[kwm]

I rode a SV650 from 2001-2007 as a commuter and for fun. I always said I would never crash it just was not something that I would allow to happen to myself. Then I allowed it to happen by being too impatient. I recovered, rebuilt the bike, then sold it to someone else who the same day had a major crash on it. I do think that riding MC in today's enviornment of multi-tasking while driving makes it just a matter of time till the big get off happends. Mine was part my impatience and part a driver in a cage multi-tasking (I just wish that cage had not been a Toyota Forerunner). I now have a very young daughter and am playing that "I need a bike to combat gas prices" game. Most drivers have a wreck of various degrees once per 3 years I heard is the average. That once per 3 years on a bike could easily be your last. I agree with what Rick Lee posted below. I also used to always play the I AM TOTALLY INVISIBLE game b/c to be honest to most cage drivers you ARE. Stay safe. Love the bike but my fiscal mindedness would push me toward a Jap bike you get the best of both worlds for half the price.

"Before I even got back into riding about two years ago, I had it drilled into my head that everything is always my fault because, as a biker, I'd be the one to suffer the brunt of the consequences. When I'm in a car, I always have the "their fault" mentality. On the bike, I look at it everything as my fault if it gets to the point of near danger, which I should have predicted and avoided. There's no comfort in being not at fault if you're dead. Some drunk crossing the center line maybe at fault, but he'll likely still be alive."