I think I’m having some kind of midlife crisis, but all of a sudden I’m getting the itch to buy a motorcycle.

Never ridden one ( other than dirt bikes as a kid) and don’t really know much about them. There is an Indian dealership and the scout classic and the bobber caught my eye.

Any recommendations or suggestions? Should I buy used as this may be a passing fad?

Where a helmet.

Be impulsive. Go get it tomorrow. Surprise everyone.

Don't.

Take riding lessons.

Don't scratch that itch. You'll thank me later.

I’m also fighting the urge to go get a bunch of tattoos.

Something is up

This brings back memories. I grew up on dirt bikes. Buddy put me on a V6 cruiser and I promptly put it into the wall and a gas pump in the same wreck. I spent a total of 53 white knuckle miles on the road, I’ll never do that again. Apparently all rear break on a cruiser is the wrong thing to do in a panic.

Fill out the organ donor section on your license and get your paperwork in order

Buy used and do take a lesson if you are not accustomed to large bikes.

If you’ve never been on a street bike take the msf course. Seriously. It will give you a taste of a street bike in a controlled environment where it’s no problem if you drop the bike. Buy used. You aren’t on the hook for depreciation as much if you end up not liking the bike or riding or if you drop it.

As for all the idiots who make comments about organ donors and the like, just ignore them.

Motorcycles are a ton of fun. By far and away the most enjoyable vehicles I’ve ever owned are motorcycles. I’ve got two now and if I had unlimited funds I’d have a dozen more next week.

If you have a family and are a responsible person, don’t get a motorcycle and ride on a public road. I investigated a lot of motorcycle accidents so I’m not just parroting what others say. It’s from actual knowledge and experience.

Omigod!

I broke my ankle on a motorcycle in my 20’s when someone pulled out in front of me. Still have bone chips in that ankle that periodically give me problems. It could have been a lot worse. I was lucky. Had a cousin that was in the army and had two young kids. He was a fine upstanding man. He was killed on a motorcycle while he was stopped at a stop sign in Colorado. Struck down in the prime of his life. Damn near killed my uncle when it happened. I ended up giving mine away. Find you a crazy tatted up biker chick and let her put you through the wringer if you need to explore your wild side…

We have an officer, he’s a friend and client of mine, that had to be airlifted from Forney to Dallas because a car turned in front of him on his motorcycle. I think he broke both arms, leg, clavicle, hip, and maybe some more, 8 surgeries in just a couple of days. He has a very long road to recovery. Just not worth it in my opinion

'Wife's an RN. She made me swear I'd never get on one. She calls them "donorcycles."

A friend of my brother's was on the Fbg. VFD. Someone dies on one every weekend in Gillespie County.

OP knows the road we had a place on. You could be hugging the shoulder, going 30mph or less, and some new, usually female, rider coming the other way would start screaming at you and "gesticulating" for you to slow down. Motorcycles are a big part of the reason we sold the place.

Leave them to the Bandidos. You aren't one...and you don't want to be.

I have had 2 friends killed on motorcycles. I drove a street bike every day till I was 18, rain, sleet, snow…I didn’t have a car. My last day on it I was doing about 40mgh when an old lady, just flat did not see me, she was at a stop sign I had right of way, she pulls right in front of me. I didn’t even have time to break or do nothing, hit it straight on flew over the car like shot out of a cannon and hit the concrete face first. Good thing I had a full face Bell helmet on. I got up and walked away, bike was totaled, collected insurance and bought an 77 corvette, have not had a street bike again, but I have had the itch to get another one.

You have to drive them like you are invisible.

Murder-cycle...do NOT get one!

I rode motorcycles for more than 40 years I owned a number of bikes. However, after a dog in Arkansas ran out in front of me 15 years ago and put me in the hospital for a week it was time to call it quits. I was a very experienced rider, but with the crazy drivers now days there’s no way I’d ride again. If you do ride make sure to take the driving course and try and stay out of city traffic.

I had one. would not ride one these days.

Good advice take riding lessons, wear a helmet practice early mornings before you hit the roads and travel and learn to use the front brake. If you think you see a bunch of morons on the road now in your car or truck wait till you get that bike.

Don't do it. I need someone to argue with on this forum. And don't talk Bo Bo into getting one too.

Between 1970 and the early 80's I probably had fifteen dirt bikes, three Kawasaki 1000s and two Harley 74s. A car hitting me nearly cost me my leg. The cool factor left and never came back. Fast forward: Texting, an open border, and just plain morons changed the roadways. This isn't Kansas anymore. It's just different these days. If you want to question your own thinking go visit somebody in a nursing home.

This was my realization. I have a dual sport Honda CRF250L I use off road right now, but was wanting to get a super moto set of wheels and tires to ride it on the street with. My wife was not happy with the idea and she said almost word for word what you said about being a responsible person for your family, is it really worth it to have some idiot run me over and take me away from my family just to ride a motorcycle to work 2-3 times a week. Really hit home with me and I'm in complete agreement after hearing it. It's also insane that 90% of people I drive by on the highway are on their phones not paying attention to anything around them. Every time I see this I'm thankful I'm not on a motorcycle riding next to these people.

I wouldn't have one in the USA, Not enough bikes on the road and people just don't look out for them.

Go to some country that is chunk full of them like in Asia and ride all you want, they are very common form of transportation in SE Asia.