I only rode occasionally as a kid....blasting about on anything anyone would let me ride, anytime they would let me ride it. Most of my experience was riding a friends Yamaha 175 Enduro out on Forest Service roads in eastern Washington. While I knew how to operate the controls....I really did not know how to ride, and I didn't really start riding until 1992 when I was 35 years old....and in some sense....a bit better prepared mentally.
In 1985 I came very close....I almost bought my brothers Honda V-45 Sabre, which he was selling because of a problem with his wrist. Something to do with throttle control, and the local law enforcement. Looking back now....it was probably a good thing that I decided to rebuild the engine in my truck instead. At the age of 28, with recollections of triple digit speeds while riding pillion on a friends Kawasaki Z-1 in high school, and influences like repeated viewings of "Mad Max" and "The Road Warrior"....I'd probably have been in almost as much trouble as my younger brother....or more than likely, just not around any longer at all.
I finally decided to buy a motorcycle in 1992 shortly after learning my facility would be moving to a new and more distant location. This meant that my foot/ferry/bus/foot commuter routine would no longer be so convieniant. After talking with my brothers (who both ride), and getting some good advice from several fellow commuters who ride onto the ferry every day, I decided to buy a bike to commute with.
I figured I'd not only look for something practical to commute on....but a bike that would be fun on the weekends too. I picked up several cycle mags and sat down to see what was out there....I really only needed that first magazine. After flipping it open to an advertisment, I turned just one page....and that was all she wrote....I fell in lust with the "92" Honda VFR750F the moment I saw it! And proceeded to ignore the two best pieces of advice I'd been given....like taking a MSF beginning rider class, and getting a starter bike to learn on. In October of "92" I bought my first bike (and only bike), a brand new 1992 VFR.
As previously stated....I knew how to operate a motorcycle but, I did not really know how to ride. Needless to say I had serious doubts about the intelligence of my decision during that first ride from the dealership to my house. WOW!! It was not like anything I'd ever ridden before....not by a longshot. Instead of riding away with an almost permanent grin on my face....it was more like a grimace of fear....I distinctly remember thinking to my self...."this may have been a mistake". I also thought I should get a license plate frame that read "Scared Shitless", as opposed to the standard squid option "No Fear" decals. When you consider that I hadn't ridden any bike at all since about 1978, the last ride being on a little 175cc enduro. And, that the very first time I even sat the VFR was not until after I'd already signed the papers....handed over the check, and was waiting for the shop to finish preping my brand new toy....er, I mean commuting tool. I really was lucky all the way around!
I was also fortunate in that a coworker at the time (David Hough), a veteran rider and staff member of Motorcycle Consumer News was also a motorcycle safety instructor. Dave took me aside on several occasions those first few months, he taught me some basics and gave me some important pointers which have undoubtably saved my ass on more than one occasion....Thanks Dave!
Having survived those first couple years....the VFR has really turned out to be the perfect choice for me. I love the sleek sexy look, that wonderful V-4 sound, the awesome response when rolling on the throttle, as well as the reputation it has developed over the years of being one the very best 750cc motorcycles on the road. Physically it fits my 5'-8" frame very well....and will undoubtably be capable of doing more than I want it to for quite some time. Seven years and 85,000 miles later, I'm very happy to say....the money I spent on my VFR was without a doubt, the best money I ever spent on anything....period.
I commute year round on the VFR....while many friends and co-workers question the sanity of it, I actually enjoy playing submarine on Intersate-5 during our usual November monsoons. I average over 11,000 miles annually but up until now, have not added much in the way of touring mileage...something I plan on changing soon.
I subscribe to the VFR mailing list and have enjoyed reading and participating in various (serious and not so serious) discussions and banter on everything from maintaining ones bike with WD-40 and lemon Pledge....the merits of Aerostich Roadcrafter riding suits and Held gloves or choosing between left or right exit exhaust systems....to encountering alligators at speed.
Early in 1999 I started keeping a list of the local VFR-listers and became the unofficial social coordinator and keeper of the "Puget Sound area VFR-list". I held the first annual Puget Sound area VFR-list barbecue at my house in May of "99", and continue to help organize occasional gatherings and coordinate group rides. In October of "99" we started our own local mailing list hosted By Onelist.com "Puget Sound area VFR-list
In mid June after putting almost 80,000 miles on the bike I finally took the MSF beginning rider class. I still learned a bit....but, most importantly....the class brought my riding skills and confidence to a level I had not previously reached. The timing was perfect as after six and a half years of mostly solo riding I was starting to ride with some of the local VFR-list group members.
The summer of "99" was not the greatest as far as the weather was concerned here in the Puget Sound area....but it was my best summer of riding to date. Hooking up with the local listers has been great fun and excellent riding. With a couple rides here on the Olympic Peninsula, then to Mount Rainier, Mount Saint Helens and Mount Baker....as well a couple shorter trips with Tom, my Suzuki (gasp) Marauder riding friend....it was a great summer.