The cats out of the bag
Today was my first real day being 22 years old, so naturally I wake up early and drive up to Richmond and visit the Richmond Honda House. . . Naturally.
When I get there I am greeted by sales manager Evan Chalfont who I was referred to when talking to uncle Art earlier this week. Evan shakes my hand and as I start to turn to the black Rebel 250 on the showroom floor Evan says come with me and escorts me down the hall, past the offices to the garage in the back.
There must be a hundred bikes back there but the only bike that has my attention is the 2005 candy orange Rebel 250 Evan is pointing out. I got stupid-excited. The bike is beautiful. I start to lift my jaw from the floor and before I can get a word out he says that we should look at it in the sunlight. I watch him push the bike out of the garage thinking to myself how this 300 pound ’starter bike’ is perfect for me.
We get the bike out in the sun and it hits me. That candy orange paint isn’t ugly. I was relieved, it wasn’t nearly as stunning on my computer monitor at home the week before. The pictures I had seen didn’t give it justice. This bike has character. I’m thrilled, admiring its black leather, metallic candy orange paint, and chrome so shiny you knew this baby just got off the production line.
Evan encourages me to get on so I climb on and it hits me. That feeling I got on the back of uncle Larry’s GoldWing is here in full force, except this time I’m in the drivers seat. Grab the handle bars and put my feet up on the pegs. I feel like a kid on a bike, pretending to drive around. The engine isn’t even on but I’m going places in my imagination.
I confess to Evan what a total n00b I am and he proceeds to give me a quick tour, explaining the function of each pedal going over the gears. That’s really neat but a lot of controls. Good thing I’ve got all that hand-eye coordination from playing video games.
We head inside and start talking financials. The bike is three kilobucks, and while I could make a deduction from savings I decide to seize this opportunity to establish some credit. Somehow I don’t think buying my iPod on credit and immediately paying it off is all I need to do in the credit department so Evan has me fill out a credit application for first time Honda buyers. He enters my info into the computer and the waiting game begins as the magic 8-Ball on the other end decides my purchasing fate. This is supposed to be a 15 to 45 minute process, but being Saturday afternoon now it may take longer.
While we wait Evan takes me next door to their accessory store where I meet Kenny. Kenny shows me a plethora of helmets and I try a few on. Being that I’m not anticipating any extended trips in the near future I opt not to get a helmet with a built in visor. I try on a few that don’t fit me, Including the classic white “C.H.I.P.S.” helmet. Finally I find one that is comfortable and doesn’t make me look like a dork. Oops, too late.
I spend some more time with Kenny looking at some other accessories, including locks. I listen nervously as Kenny tells me the story of how his dirt bike was recently stolen from his garage, however he claims to have never had problems parking outside his apartment. I decide on a chain and disc lock, and accept the fact the no matter how big the chain is, if someone is determined enough nothing will keep my bike 100% safe.
After looking at jackets and constantly walking over to my soon-to-be Rebel Evan greets me again with great news. My application has been approved and now all they need is a pay stub and money. Crap, why have I been carrying this library card I never use around everywhere when really I needed a pay stub.
So it turns out that I’m going to have to come up again on Monday to get the bike, but that’s ok because Evan assures me that the beautiful candy orange Rebel I’ve been ogling over for the last hour will still be there Monday, with my name on it.
I’m so excited, I can’t wait to get it back home and… Look at it… Wishing I had the right training and license. I’ll be getting in the MSF training class this weekend and hopefully the weather will clear up so I can take her out for a gentle spin.