In 1983, I was just about to get discharged from the Army and stationed in Ft Sill, OK. At that point I was more into cars than motorcycle. I had recently brought a 1983 Firebird Trans Am just before leaving Germany and took delivery of a 1983 Black Pontiac Trans Am in Bayonne NJ. Then was fresh off 30 days leave at home in Edwardsville, IL where my wife, Debra and I had went through a whirl wind month of getting her an apartment, buying her a car, and of course seeing family since we had been in Germany for three years and me getting to my next duty station in FT Sill, OK. Now, I had made the 675 mile trip to Oklahoma for my last five months in the Army.

I was assigned to the United States Army’s Communication Command (USACC), which was supposed to be a great spot to do my remaining time before becoming a civilian. Well, not so fast. The USACC folks didn’t want me, since I only had five months remaining and wasn’t going to reenlist and so they thought what was the purpose of putting through all the required training just to be discharged in five months, that left me assigned to the First Sergeant, so for the next 3 months I didn’t do much, just reported in to the First Sergeant each morning and at noon and hung out. This shortly lead to partying all night and sleeping most of the day. During this time I meet Tony, from New Jersey, who had brought new dirt bike and a Honda 500 Silver Wing, and since I had a car, the new Trans Am, there we time when we would switch up. He would take the Trans and I would ride the Silver Wing. I really became to enjoy riding the Silver Wing, but not so thrilled about letting Tony drive the Trans AM.  Something happened and I am not exactly sure what it was now, but the Silver Wing got towed and put in storage and storage fees raked up and Tony wasn’t able to get his bike back. He offered me the option to get it and take ownership so he wouldn’t totally lose it, but with me getting discharged soon I chose not to take him up on the option, bad move but sometime we do stupid things. I considered buying a new bike, but with me ETS (Estimated Time in Service) date fast approaching I wasn’t able to get financing without reenlisting and that was not an option, so no motorcycle.

Though the years I have off and on thought about buying a bike but never took any action toward getting a bike.

In 2005, after a move to Virginia and bicycle riding with the local bike club I meet folks who not only rode bicycles, but also road motorcycles. I began to rethink getting a motorcycle. Now, I have son in college and all the things that go along with that, tuition payments, etc, so I put off the motorcycle till the last tuition payment was made.

With concurrence of my wonderful wife I began to read reviews, visit motorcycle shows and talk with all who would listen about motorcycles. After surfing the web and looking at manufacturers site I like the Suzuki M109R cruiser. Then I saw a M109R cruiser on the street a work and the bike looked good. It had good street presence and nice stance and just attracted attention. When I saw the M109R in person and sat on the bike, the bike was too big for me in term of cc’ and just stature.

At the Washington DC Motorcycle Show I got to see a lot of bike all at once; Harleys, Suzuki’s, Yamahas, Kawasaki and Honda. Doing the show I found out about the sport touring class of motorcycles. I am too old for a sport bike and too young at heart for a cruiser so the sport touring just seemed to be the perfect class of bike. Since I am avid bicycle rider and really enjoy touring on a bicycle I thought a sport touring bike would just be an extension of my bicycling and extend my range.

A friend of mine notice the Honda ST1300 bike and we looked at the Hondas, the BMW 1200 series and the Kawasaki bikes. Became pretty clear to me then the Suzuki M109R was out and I begin to think seriously about the sport touring class of bikes.  I surfed the web to read reviews, determine availability and of course the main issue price. What was affordable? The BMW 1200 series bikes were super nice but was easily at least five grand more than the other bikes.

I drive a 2005 Honda Accord EXV6and that made me a little bias to the Honda ST1300, even though it was four plus grand more than I wanted to pay for a bike.  But, I thought getting a pre-owned one, maybe a couple years old, would be acceptable and in my price range.

My search began. I did a web search and a search on CycleTrader.com and found that there was not a large selection of used ST1300 available, which I took as a good sign. Folks who brought the bike liked them and were holding on to them. But, I did find Shenandoah Honda in Winchester, VA. was able to order a new 2005 Honda ST1300 for a really nice price.. A little higher than I was hoping to pay but then it was a brand new bike I thought this was it.  I was pretty sure any Honda Powerhouse dealer would be able to order 2005 models, but in talking with the dealer I found out that he had a 2006 demo bike available. This bike was the regional sales manager bike who never found time to ride it and it was just a $100.00 more than the 2005 model. Shear luck. The 2005 ST1300 was burgundy in color, which was nice, but the 2006 is black which was better. On January 19, 2007, Debra and I went out to Winchester, VA an hour and half drive from our home in Alexandria, VA., it was well worth the drive. We purchased the bike and it was delivered on January 24, 2007.

The first official ride is a little ways off. After a warmer the normal winter the weather has turned cold, really cold, so I can't even ride, even if it's just around the sub division. Also, I only have a learner’s permit and I can only ride with other license riders. My Basic Rider Course (BRC) is scheduled for March 19, 22, and 23, 2007, which qualifies for a waiver for the skill test and I get the motorcycle class added to my license. Not sure what my first tour will be, Solomon’s Island, Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive, any of these rides would be great. Can’t Wait….