The age old question that we must ask ourselves thousands of times in our lifetime. Where do I want to go from here?
I am at one of those many points in life where you have to stand back for a minute and think about it. I have a decent stable job, am engaged to be married and my fiancée and I just bought our first house last month. What more could you possible ask for? Well my life is not complete without a dash of speed added on top just like a cherry on the top of a sundae or in my case some Reese’s peanut butter cups since I am not one to enjoy cherries.
This speed has come from my autocross addiction for the past 10 years with the past 2 being taken up by the shifter kart. For various reasons I have become a bit tired of the nature of autocross even though I love the people and the atmosphere. I am giving the Solo Nationals one last go this September in the kart in an attempt to bring home the championship and the claim as the fastest kart driver in the country. After that week in Nebraska is over my life as far as racing is concerned is completely blank.
Racing is a drug and the crack that is speed can be such an addiction that it makes a Heroin addiction seem like the want for something salty. I have seen more than one person give up everything they own and go deeply into debt while chasing their desire for racing and speed. It is this habit that defines who I am as I am a gearhead above all else. So this void that will be left in my life should I choose to leave autocross mostly behind will need to be filled. This is where my irrational desire comes to the front.
For as long as I can remember I have wanted a motorcycle. As a kid I wanted a dirt bike to tear up the fields and woods on and as I have aged that desire has turned to something a bit more frenetic. In this case a super sport. The super sport motorcycle is not built for comfort but sheer speed which is perfect because I have a car for comfort and protection from the elements. Racing the kart has shown me one thing that mechanical simplicity and being one with the machine is an amazing feeling. It is a raw feeling that a car doesn’t and will never be able to duplicate because you are ensconced in a cocoon of metal when in a car whereas in a kart or on a motorcycle you are much more closely connected with the tires and the engine. This close connection gives you a more visceral experience when in motion when compared to anything else.
Now that I have decided where I want to move forward to emotionally I need to weigh the risks of a bike where you are obviously more likely to be injured. Heck I may be injured before rolling out of my own driveway as my mother has threatened to break my legs if I get a motorcycle because she thinks they are suicidal. I guess this is where the old saying “What momma don’t know, don’t hurt her” comes into play since I live 35 minutes away and have my own garage now.
I guess the only question left is which one should I get?
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