I'm a little tired of putting gas in my car, never mind that my boss got the catalytic convertor hacked off his van while it was parked at work. To that end, if I only carry a lunch-pail to work, I figure it makes some sense to commute by bike. Though I've pretty well decided on a bike, I'd still be open to opinions. First, though, a little bit about me:
- Age: 34
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
Weight: 175 lbs (79.5 Kg, if I did the conversion correctly)
Previous riding experience: None whatsoever (I do plan on taking a new rider course, even though California doesn't mandate it for me)
- 70-80 miles per gallon combined would be ideal, but nothing lower than 60 MPG combined
Legal to ride on, and with enough power for, the freeway (if ever my commute makes freeway driving a necessity)
Simple enough that I can do most, if not all, maintenance myself
Reliable
A riding position that lets me keep my back upright
Low enough that I can flat-foot it (almost never a problem for me)
I think I've done pretty well with the bike, but what about protective gear? My biggest question about protective gear is quality; I'd really like to purchase a helmet, jacket, gloves, and knee guards that are USA-made, if possible. I wear steel-toed boots to work, so I don't think there should be any issues in that department. The jacket and helmet would also need to be well-suited to a hot area, as it gets very hot where I live. Finally, DOD policy specifies that anyone who rides a motorcycle on a military installation must wear a safety vest. Though I thought that was silly when I was on active duty, I now think it's actually a pretty good idea.
Thanks in advance to all who reply...looking forward to reading them!