While not being able to have my own bike on the road yet is a bummer, having a motorcycle license sure helps. I have been able to make 2 rides so far, first was to Kanazawa for Golden week. We rented a little teeny tiny Suzuki 125 and rode it from Kanazawa to Wajima and back. Also got to ride it on the beach by 日本海 (nihon kai, Japan sea). This ride made me realize that once you get past the paper work, Japan has some really nice things to see and actually its very unrestricted once you move out of Tokyo and metropolitan areas.
Second ride was yesterday to Izu Penninsula "伊豆" where we rode the Hakone skyline. My friend John was nice enough to borrow my his kick ass KTM for the day. This bike really opened by eyes about what I like in a motorcycle. This thing has power like no harley ever will (by a long shot)...you flick the throttle and you are gone! It handles the curves well, it's comfy、tells you what gear its in, shifts tight and clean, brakes are awesome, and has accomodations to take 2 up on a long Journey no issue. To me it was like the quick revving 4 stroke of an MX bike multiplied many times. I guess this is just one more reason to have multiple bikes!
Of course none of these rides can compare with the magnitude and scale of the next ride I will take....a little jaunt called the Stampede. Say a pray for the shovels mechanical well being and the safety of all the other maniacs who do this kind of stupid stuff....
