i'm a late starter (parents refused to let me get a bike, lived with the now wife in an apartment for awhile that was not conducive to owning a motorcycle) - finally moved to a house and got my license at 26 - been riding for 4 years now. I've had a lot of hobbies - i surfed for awhile but always felt like an outsider, i mountain biked and raced for a long time but that felt more solitary and i was too young to really get into the community.
Got my moto license and fell into a great group of sport bikers in NJ who did track days and great/safe group rides. Helped each other with maintenance. I learned how do basic maintenance on my bike (never had the background in anything mechanical) from them but i still have a lot to learn.
Moving cross country is stressful - i'm starting in a new place with literally 0 friends but part of me feels assured that at least I have riding in common with some people and who knows where that takes it.
Riding has always been an activity that requires 100% of my attention - can't look at my phone - can't think about other things - can't worry about work or life - when i realized that - i fell in love with it. I dont think anything would ever get in the way of me giving it up and i made sure my wife knew that before i bought my first bike.
I've seen some really nasty spills - i had to clear a patch for a helicopter to land to take one of my friends to the hospital after he broke his back riding. Those moments really challenge the desire to ride but through those i'd like to think that everyone accepts the risk of what this sport is and does it anyway. I don't go out thinking i'll die but if it happens for some unforeseen reason - so be it i guess. I think about motorcycles 24/7 - it just seems worth the risk and maybe that's stupid but i don't know how else to make sense of that feeling.
I'm an aspiring lifer