I Just Love to Agonize

After an hour-and-a-half at the MVA (we have MVA, the rest of you have DMV — go figure) yesterday, I now hold a new drivers’ license with a motorcycle endorsement added to the class. The little “M” is an exciting thing. Now comes the part about buying (and paying for) a bike.

We all know that I decided that what I really like is the Suzuki Burgman 650 “maxi-scooter,” and that’s still my “ultimate” goal. The salesguys at the dealer I visited yesterday called it a “Cadillac” compared to other machines in its class. Nice. But, it’s a lot of money that I really don’t have — especially when I also want to make some more upgrades to the AcoustiSound PA, and maybe upgrade Orchard Studios’ cameras to 40Ds.

But, I need to maintain riding “momentum” and work on my riding skills so I don’t forget what I worked so hard to learn. A 250cc bike in a parking lot in 2nd or maybe 3rd gear along with a bunch of other newbies ain’t ridin’ in the real world. I need to practice, preferably before I forget what I’m doing, on shorter trips and around town. And, even though my “ultimate riding machine” uses an automatic transmission, part of me thinks I ought to work on becoming decent at riding the “real thing” — a motorcycle with a manual transmission. And face it, cruisers just plain look cool! Even little ones!

One advantage to some of the “starter bikes” is the relatively low cost — typically under $4000. The problem, though, is that the typical beginner bikes are physically too small for someone who’s 5′ 10″ and 220lbs. I guess the manufacturers figure that a guy (or gal) is not going to wait until they’re 44 to get a license! The little (remember little?) Honda Nighthawk was really a bear to ride, and I don’t think that the even smaller Rebel would work, either. Suzuki’s current offering in the 250cc class is also pretty uncomfortable, with a really hard seat that would wear my butt out in about 10 minutes. Yamaha’s only making a few 250cc cruising-style bikes a year, so I haven’t been able to find one to look at.

One bike that is intriguing, and gets better-than-average reviews, is the Kymco Venox 250. According to what I’ve read, it’s a 250cc bike that looks, feels, and very nearly acts, like a much bigger bike. It’s at the top end of the price range for a small bike, but then, it’s also at the top end of the size range for a small bike, and may be just the thing to ride for a while. And, there’re enough accessories to make the thing look like a real cruiser!

The closest Kymco dealer that I can find is around the top side of the beltway (Baltimore Beltway, not the DC Circle-of-Death), or down in Severna Park. I just might have to take a ride up there in the next few days to see what the thing is all about, and also look at the big Kymco motor scooter, the Xciting 500.

So, who is this Kymco, anyway? Turns out that Kymco has been around just about as long as I have — since 1963. For a number of years, they did manufacturing for Honda (!) and over the past 10 years or so, have been begun to sell bikes and scooters under their own name.

I also want to get a closer look at larger scooter sold by the first dealer I met with called the Expressway 250, and also the Linhai Aeolus SS300 Touring Scooter, which also gets some really good write-ups.

Of course, any of you out there with a bike in good condition (easily passing inspection) and a clear title that you’d like to bestow upon me could certainly make my life a little easier …