So I put a deposit down on a 400cc MP3 on July 3rd, knowing it would be 4-6 weeks before it would get here, and then listed my SV for sale. Who knew the SV would sell so freaking fast? I should have expected it, given the rumors swirling around online that 2008 is the last year for the SV650, but I really figured I'd have it for another month and then by magic the scooter would arrive early, and I wouldn't be rideless.

That was a long six weeks. So long I think it was actually seven weeks. But who's counting?

The salesguy called around noon on August 15; my scooter was there (blue, just like I hoped for), had just come off the truck and they were charging the battery. It would be ready around 5 o'clock...if we wanted to come in and start the paperwork, we could.

Awesome.

After everything was signed and checks were handed over, Augie the Salesguy delivered the bike, showing me how everything worked, especially the wheel lock. Along with showing me everything came the warning: if you have the wheels locked and are not upright, you better commit to the throttle on acceleration, or it will tip over. He learned this the hard way with a 75 year old customer who started to go over; he grabbed the side of the scooter to try to save her, and popped his hamstring.

That was a few months ago and he's still limping.

I played with the wheel lock on the way to procure food, and realized its use is an acquired skill, and I might be better off just putting my feet down.

We stopped for dinner, and then I rode the 25 miles home. First impressions:

• The speedometer has both kmh and mph, but the mph numbers are very small, red on black, and hard to see. The kmh numbers are big and very easy to see. I foresee a speeding ticket in my future.
  
  
• Seat slopes forward a little, which will take some getting used to.
  
• There's supposedly enough storage space for 2 full faced helmets; I can't even get one in there. The opening for the trunk is too small, and the seat won't latch with on under it. I can get my jacket in there, though.
  

I would have ridden longer, but after geting dinner it was pushing 7:30, and being night blind, I needed to head home. By the time I pulled up into my driveway I was already feeling the fun, and looking forward to taking it out in the morning.



click to biggify

The Background

When the riding bug first seriously bit me, I was riding around the neighborhood bike paths on a little Schwinn electric scooter. I was zooming along at 10 mph and loving every second of it, but damn, I wanted to go faster.

Now, it wasn't my first experience on two wheels that didn't involve pedaling; about 23 years before I zoomed around Provo and Salt Lake City Utah on a little orange Honda Express moped (that's not mine pictured...) It topped out at 25 mph, but was a wicked fun way to get around, and was really all I needed.

Over the years the Spouse Thingy and I talked about "someday" learning how to ride a motorcycle, but it was always one of those maybe kinds of things.

When I was longing for more speed on my little Schwinn, I had the idea that I'd get myself on of those spiffy little 49cc scooters; after all, I just wanted to putt-putt around town and I was never going to go out on the Interstate. A little scooter is all I'd need.

Then I found out I would need an M2 license to legally ride a little scooter around town; the Spouse Thingy just shrugged and told me to take the riding class--hell, maybe I'd want something with a little more speed, like a 125cc scooter.

So I took the class.

Oh yeah, I wanted to go faster. And since I learned on a 125cc Kawasaki Eliminator--a "real" motorcycle--that's what I wanted. It was fun and it zoomed, and was everything I could possibly need. I still had no intention of getting on the Interstate.

Before I actually took the Basic Rider's class, I started lurking in some motorcycle forums. A couple I actually participated in. I learned of at least one really good book I should read, and I was given tons of very good advice on About.com's motorcycle forum. The consensus: get at least a 250cc motorcycle. Not much bigger, but definitely not the 125. Even though I didn't want to get on the Interstate, I would want more power than the 125 would give me...power to get out of potential trouble.

I didn't get it, not then, but I listened. I bought a Honda Rebel, a nice 250cc (all right, it's actually about 235 cc) that screamed wheeeeeee and was very forgiving of all my newby mistakes.

I went from feeling Oh my God I'm going to fly off the back of this bike! to zooming past a bike cop at 30 mph over the speed limit (he idn't pull me over...I still don't know why.)

Oh yeah. And that whole never getting on the Interstate thing...I totally did.

* * * * * * * * * *
I rode the Rebel for a year and a half; I didn't "outgrow it" or need more power, but I was at a point where I wanted more power. I wanted something that would do everything I could possibly want a bike to do, one I would never actually outgrow, one that would be comfortable on long rides, and...oh, yeah, fun on the Interstate.
* * * * * * * * * *
Enter the Suzuki SV650.

I vacillated for a couple of months before buying a second bike: cruiser, or sport standard? I loved the SV 650 but wasn't sure I could tolerate the riding posture. I coveted the Suzuki M50 but was wary of moving up to a bike that heavy. The S50 was an option... I also had my eye on a Yamaha FZ6, but after some wise advice crossed it off my list.

The SV won out. It was light and flickable, and Id spoken with several people whodescribed it as "the perfect bike." It would do everyting I wanted a bike to do, and I would never outgrow it. It had all the power I could ever want.

I had more fun on that bike. It was great for cruising around town, tore up the twisties, and made potentially boring backroads fun. It really was just about perfect.

Now, I've known all along that eventually I would wind up on a step-through scooter, but I assumed the SV would be my ride for a good 7-10 years. There was no reason not to; while I have bad hips (hence, knowing I would be using a scooter at some point) they weren't that bad yet. I had time.

And then a guy in a giant blue car pulled out in front of me. I stupidly grabbed too much brake, locked them up, and launched off the bike. I went one way, my bike wne the other, and the assmunch in the giant blue car watched as I hit the ground...and then he left. I was a pile of Might Be Dead in the road, and he left.

But...whatever. A bunch of other people stopped to help, kept me from doing something stupid like moving, and I got to take a nice ride in an ambulance. A couple hours later, naked (because they cut my clothes off), I was released with nothing but bruises and a couple of raspberries on by elbow and knee.

So I thought.

I had landed on the left side of my body; my shoulder started to bother me, and then my hip started to hurt more than usual. I did all the exercises prescribed by my doctor, and while my shoulder improved, my hip did not. My mobility was declining to the point that I had difficulty just getting on my motorcycle, and a few times had to enlist the help of total strangers to get off.

A few months of that, and the realization that the situation was not going to improve and would likely get worse, spurred me into agreeing with the Spouse Thingy: it was time to start thinking about a scooter.

So I put a deposit down on a Piaggio MP3 (if I had to ride a scooter, it was going to be the spiffiest one), sold my SV, and waited six long weeks for it to arrive.

Six very long weeks.

Almost as long as this post.