Azimuth
New Member
Hello all,
After lurking here for the past few months, it's finally time to make my first post and introduce myself.
My name is Jason, and I'm a nearly 43 year old critical care nurse from western Montana. I'm 5'6" with approx. 30in inseam and weight 160-170 depending on the state of my diet. I have no motorcycling history, nor does anyone else in my immediate family. The idea of a motorcycle came to me a few months ago when I was looking at the number of miles being put on the family vehicles. My wife and I have put approx. 240,000 miles on 3 vehicles over the past 5 years, the worst being the 55K on the Honda Pilot in the past 29 months. To add to it, my oldest son got his drivers license this past summer so I expect there may be an increase in the near future.
If there was only a way to save some gas, and decrease the rate we are using up the cars we have.... I was talking to one of my physician friends who has been riding for 30+ years and asked, "If theoretically I were to look for a practical motorcycle to make my commute (approx. 90 miles per day mostly 2 lane highway) what should I start looking at?" He suggested 2 bikes, one being the CB500 (I can't remember the other) so I started there. After a bit more research I started looking at the NCX for a couple reasons. First, the highway speed limits in Montana are 75 and I have a long steepish hill (a small pass) to cross each day. I already own a Honda Fit, and when I lived in Arizona got 33-35 mpg with it only to have that fall to 28-29 here due to the higher speed and work load. It's just a little underpowered for the job and was afraid that might be the case with the CB500 also.
I still wasn't sure I could financially make it all make sense until I talked to my local Honda dealer and started crunching numbers related to fuel cost and payment. It didn't take long before I was convinced I could make it work if I could shift 8-10K miles per year off the Pilot onto the NCX. Next to convince the wife of 18 years. First discussion involved a lot of yelling (on her part). A week or two later she softened a bit and said, "do what you want". I knew that wasn't consent, but it wasn't NO! I thought, maybe I could have this all wrapped up by the end of September. I was spending a lot of time researching gear (helmets, jackets, etc.) when my 17 year old asked, "Is this dads mid-life crisis"? The s**t hit the fan again.
The past 3-4 weeks have been consistent gentle nudging and hinting by me so she knows I remain serious. Finally, yesterday I asked why she ignores me or changes the subject when I bring something about it up? After a bit of discussion, she gave me the go ahead. There still needs to be a little negotiation related to time frame as she would like to wait until spring before have a payment, and I know I need to get one of the remaining 2013's so I can stretch my dollars.
My current motorcycle goals are to make this bike my primary transportation, and take about 10K miles per year off the Pilot. This means at least a 3-season pushing toward 4 if there's no risk of ice. I want a 2013 with heated grips, Barkbusters, center stand, taller windshield, and soft luggage (needs to be a good grocery hauler). The rest of the budget goes to gear. I need protection from the rain and cold because I can't let that get in my way. I will also be ATGATT and it's hot here in Montana during the summer so good ventilation is a must.
I've probably rambled on long enough for a first post. I want to thank everyone here for the advise I have read for others and was able to learn from. and I love reading all the cycling adventures.
Thanks again,
Jason
After lurking here for the past few months, it's finally time to make my first post and introduce myself.
My name is Jason, and I'm a nearly 43 year old critical care nurse from western Montana. I'm 5'6" with approx. 30in inseam and weight 160-170 depending on the state of my diet. I have no motorcycling history, nor does anyone else in my immediate family. The idea of a motorcycle came to me a few months ago when I was looking at the number of miles being put on the family vehicles. My wife and I have put approx. 240,000 miles on 3 vehicles over the past 5 years, the worst being the 55K on the Honda Pilot in the past 29 months. To add to it, my oldest son got his drivers license this past summer so I expect there may be an increase in the near future.
If there was only a way to save some gas, and decrease the rate we are using up the cars we have.... I was talking to one of my physician friends who has been riding for 30+ years and asked, "If theoretically I were to look for a practical motorcycle to make my commute (approx. 90 miles per day mostly 2 lane highway) what should I start looking at?" He suggested 2 bikes, one being the CB500 (I can't remember the other) so I started there. After a bit more research I started looking at the NCX for a couple reasons. First, the highway speed limits in Montana are 75 and I have a long steepish hill (a small pass) to cross each day. I already own a Honda Fit, and when I lived in Arizona got 33-35 mpg with it only to have that fall to 28-29 here due to the higher speed and work load. It's just a little underpowered for the job and was afraid that might be the case with the CB500 also.
I still wasn't sure I could financially make it all make sense until I talked to my local Honda dealer and started crunching numbers related to fuel cost and payment. It didn't take long before I was convinced I could make it work if I could shift 8-10K miles per year off the Pilot onto the NCX. Next to convince the wife of 18 years. First discussion involved a lot of yelling (on her part). A week or two later she softened a bit and said, "do what you want". I knew that wasn't consent, but it wasn't NO! I thought, maybe I could have this all wrapped up by the end of September. I was spending a lot of time researching gear (helmets, jackets, etc.) when my 17 year old asked, "Is this dads mid-life crisis"? The s**t hit the fan again.
The past 3-4 weeks have been consistent gentle nudging and hinting by me so she knows I remain serious. Finally, yesterday I asked why she ignores me or changes the subject when I bring something about it up? After a bit of discussion, she gave me the go ahead. There still needs to be a little negotiation related to time frame as she would like to wait until spring before have a payment, and I know I need to get one of the remaining 2013's so I can stretch my dollars.
My current motorcycle goals are to make this bike my primary transportation, and take about 10K miles per year off the Pilot. This means at least a 3-season pushing toward 4 if there's no risk of ice. I want a 2013 with heated grips, Barkbusters, center stand, taller windshield, and soft luggage (needs to be a good grocery hauler). The rest of the budget goes to gear. I need protection from the rain and cold because I can't let that get in my way. I will also be ATGATT and it's hot here in Montana during the summer so good ventilation is a must.
I've probably rambled on long enough for a first post. I want to thank everyone here for the advise I have read for others and was able to learn from. and I love reading all the cycling adventures.
Thanks again,
Jason
and love riding it. My wife knows I am careful and take no chances (I still haven't ridden in the rain; just uncomfortable in anything but dry conditions). She doesn't mind any more, and encourages me on weekends to go riding after I got all my Honey-Do chores done (I'm too tired at that point...hehe).
