Wanted a bike for years

Craig writes:

Pull up a seat. It all started about 20 years ago, as a young adult, I had a burning desire to buy a motorcycle. Back then Honda's were pretty cool. But alas, my dreams were squished by my inability to afford both a car and a bike. Then I got myself married some 13 years ago. Went once with the wife after getting married and drooled all over all the local iron. Still couldn't justify the cost, seeing I'd only be able to ride a few months out of the year, living in RI. Having gone through the spring ritual, bothering dealers and recalculating the finances for several uneventful years, flash to 1999. I was bitten by the bug and infected. Was positive it would be a cruiser, sport bikes are only for wantabe angels, I kept telling myself. Justified the cost with the wife, "but honey I'm going to be saving so much by not buying another car," yada, yada, yada. Gained her approval finally in September.

Had my heart set on a Marauder until I seen a V-Star Custom; was lust at first sight. Figured I'd check out the Shadow's, at least a check see anyway; no go. What's that over in the corner, a smaller sportbike. Hey this thing fits like a glove, no weight and balance problems here. Dual exhaust - I like the symetrical look of dual exhaust - a tach, temp guage, hey, did I mention it fit like a glove? It was like putting on your favorite pair of raggedy old jeans, not only did it fit, it felt natural and comfortable astride my newly found mount. Did I mention it fit like a glove? The wife tried to talk me out of it, but I convinced her I'd be saving even more than if I bought the cruiser. It's liquid cooled, it'll last longer honey, it'll be less expensive to maintain. The rest as they say is history, picked it up November 19th and have over 1,500 miles on it. No I don't live in RI anymore, home is now GA so I get to ride much more often. Now it looks like the Ninja 600 is in the plans for a fall purchase, the wife wants the 250; it's a perfect fit for her at 5'1". That's my story and I'm sticking to it.