Lifestyle & Fitness: Dream Purchases

Why do you want to do this?

I have fond memories of riding motorcycles as a child. A Honda 80, 3-wheelers before they were banned, dirt bikes up and down the street, and specifically my uncle Bob's old Honda 250 street legal dirt bike. He let me ride on the tank and hold the front of the handle bars. In college I often rode a friends Yamaha FZR600 to and from class - with no helmet no less, and when my Brother bought a few 4-wheelers, I'd come home on the weekends and we'd spend an entire Saturday getting muddy on some land close to his house. I guess I've had a fascination with motorcycles all my life but never actually owned one! Now's the time.

What three things will you need to make this happen?

Learn to live for myself. As a 18 year relationship is coming to an end, I realize that out of respect for the other partner's wishes, I had put my dream of owning a motorcycle forever on hold. It's time to live for myself and explore those things that bring me joy.

Determine by budget and save money. I've settled on $6K as my cap for the motorcycle. After having done some research, I'm confident that I can find a used bike of my liking for that amount. I need to do a bit more research on all of the protective gear, local taxes and title costs, and insurance. Lastly, I need to figure out a comfortable amount of money to set aside each month until I reach my goal budget.

Find the perfect bike. Search local classifieds, craigslist, ebay, and other sites for listings that match my wants. Given that the summer is almost over, the next few months are a great opportunity to pick-up a used bike for a reasonable price.

What is the biggest barrier to your achieving this?

Justifying the purchase. This is simply not a must have vehicle. It won't be my primary method of transportation. My young daughters cannot ride with me. Most days the weather may not even be conducive to a ride. BUT the days I can ride - what a thrill! I deserve those moments, even when they are few and far between, to experience a heart pumping thrill that reminds us we are alive.