For me it happened almost by accident. I had just moved to downtown Seattle where my new place only came with one parking space. A 2nd space would cost $200 a month and given that I live and work downtown, we did not really need 2 cars. So after becoming a one car family I quickly discovered that I still needed transportation of my own from time to time. Looking out my window at a line of scooters parked on the street I decided one of them would be perfect (it could fit in front of the wife’s car in our parking space). Once I learned that I needed a motorcycle license anyway then my sights moved onto bikes and the new Ninja 250 became my favorite.
Before doing anything though I was going to take the MSF class. I have older brothers who ride and one of them had head on crash a few years back. Visiting him in the hospital was a sobering experience. He was very very fortunate though in that the only injury he suffered was to his leg, this despite ending up underneath a van.
Sorry for the graphic image but this was what was in my head when I was considering riding. I forced myself to read every crash story I could. If I was going to go ahead with this then I was going to do it with my eyes open. While waiting for my class I bought and read Proficient Motorcycling. I bought myself a white helmet and a bright yellow jacket. I was going to do everything I could to minimize the risks. Looking cool was way down my list of priorities.
After taking and passing the class I set about looking for a bike. Unfortunately the new Ninja was impossible to come by last summer. At that time I noticed this odd 3 wheel scooter sitting at the dealership across the street and everything I read about it gave it rave reviews. I guess I had read one too many threads about someone going down on gravel. The extra wheel on this scooter gives you 50% more grip and was good insurance against exactly that type of problem (if one wheel hits gravel, the other might still be ok). More importantly it was available. So, I took looking cool to a new low as I rode around town with my day-glow jacket, white helmet and 3 wheel scooter
But, I have stayed safe, not dropped and have learned how to ride in the process.
Some day soon I will move to the top of the cool ladder when I get myself a BMW dual sport. From that lofty position I can look down my nose at the lessor mortals around me and know that I have arrived