Well... several years later.. approaching 45 years old and since my car is paid off, I talked the wife into letting me get a new 2016 Kawasaki Ninja 300 KRT Edition motorcycle.
I'm picking it up next weekend. It's the smallest cc bike I've ever purchased, but sits upright more so than a 600 and still has that sportbike look I've always loved.
Plus, they took around $1200 off with all the discounts.
We live out in the country, so there is plenty of open farm road to ride.
