At least 55 years ago (so I was 5 or younger) my father tried a Vespa and gave me a ride. Scared the crap out of me.
Sometime in high school I tried a friend's 175 Suzuki. Getting rolling was OK, but I must have missed the instructions about stopping. Having to choose between a swimming pool and a cement wall, I took the wall. No real damage other than to my pride. But lost any interst I might have had in bikes.
Then, at 55, I figured I'd try again. Except, my 1st bike was a very cool old-school '76 Kawasaki KZ900. Not a great 1st bike, but I was determined. Got all of 46 miles over several weeks of terrorizing the neighbourhood when the cam chain got stuffed up into the engine. But, my good sense and training had me pull in the clutch, so nothing else was broken. Except my momentum to learn to ride.
The next summer, the 900 was still in pieces so I got a used 650 V-Strom. Great bike. Even managed to get my license. On the 4th try... Got many great miles that summer, and the next.
One night the next winter, though (and thats about 6 months long here in the Great White North), I read about the Spyder. The nearest dealer is 80 miles away. Long story short, he took a trade on my Suzuki and I rode the dealer's own GS (with only 2,300 km on it) back home. We had a couple of great summers. And maybe 15,000 km.
Then another 6 months of darkness, and I read about the RT. Hmmm, the mods I'd made to the GS were all to make it more of a tourer, so why not an RT instead. By this time it was August, though, summer was mostly done, and the dealers were stocking snowmobiles. Luck would have it, there was an RT in the colour and trim that I wanted about 150 miles away. Got the closer dealer to bring it in for me, and immediately I headed for the west coast on an extended test drive. Sold the GS this past summer. We went to the Montreal and back, so have another 15,000 km or so done. Think I'll keep the RT!
Then my Kawa came home late last summer, and we're trying to re-establish a relationship. I even re-did a 2-wheel training course last fall. They said I should become an instructor, so maybe I've still got it for a bike.
But I'm staying with the Spyder!
Except, here it is during the season of the long night, so what else is there out there to try... ;-)