Hello from Ottawa

Hello all.
.
My name is Matt (as my user name might suggest), and I'm from Ottawa Canada.
.
I'd always stayed away from motorcycles and motorcycling because I knew how much I like speed (I figured underneath me any motorcycle would turn into a concrete-seaking missile).
My sister on the other hand, has always loved Harleys and cruisers in general.
.
Trying to find a "great" birthday present for her, I did some reading and eventually decided to give her the gift of education - in this case, the motorcycle safety course. While doing my own research I came across several bikes that I thought looked awesome (the Rebel 250 being the first. I thought I could really see myself on one of those, and with only 17hp, I wouldn't kill myself either!). Talking things out with my parents I got them interested as well - my Mother used to ride in her youth, and my Dad has (unknown to me) been dreaming of owning a motorcycle for years.
.
So last summer the four of us took the safety course together. Those two days on the bikes in a parking lot were some of the best family bonding we've had in a decade.
.
Less than two months after the course my Dad had a 1983 Suzuki GS 450, and my Mom had a 1983 Honda Custom 250 (Basically a Rebel with a drum brake up front). I rode both of those before finding my own 1984 Honda Interceptor 500. I kept riding my Dad's GS after I bought my Interceptor due to what can only be considered one of the worst dealership "situations" I've ever seen.
.
Eventually (mid February) things with the dealership got sorted and I signed the paperwork on a 2003 ZZR250 with just over 2000km on the odometer. I hope to up that odometer considerably this summer :)