Trigger, a Suzuki SV650S v-twin sports standard, was my re-introduction to motorcycles. As a kid, I started out riding motorcycles, and my first bike was a venerable Yamaha Enduro GT80. It was a real junkpile, which was the very best kind of first bike to have! It taught me a great deal about riding, fixing bikes and crashing because I'd done something dumb. All at low speeds.

Over the next 11 years, culminating at the age of 21, I rode a series of bikes leading me through 250cc and finally modified 500cc motocross bikes, and I dabbled in streetbikes. I competed many times and was an intermediate racer when I dropped out of money, put the bike aside for all but fun rides and went to college. That same year, my father passed away, and with it went my bikes and a big piece of my life. Little did I know it would be 13 years until I sat a bike again.

That's the background. At the age of 33.99 years, I decided I'd had enough waiting and enough of people telling me what I should and shouldn't do with my life, and purchased a SV650S to re-introduce myself to motorcycles. Much to my delight, I had retained most of my balance, focus and ability to ride motorcycles. I could even stand-up wheelie the bike like it was a natural activity. A few days later, I was able to sleep in my own bed again. ;)

Trigger performed flawlessly, did nothing unexpected and performed exactly like a good horse should. And, like a good re-introduction bike should do, it kindled a flame in me to do much more motorcycling in my future. I never dropped the bike, never scared myself on it (other drivers, however... that's another story) and railed it around with absolutely no delay at all, just like I'd stepped off my last dirtbike and onto a streetbike. A little bit of smoothing the controls and I was taking on and off ramps at ultra-legal speeds. You know, a km/h or two above the limit. Ho ho.

I sold this bike to a fellow by the name of Christian Desautels who was ecstatic to have a SV650S as he moves up the chain. Hopefully he won't catch the speed bug that I have, that just won't let me have anything but something outlandishly quick. It's a sickness, and it interferes with enjoying other things in life. But when you have it, you have it. More than 10 years hiatus from fast motorized vehicles taught me I'll never lose it. Hopefully I'll see Christian out on the road some day and he'll have an ear-to-ear smile.