My cousin was in a small accident with a Toyota Camry on his. The fender of the other car was bent, but it didn't need to be replaced. My cousin's arm came off and needed to be reattached. The problem isn't with your visibility, it's with other people not noticing you. You have the be twice as good to watch out for people who aren't watching for themselves.

As for expense, you can get a pretty good used motorcycle for $2,000 and $7,500 for a really good new one.

I have my eye on one right now, actually. And I'm on the same timeline you are.

Hi, Kid;
   My first vehicle was a motor cycle, a tiny Harley manufactured in Italy.  A motor cycle is loads of fun, gets great gas mileage, and the insurance is cheaper.  However, they're difficult, dangerous, and uncomfortable  (sometimes very much so) to ride in inclement weather.  Also, check the stats.  You are in much more danger driving a cycle than a car.  In fact, you are 16 times more likely to die in a motor cycle crash than you are a car crash.  If your dream is to have a motor cycle you'll get one no matter what I write here. Not everyone who drives a motor cycle dies.  Just be very careful. 
http://www.massgeneral.org/children/adolescenthealth/articles/aa_motorcycle_safe...

What rat-man said!! I've owned several.

Drive like you are an invisible Granny on your way to Sunday services and you may live with all major parts still attached ..or not.

There is extreme danger and extreme fun involved. Good luck.

PS I was a road-rash king and lucky to get out with all my parts still attached. Still like them though.

Hallo there!
I come from a family of bikers, in fact my great grandfather, of which I said on a different thread, had one of the first motorbikes, the 1917's Frera.
His son had several bikes, a pre-WWII Zundapp, and a couple of Harley WLA that were easy to be found after the war.
My dad owned more than 40 bikes, from German war bike to Japanese speed monsters, in the 70es; he was also a good off-road pilot. But he managed to buy 3 Moto Guzzi, the 1952's Airone 250cc, the 1969's V7 700cc, and the 1973's California 850cc.

I begun riding motorbikes when I was 6, so it's almost 20 years since I begun. I've had 12 different motorbikes (13, if we count the California that I inherited from dad), but have used more than 30.
When I was 12, I had the most exciting experience of my (motorized) life, because I was choosen with other 39 kids for a 2 days of race. In fact, a big sponsor was choosing pilots for the CIV (Campionato Italiano Velocità - Italian Speed Championship), and I happened to finish 6th within the pilots of my Region. We used Aprila RS 125cc with improved engines, that gave the lightweight bike a maximum speed of about 185 km/h.
As I grew up, I changed my mind, from speed to traveling, and I now own a 1986's Moto Guzzi Florida 350cc, which I use 365 days a year, with any weather.

Now, to the bad part.
I've been involved in 13 accidents since I was 6.
I had A LOT of luck. None of these accidents happened in the circuit (we were running at Magione, in Umbria), but in the traffic.
I caused none, but have been hitted twice by cars.
The last one could have been very dangerous (I was travelling on the highway), but luckily I was on my Florida, which is an old-style motorcycle (LOT of steel, LOT of weight, LOT of stability and solidity), and managed to keep control of the bike.
Not to boast, but I have a lot of experience in riding motorbikes. That surely help.

If I can give you some advices: avoid stupid behavior, such as zigzag on traffic; DO NOT buy a Vespa, for it has the engine on the left side, and does not turn well. Begin your biker career with slow, lightweight bikes. Buy a bike with 3 disc brakes. If it has the ABS, it's better (but you've to ride it slow until you get in touch with it).

I begun with a 38cc, then used lots of 50cc, a 125cc, the 350cc, and thanks to this graduate experience I've had no problems when I rode 500ccs, or the big and heavy California.
Motorcycles are one of the most beautiful things on Earth, but they can be very dangerous.

A close friend of mine, who used to race in rallies, died in my hands while I was trying to save him.
We had a bad accident because he was willing to show me how good he was in riding a powerful car under the rain.
I tell you, there's nothing more stupid than to die in a car or bike accident.
Life is worthless so drive carefully, and follow a safety driving course, there're hundreds of them organized by Companies.
Greetings, and V-lamps  
Mauro.

Personally, I have always loved motorcycles but in many ways they are not particularly practical as everyday transport and the bigger the bike the less practical. I don't know of anyone who has taken up motorcycling purely because it was a cheap option who has remained a long term rider.

Everyone mentions the danger factor and rightly so. But also keep in mind that there is no more weather dependent vehicle than a motorbike, much more so than a bicycle. On a bicyle you're doing 15 mph and generating your own warmth. On a motorbike you're going 35 mph or considerably faster and stuck right out there in the wind. As soon as it rains, unless you've got full weather gear, you're wet through and freezing. As I remember you're in Pennsylvania, so winter motorcycling is not only 10 times more dangerous because of the ice but even a short ride will have you exposed to hypothermia. Conversely in summer, leathers and a full face helmet can be insufferably hot.

Do your sums and work it ALL out. Don't be fooled by the apparently low fuel costs. For that matter don't be fooled by the apparent low cost of very small cars. Medium sized cars last a lot longer and repair bills for small low production run cars can be real killers.

Having said that small 'twist and go' scooters can be very handy in heavy traffic, a real buzz to ride. Harleys are great but for the experienced only.

When my Dad taught my sisters how to drive he pretty much had one min point to get across, "When you are driving, always assume every one else is an idiot."

Driving a bike can be pretty safe just do your best to stay on backroads and off the major highways and such.

hmm, yeah i guess i'll go with a car first, although i'll probably work on getting a license for both. riding a motorcycle does look like fun.