I have a hard time telling anyone to get a street bike because if *God forbid* there is a tragic accident, I would feel like I contributed to it by encouraging them.
That said, you are a grown man and more mature than me, so it would be insulting to suggest that you cannot weigh the dangers and benefits yourself. But then again, you're posting a poll.
I don't think that MCs are for everyone, but they are definitely for me. I actually enjoy riding on the street, even in L.A. I feel very alive when I am in *the zone* street riding, it's so different from a car where one can be talking on the phone and drinking a coffee, etc... I saw a fatal MC vs. car accident 2 weeks ago in my neighborhood, (6th st. sharp turn @ Rimpau), it was 100% the rider's fault and did not discourage me from riding one bit. I would not take a 30 mph turn @ 60+ w/ oncoming trafiic and expect to live long. It was a tragedy and such a waste of someone's life, but I also felt terrible for the (uninjured) driver of the car he hit. What a horrible experience; you're driving down the street on a beautiful day and in an instant there is a bike sliding into the side of your car, then the aftermath. If he had been driving an M3 instead of a Gixxer, he might have killed the people in the car he hit.
If you eliminate alcohol and stupidity from the equation, (like going way too fast on city streets), the odds change dramatically in your favor on a MC. Experience and advanced training complete the picture, after that I take the "when your number is up" attitude about riding. I am glad that you were not permanently maimed or killed in your bike accident, but I believe that if you were further along in your journey to be a highly skilled rider, you could have fared better as well. I know that you apply yourself pretty intensively once you get an endeavor in your claws, so this is in no way meant to be disrespectful, just that you are the type that could and would take MC riding to a higher level than the average Joe and you were not there yet when you crashed.
We are uniquely lucky to have Mike M. as a buddy since he is about the ultimate riding partner, he always wants to go riding, and his skill set is pretty unmatched. He is about to become an instructor for motorcops, as you probably know, and he will share his knowledge with us for free. This is a rare opportunity that most riders will never have, though anyone wanting to improve can invest in superbike school and some good books+track days. If you pull the trigger, I'd be delighted to ride w/m you when I get another bike.
