Scoutmedic -- The trials and journies of a *n00b*
Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 8:05 am
Howdy All! Welcome to my Blog. This first entry will more than likely be the longest and, I apologize before hand for it's length. With that in mind, read on but, try not to injure yourself when you fall asleep reading.....
Introduction: My name is Barry. I'm 35 years old and reside in Corry, Pennsylvania, USA (It's in the Northwestern corner of the commonwealth with the nearest "city" being Erie). I'm a career paramedic for Emergycare Inc.. My username here is derived from part of my last name and part of my profession. I'm happily married with no children.
Riding: I've been riding snowmobiles and ATVs since I was a teenager. I rode a relatives dualsport once when I was 15. I managed to stay on for the full 8 seconds before wrecking. I popped the clutch, wheelied and smashed into the back of a pickup truck.
My next experience on a motorcycle was, thankfully, much better. At the young and impressionable age of 34, I decided to take the PA version of MSF which is called PAMSP. Partly to get a better working knowledge of motorcycles since I deal with them at work and partly because I was bored and it only cost me $10 for my learner's permit which covered the cost of the course.
My course was one night of classroom, one day of riding then the cycle repeated the following week. I was interested after the first classroom session. I was ADDICTED after the first riding session. I called my wife after the riding session all excited and telling her about it. Her first words when she finally got a chance to speak were, "We're getting a bike aren't we?". I passed the MSF which earned me my "Class M" endorsement.
The search: My wife's only conditions for buying were that it had to be new and that I have to dress in full protective gear. I started searching the manufacturer websites but, quickly became overwhelmed. So, having remembered that I registered here a few years ago but, never did anything else, I came here and started searching for answers. After looking, listening and questioning, I started to visit the dealerships with my loving and understanding wife. I looked at everything from 250 cruisers and streetbikes to 600'ish "everythings". I was resisting the peer pressure to purchase a "large" bike fairly well until my wife came to the conclusion that I should just start out on a Mid to Large bike so that I don't become "bored" or want something different in a year.
I know! This goes against a lot of the advice here and, I may still regret it but, I have been fairly warned. I'm going to wear the power ranger outfit, it's going to be fully insured and I've seen enough crashes in my line of work that I have no desire to drive like I'm on a track.
The decision: After sitting on about 15 different cycles and debating the pro's and con's of each, I decided on the Suzuki Boulevard S-50. It will be black with a Memphis Shades windshield. No other additional goodies initially unless I can find a tank bag that I want. My gear will consist of a G-Max 18g Full Face Helmet, A Cortech "all weather" jacket (Mesh outer, removeable rain and thermal liners) with shoulder, elbow and spine armor, Himalaya jean style pants with removeable thermal liner and armor in the hips and knees and, finally, Thor motocross gloves with padded fingers, palms, etc. I can fit a set of mechanics gloves under the Thor's when it's cold. Footwear for now will be my standard workboots which are 8" all leather with safety toe, heal and shank. I wore them in the MSF and they were fine.
That's It! FINALLY! I'll try and update this whenever something new comes up. And, I'll post when I have pictures of the new ride loaded. Until then....
Stay Safe Out There!
