Step 2: Get a Bike

Ashley's 2003 Daytona 955i.

In this area I had a lot of help. My dear husband is a motorcycle fanatic. At the time I bought my bike, he had three, but he wanted to reduce it to two. Which meant he had to sell two of his three and buy a new one. Amazing how that works.

Anyway, this blog is about me. I had learned from riding the GZ250 that I did not want a single cylinder. I went to Indy Triumph and had a look around. Ashley was convinced I needed the Street Triple. I sat on a few. They felt so tall! I wasn't worried about being able to handle the 100+ horse power. I just wanted to feel stable when I came to a stop. Indy Triumph didn't have much in stock, and that was ok. I decided to keep researching and thinking. That's how I shop for a pair of jeans, so why would I want to rush my bike?

I went to Louisville for business and stopped by Commonwealth Motorcycles to talk with Ed. He took me through his entire shop. Made me sit on Ducatis, KTMs, dual purpose bikes, you name it. He even took me out into the garage and showed me an old Ducati he was fixing up that he said was the bike I should get. While an Italian seems like a good idea on the surface--he would be very exciting and attractive--I'm not sure I'd be able to rely on him for the long haul. Just doesn't feel like me.

It was love at first sight. Again.

While out in Ed's garage I spotted him. (This is the picture I actually took and sent to Ashley). "I think this is the one," I told him. Once I've made up my mind, I generally act pretty quickly. We called Ed and told him to draw up the paperwork. I'm taking him home.

Like I said, I didn't ride him home. I know my limitations. Ashley rode him along side me as I admired my little Street Triple, just imagining the adventures I'd enjoy.