FairyChatMom, (and others), your logic is correct. But allow me to endeavor to explain something.
Last night, after a crappy day and a crappier evening, I was riding home at twilight. The sky was that perfect transition of pastel to indigo. Venus was shining in the west. The road was smooth. Traffic was light. The bike was sounding just perfect. It was serendipitous.
Moments like that are rare in my life.
That’s why I’m willing to assume the extra risk of motorcycle riding.
Exactly. Driving a car is, by many standards, quite risky as well. Albeit, less so than a motorcycle, but still a considerable risk. Yet few people cease driving, despite the inherent danger every time they sit down behind the wheel.
The case is very similar (though admittedly riskier) with motorcyclists. The difference is that riding a bike is an infinite amount more fun and exciting than just about any other earthly activity. It’s an assumed risk, with a huge daily payoff. I’d rather enjoy my life than live a long, but dull one.
Awfully glad to hear that, SN. Glad you’re OK - and when I told Kathy about it, her first response was:
“Well, if Shayna’s smart she won’t let him get back on that thing!”
See what I go through? I find a bike exactly like the one I used to ride - the thing only has 17,000 miles on it, they only want $900, and Kathy says no! Dang it, I loved my old Kowie and was so excited to find another one just like it.
Glad to hear you’re ok. You two take care down there.
Just get it and present her with a fait accompli. 
I don’t understand those fancy words. Does that mean a present that cost more than $900?
Assuming I’m not being whooshed…
fait accompli = done deal (learn some french, you pig dog! 
)
Of course, I have a loving wife who was very supportive of my getting a new ride with my new job, although she does think my Bandit 650 is a tad too sporty-looking.
And then one day when I was talking about my jacket, she said “Well of course, if you get hit, you buy a new jacket and helmet. Duh.”
…
Oh, I am, I am. Still surprised at the lack of bruises and whatnot. Had the bike towed to the workshop for an estimate - I might just have risked riding it on quiet country roads, but not through the maelstrom that is LA traffic.
Rico, thanks for the good wishes. I am not getting in the middle of a motorcycle-or-not dispute, though - I may brave 60 miles per day of LA freeway riding, but some activities are still too risky for me. (Just kidding! Say hi to Kathy - hope the two of you are doing great.)
The shop has the bike, they expect the estimate to be in Wednesday. Hopefully the other guy’s insurance are good to work with, I’d rather not write off the bike. I dunno what the Blue Book value is of a bike like mine, but plastic adds up…
I’m glad to hear you’re up and around, Spiny Norman.
In other motorcycle news, I found a new way to drop mine last night. It was time for new tires. I’ve done this once before, and while it was a bit troublesome, it was doable. The last time, I put the bike up on the center stand, removed the back wheel (after removing the exhaust), installed the new rear tire, and re-installed. Then when I took the front wheel off, the weight transfer allowed it to tip back onto the rear tire and I was able to continue working on the front.
This time, when I removed the front wheel and slid it out from under the fender, the front end went crashing to the floor. I was sitting on a small stool in front of the bike with my legs in front of me. The crash bar landed on my foot just behind the toes. Fortunately, the crash bar kept it from tipping to one side, even after I jerked my foot out from under it. I had on boots, so the only result is some slightly blue toes.
I was baffled as to why this happened, then I remember I had filled it up with gas Friday night. I guess the extra 20 lbs or so was enought to tip the balance. I got the tires on, changed the oil, cleaned it up, and she’s ready for the ride to work in the morning.
I’m buying me a bike jack before I do this again. Also, I’m going to investigate the possibility of disconnecting the rear shocks and dropping the rear suspension to allow the rear axle bolt to clear the exhaust pipe rather than removing the pipes because it took me most of this morning to get the pipes lined back up and bolted on.
Hey there is no such thing as a pointless motorcycle story.
Amusing is trying to change tires without a center stand. I use a few straps, a come-along and have eye hooks in the rafters of my garage. Thank Og the Tiger has high pipes and don’t have to come off. Years ago I I helped a friend of mine put new bits on his bike after he got knocked over. The bike slid and the curb crushed the exhaust. It was a late '80’s Yamaha 600. There was a miniscule amount of room to put the nuts on the manifold between the middle pipes. I couldn’t get a socket in there and wound up cutting an open ended wrench in half because it was too long to make the swing. A 1/16 of a turn flip the wrench, a 1/16 of a turn, flip the wrench. What a pain in the ass.
And boo hiss to Lincoln Town cars. That’s what the little old blue haired lady was driving that decided to turn in front of me into a garage sale RIGHT NOW. One minute she’s in the other lane towards me when she swerved. I never had a chance.