Whelp... The time has come.

Over the past 7 months it has become more and more apparent with the birth of our son how badly we need a 4 door. So it came down to either her '01 Toyota Solara goes or my focus does. Her car is still worth a lot more than my focus and it's also in nicer condition with fewer miles, on top of that I believe it's still in her father's name and he'd rather she keep it. So unfortunately the watermelon seed has to go.

I already bought a '96 Isuzu Rodeo 5spd which I believe was a really good deal since the guy was asking below KBB value and it's power everything (except for seats) as opposed to power nothing like my ZX3 and it also has two working remotes and a factory alarm. It's in pretty good condition and I sort of miss the SUVness of my dearly departed Grand Wagoneer and the Isuzu Trooper I sold a while back. So after I teach her to drive it I'll be driving the chick car until I get this...

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/Web/2008_Ninja250R_Right.jpg

...as my new commuter to... uh... "off set the gas mileage of the rodeo" and sell my focus to offset the money I'm out.


I don't really know what else to say except that this site has been fantastic. It's by far the most competent forum site I've ever been a apart of and I'd like to thank the folks who started it and who continue to keep it interesting. I'm certainly not going to disappear since there's not a great source of Isuzu forums out there.

For those who are interested, I'll throw up a post with my focus in the sale or trade forum when I'm ready to sell.

Whoa! reads like a lament. It's not that bad. Hey! Your a Dad! Gratz. :)
( Lecture >> Now be a Dad and forget the bike. You have others depending on you heavily. << End of Lecture).
Yes! it is a great site. Glad your going to stick around. [clap]

i feel i like should be in tears lol congrads for ur new babe

I realize the bike is a touchy subject with most people but I've been looking into bikes for a few years and just finished a safety course. My family both know and support my decision to buy one and I'm more than aware of the risks. If it helps at all my commute doesn't involve freeways or any real "high speed" roads, it's all suburban streets and small boulevards, 35-45mph tops with pretty light traffic. No freeways or night time/holiday riding for me, at least not for a long time. The wife wants in on it too. [cool]

Well! I don't know your local population, traffic density etc. Just remember this please. It's the person in the Car/Truck/SUV that is not watching/being careful. And your out numbered. With that off my chest! My wife has always sorta wanted me to get a bike. Suicide in this town though for daily commute IMO. Especially the way I drive. [8] Nice looking bike BTW! [cool]

genius,,i love a bike also,ive owned a few and you can take all the safety courses you want,but its the other guy who doesnt take them you cant control. ive had 3 accidents,,i hung up my helmet 5 years ago after the last one..1st one i ended up under the back end of an escort. it was less then 10 mph.. lady infront of me for no apparent reason stopped on a green light, i couldnt go left or right i layed over and under the car i went .she said she didnt know what she was thinking , or why she stopped.i ended up with a pinched neve in my elbow and my leg completely dislocated from the hip cause of the way i went down.. the second one i was struck from behind at a light,, just turned green was starting to take off,,hit me hard enough it threw the front end up and launched me ,bike and all. the landing was horrific. i ended up with a lower stressed lumbar hernia, and hyper extended both knees (bent them the unnatural way they bend almost breaking them) ripping and tearing muscles and almost every tendon in both legs,tore one kneecap completely loose. i spent 8 months in braces that kept my knees from bending back on me the wrong way, then a year of physical therapy.(never will be 100% ever again.) and was told i was damn lucky i had use of them as well as i do, and all this because they said they didnt see me there in front of them.my third and final, i was out just driving thru the country enjoying the day,45 mph,,when BAAAAAAAAAAAAAM.and this is no joke. i was slammed in the side by a deer,,yep .a lil 2 button buck.i wound up with everything from burns from the radiator exploding ,to massive contusions, broke ankle,and stitches in 2 places,one from a hoof, the other was just from the impact of the deer .it split the skin open.that was it for me.i live almost everyday with some pain, cold days and rainy days are always worse. im limited and restricted to the activities i loved and enjoyed so much. ill never jump again (skydive) i cant run full out ,more like a jog now.i use to tear up the paintball field as a front man,thats how i got my name razor,,cause id cut ya down quick before ya knew it,now i get to play backman and just burn lanes and spray.cant play baseball,football, with my boys like i use to,,gained about 60 lbs in those 2 years,only got rid of about 20 of it.and im only 45,and it will just get worse as i get older,,, just think twice about it,, your health.your life,your cild and your wife, your family supports ya,, but whos gonna support them.anyways just weigh the options. NOW THE SCIENCE motor cycle accidents and fatalaties have climbed every year since 1998 as of 2004 the stats were over 4000 fatalaties,an 89% increase,they estimate that by the time they are current theyll have gained approx over 500 more per year meaning in 2010 the stats for 2007 will be over 5,500 this isnt including accident rates,,just fatalaties. 2005 there were only 600 fatalaties from plane crashes,356 for trains,if there were as many motorcycles on the road as cars the rate would excide the rate of car fatalaties by 23% (which was over 42 thousand) you have a 66% chance more of a fatal crash on a bike then in your car..anyways good luck with whatever you do.

Trust me Rick. I've been looking into this for a several years and i've gone through so many crash stories and statistics and all that. I know it doesn't make me any kind of expert nor does a safety course qualify me to really ride anywhere other than a parking lot, but I am aware and understand the risks.

However that doesn't mean your advice has fallen on deaf ears and I really do appreciate the concern.

no problem i was young once too,, and maybe youll be one of the lucky ones..