The Widthdrawl

By: Jeanette Tran

So my total count of motorcycles has gone from four to one. I still cannot believe that I have gone from owning three motorcycles and a dirt bike all at once, to now having just the dirt bike. For one reason or another I ended up selling all of my road bikes, and now I am craving to ride once again. I have known a few friends who had to sell their bikes due to whatever reason, but they all said that they would eventually get back another bike sometime soon. Unfortunately for some, after many months and some even years, they still have not made the move to purchase a bike again. I just hope that I will not fall victim to the same fate as them and never be able to purchase my next bike ever again.

Not a day goes by without browsing Craigslist and local forums looking at the different bikes available for sale. I have been thinking about saving up a little extra money and going for my dream bike, an older model Dark 620 Ducati Monster (fuel injected of course), but I have not been able to find the right one. Part of me would like to hold out and just wait for that one perfect Monster to just show up for me to buy, but another part of me is watching the long summer days slowly fade away. Each day the sun is starting to set a little earlier. It pains me to see another riding season has come and gone so quickly. What makes it even worse is that I feel as if the majority of my summer was not spent riding. I guess I am not so scared of the summer fading away because I know I will still be riding my bike regardless of how cold it gets outside, but it is still the idea of the prime riding season that is slipping right between my fingers that makes me sad.

So now I have to make a decision on whether or not I want to hold out for that Ducati, or just to buy the first great deal of a motorcycle I find. Despite the fact that my family is ecstatic that I no longer have a street bike, and still well aware of the dangers associated with riding, I cannot see myself not riding or having a bike again in the near future. I guess at this point I do not see how it is possible for some people to go so long without riding. I might even say that I sympathize for the people who wish to continue riding but no longer have the option to or the opportunity. A lot of people just see the bad things associated with motorcycle riding, as to how dangerous it is/could be, and how easily it is for people to get hurt. But what about all of the great things that motorcycling offers? The people, the community, the great gas mileage, ability to be creative in our parking…who could say no to all of this?

To me, being able to ride has become so much a part of me that I honestly cannot imagine being without it. So these past few weeks being bike-less has been driving me insane. As much as I would like to hold out for that dream bike of mine, I think a part of me will not be able to hold out that much longer because I am itching for a motorcycle ride again. We will just have to see where the next few weeks (and Craiglists ads) will lead me.

Published: Aug 21, 2009

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