Another dream comes true.

I leaned the bike left onto GA route 369, a quiet, winding two lane highway which leads back to the interstate. The conditions were perfect. The sun was glowing brightly in the clear sky, keeping the air a warm 75 degrees. The air was almost entirely clear of bugs, even in Georgia, due to the early time of year. As I rode through the small towns, I closely watched the intersections and looked for Erin in my mirrors, because deep down, I was intimidated and frightened of such a long trip through an unfamiliar landscape. Each curve asked me to relax and just let the bike do what it does best...lean. The roads were generally smooth and uncongested, a complete difference from the the busy suburban route that we first took to drive into the Atlanta area. Even though I was generally unfamiliar with the new FZ6, I took each opportunity available to learn and improve. Each time I stopped, I practiced downshifting and using those massive brakes. Every time, I accelerated from a stop sign or stop light, I worked on my take offs, keeping the engine speed well below the max 14K. This is where this bike shines: a mixed environment of in town and cross country. it had been so long since I last rode, that I had almost forgotten how immersed I become in the landscape. I am connected to the wind, the bumps on the road, and the random smells in the air (good or bad).

150 miles later, the air was cold, the sky was completely dark, and the traffic on I-85 had picked up considerably as we approached Greenville. By the time I pulled the bike off of the expressway and through town, I was very glad to be home. We pulled up to the house and I parked in the garage. I walked a little funny for a few minutes.

It's already been a week since I rode home for the first time and I haven't even fully realized what has happened. Waiting for this day for years, with many sleepless nights, I hoped and wished and planned and daydreamed. I felt like it would be an eternity! When I moved down to Greenville, I immediately saw the popularity of motorcycles in the upstate and I was jealous. The weather was perfect for riding here, and you could ride year round if you liked. Erin and I had a wonderful conversation one night where we decided that I would wait until one of our biggest bills was paid off before we could buy another motorcycle. I thought that it was a fair offer and I would work towards that goal, a little at a time. It could be years! We were blessed with wonderful jobs and good money management skills, so we were able to accomplish that goal sooner than I had dreamed. The time drew near and I started looking for the perfect FZ6. I wanted something new or barely used since I would be keeping it a long time. The body style and colors for 2007 were my favorite, so I began my search. Not wanting to travel a lot or pay for shipping, I started my search in the local area, within a 150 mile range. Fortunately, Craiglist pointed me in the direction of Atlanta and Charlotte, where there were plenty of bikes available. Even though economy's been tough, the bikes were still selling quickly, a testement to the broad appeal of this model. I had a tough time deciding between red and blue, but the fact that the red models within reach sold without me made the decision easier! Some local dealers were still advertising 2008 models, but when they didn't respond to my inquiries, I decided I didn't need to have a new one. The '07 models were so much cheaper and still relatively new (and better looking...) Then I found the one....a gentleman in Atlanta was looking for a quick sell and responded to my questions. We made a good deal, and I made plans to drive down to his home and ride the bike back to Greenville.

We had originally planned on driving down on March 14th, but the weather was going to be unbelievable on the 7th and we had everything ready for purchase, so we said "why not?". We left around 1:00 and arrived on location around 4:00. I took it for a test ride and came back absolutely certain that I had made the right choice. Having never ridden an FZ6 before, and not ridden at all in over a year, I had a very easy time. The owner showed me a simple loop around the back roads and I gently rode the bike in near privacy. No problems whatsoever, the machine was forgiving and easy to ride. Not once was I intimidated by the 97HP R6 engine or the four-piston brakes. Okay, so I killed it once, but that was completely an accident. It was light, easy to steer, and sooo comfortable. Back at the owner's home, we made the final arrangements and I took off for home with Erin behind me.

I love peeking into the garage and looking at my bike. The garage lights hit the paint just right, and the dark blue metallic tank sparkles. It's almost as though I'm pinching myself each time I look. The most fortunate part of the experience is that if I hadn't picked up the motorcycle when I did, we would have missed a great opportunity, because the weather the next weekend was in the lower 40's and raining. We would have postponed the pickup indefinitely and I would have been a miserable wreck. It couldn't have worked out any better, because I took those days of beautiful weather to make upgrades to the bike and ride ride ride until I became more comfortable and familiar with it. Oh, and Erin? She took it for her first ride that weekend and loved it, too. Of course, I knew she would....

Why did I choose the FZ? One of my best talents is research. I have spent hundreds of hours over the last couple years researching and learning more about the motorcycles I'd consider. There were pros and cons about all of them, but I kept coming back to the FZ6. It was a bike that had a powerful engine, comfortable ergonomics, and unique naked bodystyle. The Fazer, by which it is known in other parts of the world, had a diverse and loyal following. It had very uncommon features like a centerstand, fuel guage, and underseat exhaust. The engine was fuel injected, meaning I wouldn't have to clean any more carbuerators or choke the engine to get it started. The LCD display was beautiful and the price was much lower than comparable sport bikes. I knew a long time ago that the FZ6 was everything I wanted in a motorcycle.

While these are not MY bike, here are a couple similiar photos from http://www.fz6-forum.com/ of the same bike, taken by a Charleston rider (used with permission, of course)

Thanks for reading about my adventure and motorcycle. I've been going on and on about this ever since I got my license...and I certainly "did my time" fixing our last motorcycle so often. Even though the weather is prohibitive to riding this weekend, you can bet that I've found ways to spend time out in the garage. As I start riding more this spring and summer, you can bet that I will be writing some special motorcycle features in Lost In Greenville. Because there is a great chance that I will actually get myself lost somewhere. Later.