Another Noob (Chicago)
Greetings and salutations from balmy Chicago. October 8th and 84 degrees today, which brings me to my story:
My name is BJ. Live with my wife in Chicago's Loop. Been in the Chicago area 18 years. I'll likely be one of the resident old farts on the boards at the tender age of 55.
So.....been riding and racing since I was 12 years old. Literally scores of bikes in the past 40 years. From Aprilia to Zundapp (not really on the Zundapp part, but hey...I need a "Z". And that really DOES show my age.)
My Yamaha history has been a beater 125 Enduro that I modded into my first motocrosser at age 13. Moved up to an MX250 then went to Honda for a number of years after being stricken with Elsinore fever. Back to Yamaha...a 700 Fazer, a V-Max and a FZ1.
Was piloting a 100th Anniversary Fatboy when I got remarried. She hated the idea of sitting on that little pillion, so I called a buddy at a Honda shop and traded for a 2005 Wing. 6 years and only 7000 miles later I decided to get rid of the Wing and just cash out for a while.
So, with the best of intentions this morning, I rode to Lake Villa, IL to a dealer that wanted to buy the Wing. Not a cloud in the sky, 70 degrees at 9am and fall colors as far as the eye could see. They had a check ready for me and were going to give me a ride to the local train station for my ride home.
I walked in, scoured the showroom, asked a couple of quick questions about the Suzuki 400 Motard only to find out they no longer make it. Looked at a 5couple of dual sports, the Honda and a Suzuki 650. Being a little short of inseam, they didn't quite fit me where they'd be comfortable around town.
In the Yamaha lineup, I noticed the latest incarnation of the FZ1 (ugh). Then the 800. Finally the little FZ6. I straddled it, liked the feel and told him I wanted to ride it.
20 minutes later, I ride off on a new 2011 Raven, leaving 1200cc's and 400 pounds in the rear view mirror. Oh, and a nice check in my pocket. Less than half of what it WAS going to be, but the stunning fall day cost me about 7,000 bucks today! Go figure.
I put 150 miles on it today, smiled at 50+ mpg and flicking it around corners after scrubbing off the tires a bit.
It won't see much use between now and spring, but I no longer feel like I need to plan a trip to use my motorcycle.
It'll share winter garage space with a Mustang that only sees track days.
I hope to read, learn, share and contribute. Glad to join you!
BJ
. I have been riding for about 2 months and put 1900 miles on my 2011 FZ6R. Thanks to the MSF course, reading Total Control, various magazine articles on techniques and many of the helpful posts on this board it has been an awesome experience finally breaking into the motorcycle world. The FZ6R has been a great learning bike (low seat hight, predictable throttle/clutch, forgiving breaks) and I have no regrets starting out on this 600cc bike. In any case safe travels everyone.
:Sport:
