Hrmf, I've heard that theory a bit too many times by now...and as I don't agree with it it honestly won't win you any favors.
Yes, I
am the right age for a midlife crisis alright
...but that's not what this was about*.
I've had a motorcycle before and it's a fantastic feeling riding on one. You can only really know if you've tried it. Unfortunately the last one I had was a piece of shit and it really tainted my desire to own one again - which is why it's been 12 years since I sold it and I've only gotten one now.
I've been meaning to get one for 3-4 years, but as I don't really need one (I can get to work on my normal bike in less than 15 minutes), and because I like saving up for bigger things (like a new apartment) I've held back. It was really my recent trip to Cuba that made me consider doing something about it. There was a lot of them there (and they looked impossibly more expensive than I thought they could afford) so when I got back I decided that now was the time. I have the money...so why not. And really - all things told it's not
that extravagant a buy. It's used but in really good condition and I "only" paid £2700 for it. It was a really good buy.
I didn't buy it to be cool, or to be seen - I don't care about things like that. I've bought it to make it easier to get from A to B without relying to friends or public transport - and of course just to experience the feeling of riding again. Did you know that when motorcycle riders pass each other they always (or most often anyway) greet each other; either with a nod or a wave? ...you don't get that when you drive a car, and it makes you feel part of something bigger than yourself. It's a great feeling.
* A psychologist may have something else to say about it, but general assumptions don't apply to every one, and in this case - because I'm pretty sure I know how
I feel - I'm confident that this is not a midlife crisis thing. I don't have a wife, don't have kids, I live alone. I can basically do what I want. I have nothing to escape from.