Taking a break: The Machines

I have ridden motorcycles since I was less than ten years of age. Here is a list of the motorcycles I've ridden more than once or twice:

• Honda QA50 - Mini-bike with donut tires, don't know the year, probably late 60's.


• 1975 Yamaha YZ 80 - It may have been a '73, can't remember for sure, it was a small dirt bike.


• A couple of Honda ATC's circa 1983. One a 110 and the other a 185s.


• 1973 Suzuki GT750 - My father's bike and the first big road bike I rode. I didn't even have my driver's license at the time.


• 1977 Kawasaki KZ650 - My father bought this for me used, my first road bike. I took the motorcycle endorsement riding test on it.


• 1986 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 - The first bike I bought for myself, it was used but in near showroom condition. My father now owns it and still rides it.


• 1995 Suzuki Intruder 1400 - My first big-bore V-twin bike and my first brand-new bike. I still had the Vulcan 750 at the time as well.


• 1986 Honda Goldwing 1200 - I bought this for a long road trip my father and I took back in 1999. The Intruder just wasn't cut out for long trips. After I got it, I sold the Vulcan 750 to my father since three bikes was just too many.


• 2001 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad Fi 1500 - The bike I currently ride. I traded the Goldwing in for it and I've since given the Intruder 1400 to my brother.

As for cars, here are the cars I've owned myself. I'm not including those vehicles owned by my parents that they let me drive:

• 1980 Honda Civic - I paid 700 bucks for this car and definitely got my money's worth. Other than routine maintenance and a couple of minor repairs, I never had any trouble with it, although it did burn oil. Ultimately the muffler fell off and I decided it was time for...


• 1990 Geo Storm - Bought used at a dealership, I traded the Civic in for it. It was a fun car to drive and it had a moonroof and tinted windows. I'm just glad I never got in an accident.


• 1997 Subaru Outback Sport - Another used car, I bought it in 1999. I didn't trade the Geo in for it, instead I sold the Storm directly to someone else. Great car, very reliable. Last year I traded it in for my current car, a...


• 2002 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS - I would have liked to get a WRX, but I figured that the extra expense of buying one, maintaining one (turbocharged engine), and insuring one would be more than I wanted to spend. So I got the next best thing. Used but with less than 10,000 miles on it and in excellent condition. Practically new.

I don't see myself buying another car or motorcycle for the next few years at least. Next up, an airplane! (Yeah, right.)