where I can justify returning to the world of motorcycles on a purely economic basis. I work from home most days, but on the days that I do head in to the office, my commute is murderous - 70 miles each way, and half of that through some of the worst traffic our nation has to offer. It now costs over $120 to fill up the Suburban, and $70 for the X-Terra. Filling up the tank on a bike will cost less than $20. Right now, it costs me about $200 in gas to get to work in a month. Switching to a bike will reduce that to about $30. That's a not-insignificant savings. And if gas prices continue to rise, the savings will only get better! And, as an added bonus, I'll be able to use the communist HOV lanes, and cut my commute time by about an hour. So, that's how I sold it to the wife. I'm looking at getting something along this line:
But I wouldn't be unhappy if Santa gave me one of these:
Or these:
on
| § 5
§ 5 Comments
[ You're too late, comments are closed ]
Perf,
NOT that I want to Nanny-state, but I'm with Patri Friedman on this. You're mortality chances on a Motorcycle are through the roof. I rode from '93-'98 , but looking back, even given how much fun they are...I'd look at the mortality statistics, and at least consider them seriously. Just being friendly.
I've considered that, and my…
I've considered that, and my wife is certainly worried about that as well.
I rode for about the same period, at the same time - unscathed, happily, and while past performance doesn't predict the future, I'm reasonably sanguine about the whole thing. My commute will be about once a week, in good weather, in daylight. It will be 98% highway driving.
Most motorcycle accidents are caused by someone turning in to you or pulling out in front of you on surface streets. I'll be avoiding most of that almost entirely. Not that I'll be without risk, but less than perhaps otherwise.
And you're not being nanny-statish. In fact, you can't, because you can't tell me not to get a bike and ride it. That doesn't rule out you being a nanny, a ninny, a nincompoop, or a party-pooper, though. :)
Good on ya.
Been riding since '75. Yes, motorcycles are about as unforgiving a mode of transportation as anything out there except falling out of airplanes. The cost of mistakes is, well, high.
But I don't care; the joy and sheer exhilaration I get from riding a motorcycle just cannot be described to those who haven't ridden.
So: Make as few mistakes as you can, and don't let other people's mistakes ruin your day. Eyes wide open.
If you haven't done it already, please take the MSF rider safety course. And do assume you are invisible to the cage drivers.
Cheers!
It turns out that the…
It turns out that the easiest way to get a motorcycle endorsement in VA is to go through a driver safety course. Nothing I didn't know, but still a good refresher.
@Buckethead - It's all good. Post some pix when you get your new toy!