Sweet Ride.

[FencerGuy900]

I have narrowed down my vehicle dream to a fully customized Yamaha R1. The bike that won the 2004 GP. I'm going to a bike over a car, but I just wanted to see what yall think.

[Zilverzmurfen]

I think you should get a car instead. It's more convenient for hauling around your fencing equipment.

[Pauli]

With the heavy rains you can have in Louisiana and including the thought of protection plus joining ZZ's statement below, I think you should go with a car. But then, maybe you should just live your dream instead of being reasonable.....

[npkeith]

In the ER they have a term for those things with 2 wheels and too much power:

DonorCycles

'Cause people who ride them have an annoying (to their families that is) habit of becoming organ donors.

-Keith

[Larrison]

Ride what you like, dude. It's a cool bike. But I'd recommend a few things..

1) Full protective equipment including HIGH quality full helmet, and full leathers and boots. You *will* fall off at some point. The only question is how fast you will be going, and how close to something else you will be (such as head on...) And the cooler and faster the bike, the more likely you will be going fast when you do this... that's just human nature. Plan for it.

2) A good medical/ health care policy including healthcare power of attorney to someone you trust.

3) Want to make USFA the beneficary of your life insurance policy? (This is a fencing board, after all...)

I've known a fair number of people who ride, including a fellow fencer who was a road racer and multiple co-workers. The absolutely best and safest rider I knew was the road racer -- and the above advice is cribbed from him. But every person I know who have ridden a lot have had injuries. One is still in the hospital in a semi-vegetative state (head on, on a winding mountain road). One of my acquaintances has ridden to work through LA freeway traffic for at least 15 years, and is planning to continue to. Your call -- its your life. But be serious about it, no matter which way you pick.