I don’t remember exactly how I felt riding for the first time, but I am 100% sure about the fact that it was way too before the legal age to ride motorcycle (It’s very common in India, as almost every households will have a motorcycle within their family). I got my motorcycle licence within a week I turned 18 and soon my parents brought me a motorcycle. It was a 150cc Bajaj Pulsar, very stylish model of motorcycle in India. I used it for almost 8 years and now my father is using it.
Motorcycles in Australia is different story. While it was used as a cheap medium for daily commute back in India, here it’s more of a passion. Owning and maintaining a motorcycle or a car is almost the same cost in Australia. So why I went with the choice of motorcycle?
I love motorcycles. This is the primary reason of the choice. For me its absolute joy to ride one. I get some kind of peace of mind by riding it. After a long day at work, 20 minutes ride back to home is quite relaxing and makes my mind refreshed. The brotherhood between two riders shared between each other by nodding their heads while passing each is awesome. It’s an added advantage that you could save a few bucks on the fuel cost. Ten-dollar fuel can fill up the tank and would be more than enough for a month of pleasure ride. I am not a huge fan of lane filtering and cutting through the traffic though I do it. I think its risky as I am seeing daily many car drivers not paying attention on road by using the mobile while in traffic or in traffic intersection. According to the rules of Victoria, Australia, motorcycles can be parked in the footpaths unless it is said not. So, finding a parking spot is absolutely no brainer for a rider. You can park literally anywhere unless it causes problem to public. I got two mates who share similar outlook about motorcycles. They got motorcycle and we often go for small, delightful rides. There are a lot of big groups active in Melbourne, if you are highly passionate, you can join in some of them to have the ultimate fun.
Yeah, I know it is highly danger and prone to accidents. I too had mine at South Yarra, a few years ago while changing lanes, I slipped on the tram track which was wet due to rain. Apart from that, it’s also risky when its windy, especially in winter. The high-speed cross winds can blow away a rider from his lane. The maintenance is on the expensive side. I must say it’s a loot compared to the service they provide at service centres. The spare parts availability is another issue I face here in Australia. It’s not easy to get, even the new parts. Forget the second-hand parts, there is nothing called second hand spare parts market for motorcycles in Australia just like the cars. Also, I felt the mechanics also lack the expertise compared to what we used to get in India. It may be due to shear different number of motorcycles in both countries, but often they even fail to find the exact reason for a problem.
I won’t recommend selling your car and getting a motorcycle. As I said in my ‘My fear of starting this personal blog‘ post, life is short, play safe and enjoy. But if you really love and don’t want to join the ordinary, do something different. I am sure that those things will make you happy in long term.
Ride safe, enjoy your trip!
Sreedeep