One thing you should understand is how dangerous riding a motorcycle is. Here are the latest statistics that break it out on a passenger mile basis for automobiles.
If you subtract out the pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists, then the numbers for the people inside the cars and trucks is under 1 per 100 million miles.
I remember reading one stat a long time ago: the absolute most dangerous driving situation, ever, is to be riding a motorcycle after 2am on a Thursday night (or was it Friday/Saturday?)
Frankly, if I had any dependents, I wouldn’t even consider riding a motorcycle. Dying can be handled by life insurance, but what if you are permanently disabled?
I’ve just remembered that there’s a place that rents scooters at the beach. Maybe I should rent one just to try it out. I was hoping to get the R1 out anyway.
In the interest of safety, I’ll try to avoid slipping on the steamers.
I have a 50cc mumble something Japanese brand that probably doesn’t exist in the US and I don’t know what it is anyway mumble vespa type thing that I enjoy driving quite a bit. I weigh about 180, and it goes just over 30mph with me on it. It’d be a longer ride to work, but if getting in on time right to the minute isn’t crucial to your job, I’d say it’s totally viable.
Note however, that it sucks on gravel and snow, and I’m pretty cautious about it in rain.
I know a lot of people who swear by the Honda models; a lady I know uses her 150cc model for rides as long as 35-40 miles. But don’t rule out a small motorcycle such as the 250cc Virago by Yamaha. The one I have gets like 80mpg and parks easier at the house (sometimes in the front hallway) than a scooter does (I’ve owned Vespas and Lambrettas). Plus the larger tires make the handling a little less funky.
I second everything robardin says and also suggest taking the MSF “basic riders course”. Depending on your state it could be free and could result in you getting your license at the end.
Well, I looked at the rental scooters. Some sort of 50cc Chinese model said to be capable of 42 mph. I would have rented one just to try it out, but they were $35/hour (wet) so I passed.
Man, I hate riding my R1 along the beach. The speed limit is a strictly-enforced 25 mph, and I think the Canadians think 25 kph is the same as 25 mph. Or something. For a stretch I was doing 9 mph.
