My Bike

I always wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle, but it took me 44 years before I actually did. In May I finally decided to stop dreaming about riding and learn how. I took the Honda Riders Safety Course in Alpharetta Georgia. It's a three day intensive training program that teaches new motorcycle riders how to operate a bike and ride it safely. I knew the minute I sat on the little 250 cc Night Hawk trainer that I would love to ride. My only regret is that I put off taking the course for so long.

After completing the course I had a huge problem. I had a new motorcycle license and a passion for riding, but I had no motorcycle. To make matters worse, I had never ridden a bike larger than 250 cc and I had no friends with motorcycles. These are not insignificant things when you are trying to decide on what kind of bike to buy.

At first, I was dead set on getting a Harley. I had been watching the guys at my gym pull up on their Springers, Softtails, and Fatboys for years. I really liked the way the bikes looked and sounded. The whole Harley mystique resonated with me. Heck, I even got a tattoo. I had the Harley bug bad.

After I got my license I rushed right out to the Harley dealer, and that's when it really hit me. I had never ridden a bike that was larger than 250 cc. I quickly realized that in addition to being cool, all the Harleys I wanted were expensive and big. The only Harleys I was not nervous about sitting on were the ones they showed the women. I could not buy a girl sized Harley and still be cool. I knew I would get over the initial intimidation factor, but Harleys are not cheap, and I was pretty sure I would drop whatever bike I bought at least once in the first 6 months. I needed a reasonably priced bike I could learn on, and that I would not be ashamed of riding two weeks after I left the showroom.

One Saturday morning near the end of May I walked into the Triumph dealer in Cumming Georgia. I explained my issues to the salesman and he walked me around all the different Triumph models. He was not going to let me test ride anything with my limited experience and lack of confidence, but he had me sit on everything. I sat on Rockets, Tigers, Daytonas, Speed Triples, Speedmasters, and finally Bonnevilles.

The Bonneville is Triumph's street entry model. It has an 850 cc engine so it's not exactly dainty, but it's not a big bike. It has a very retro look about it. The 2006/2007 Bonneville looks just like the 1968 Bonneville. When it comes to vehicle styling, I am very much old school. I bought a 2006 Mustang GT because it looks so much like the Mustangs of the 60s. One of the Bonnevilles the salesman showed me was a basic black model they call the Black Bonnie. They call it that because it is all black with a minimal amount of chrome. I like Black. This Bonnie was a demo bike that already had 500 miles on it, and it was trimmed with some accessories like a wind screen and engine guards. I figured I need those.

I sat on it, and I was instantly comfortable. It had mid controls and the same handlebar rake as the Night Hawk I just finish training on. It was not a small Harley wannabe like the HondaYamaSuzukawaskis bikes. It had it's own distinctive, old school, look about it. It was cheap, and I knew I could easily ride it. I bought it.

The salesman was more nervous about my first ride than I was. I have that uncoordinated look about me. He counseled me to ride around the parking lot a few times and then go to some deserted area and get the feel of the bike. I put 150 miles on it the first day. I've put over 5000 miles on it since May, and now I intend on riding it for 2000 miles over the course of one week.

I included a picture of my bike and me. I just put a back rest on it. I need that to support a large travel bag I've bought for the trip. The back rest cost me 400 dollars installed, and I still have buyers remorse over that. I'm not sure what they make Triumph back rests out of, but I suspect there's some precious metals involved.