I got started a little late as a rider, about five years ago at age 38. My first bike was a `82 Maxim 750, which , at the time seemed, ahem, powerful to me. The quest for more power lead me to a nice old `83 V-65 Magna. It was truly an adrenaline producing, down right SCARY motorcycle to ride.

    I was hooked, and got my thrills daily on my ride into work. Here in Minnesota, riding season is rather short, unless you gear up like a snowmobiler for those late October or early April rides. Life was good, and I really loved that old Magna. Right up until I wrecked it, that is. It was a case of poor judgment, pure and simple. Shouldn't have gone out before a storm, should've cabbed it home from the restaurant, shoulda, coulda, didn`t. Nobody was hurt, but the front end of the V-65 was toast. Sold it for parts and got 400 for it. Life sucked!

     I was alright for about a year after that, not having a bike. I knew I would get one again, but, it could wait......
    Then, my buddy came up on his new 883 Custom, all happy and loving the thing, and let me ride it. It was the first Harley I'd ever ridden, and I know they make a better ride than that, but, gods, that thing  SUCKED.  No power, crappy brakes, vibration so bad you can't see in the mirrors.....but, still, the bug bit me again. Time to go to the bike shop.....
    Now, I had thought a lot about what bike I would get, when I got back into it, and being a power junkie after the V-65, had pinned my hopes on getting a new V-max.....off, to the Yamaha dealer!

    They didn't have one there, and, I wandered around the floor for a half hour before someone got to me. He asked me if he could help, and I told him I was looking for a V-max, and he said, sorry don't have one right now....anything else here look good?

    Nothing did, and I told him so, and he said, did I look back in the `used` section, c'mon, lets have a look......
    Around the corner, where I had not looked, and.....there it was. A 1998, cream and blue, stripped down R6 Valkyrie. 
    All blue and cream, and black, and chrome, it was the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on, ('cept my wife!), and it called to me, no, SCREAMED at me, `Pete, take me, take ME!`

   The die was cast.
   I'll never need another bike again. The guy told me, before I rode it away, be careful, you've never ridden a bike that big, take some time before you get all comfortable on her, it can kick out if you hit it too hard, etc., etc. I took off from the dealer, and, from the first time I clutched her, I knew, this bike is MINE. Instinctively counter steering the acceleration and deceleration torques, as if I was born to ride this machine, and none other

    I am so spoiled,
    and
So happy!