07-07-2019, 03:51 AM
Nortoon, you might be the perfect candidate for an Aerostich riding suit. All-weather protection, easy on=easy off. Might extend your riding season greatly. I envy a buddy of mine with the latest Olympia Air Glide gear. Waterproof, with big zip-open panels for fresh air.
With the longer daylight hours, especially further north, riding might be an activity that's restricted to morning and evening hours. If don't know about where you are, but even here in Kentucky we have daylight from about 6:30 am to 9:00 pm.
On the subject of car vs. bike economy, if it came down to economics alone and only one vehicle could be owned, I'd drive a car. I don't think a bike is really versatile enough to be sole transportation, especially in regions with actual winters. So I agree with ferret that motorcycle riding is more "want" than financial necessity. Now, an interesting situation would be if you had a cheap car as your second vehicle to a motorcycle as primary vehicle. The car would not have to be the newest or the most perfectly reliable. Heck, I have a spare car. It's a 2004 PT Cruiser with 175,000 miles that was my daughter's high school and college car. It's worth nothing, costs nothing to insure, and state property tax is negligible. I made it safe and reliable by installing new belts, motor/trans mounts, hoses, radiator, battery, brakes, tires, FWD half-shafts/CV joints, front struts, front roll bar bushings/links, rear springs/shocks, and front/read light assemblies. I made it livable with a new stereo and new hatch lift struts. Cosmetically it's in great shape. Hilariously my wife and I like going out in it with the sunroof open just for fun. I got the car back from my daughter for "free" and spent maybe $1500 plus my labor updating it. Drives like when it was new.
With the longer daylight hours, especially further north, riding might be an activity that's restricted to morning and evening hours. If don't know about where you are, but even here in Kentucky we have daylight from about 6:30 am to 9:00 pm.
On the subject of car vs. bike economy, if it came down to economics alone and only one vehicle could be owned, I'd drive a car. I don't think a bike is really versatile enough to be sole transportation, especially in regions with actual winters. So I agree with ferret that motorcycle riding is more "want" than financial necessity. Now, an interesting situation would be if you had a cheap car as your second vehicle to a motorcycle as primary vehicle. The car would not have to be the newest or the most perfectly reliable. Heck, I have a spare car. It's a 2004 PT Cruiser with 175,000 miles that was my daughter's high school and college car. It's worth nothing, costs nothing to insure, and state property tax is negligible. I made it safe and reliable by installing new belts, motor/trans mounts, hoses, radiator, battery, brakes, tires, FWD half-shafts/CV joints, front struts, front roll bar bushings/links, rear springs/shocks, and front/read light assemblies. I made it livable with a new stereo and new hatch lift struts. Cosmetically it's in great shape. Hilariously my wife and I like going out in it with the sunroof open just for fun. I got the car back from my daughter for "free" and spent maybe $1500 plus my labor updating it. Drives like when it was new.
(07-07-2019, 03:40 AM)Ben70_imp Wrote: Google "motorcycle riders as organ donors" and among many others, you will find a NYT article stating that riders provide the best source of high quality parts, as the relatively otherwise healthy young men which comprise the largest part of the demographic often suffer brain trauma leaving most everything else relatively unscathed.
Also, there is an uptick of available parts in areas not requiring helmets.
Heck, they should be giving away machines to riders that have donor cards, and make helmets optional if they are really concerned about the greater good!
Ben