Well, you live in one of the few areas you could "get away" with a bike year round... but why? Don't get me wrong, I'm one of the few bike owners on the board... but for an only vehicle? Get real.
- Used bikes are much more expensive relative to used cars... $1500 buys a run-down early 80s japanese bike or a high-mileage early 90s ninja 250 ( they cost $3000 new, go figure )
< $1000 buys something that doesn't run. $3000 might buy a decent mid nineties used bike that was originally $5000. They just don't lose their value. Tack on another $500 if you plan on going to a dealer for said used bikes.
Compared to cars, you can get running and semi-reliable vehicles for <$1000 easily ( in Kentucky at least ) if you don't go to dealerships. Yeah, they'll look like shit, but your own transportation is much better than the alternatives unless you are an enviro-freak. $3000 goes a long way with used cars. $6000 buys you something great if you look around, and $10k puts you into luxury territory. In KY, at least.
- For a crotch rocket, maintenance and insurance is ungodly. Full insurance is impossible if you are a male and under 25, unless you plan on paying $2500 a year for it. Insurance on bikes is retardedly priced, thanks to all the squids buying GSXR1000s and flipping them driving off the dealership lot.
Cars get new tires every 30,000 miles at minimum, and the tires generally cost $250 a set. "crotchrockets" and most dual sports blow through tires at 4-8k miles and are $300 a set. And you go through sprockets, chains.... get the point yet? Any used bike you get, you'll be putting in craploads of money to keep it running. Especially if you buy a used sportbike, which probably has been tampered with, wrecked, and abused by the previous owner ( 95% of all sportbikes meet one of these criteria )
Still want a bike? Do searches for "used bike buyers guides" and go find a Nighthawk 750. They have low-maintenance but strong engines ( 130 mph top speed, if you care
) that pretty much require nothing other than an oil change. Learn to do your own maintenance, buy health insurance ( necessary ) and protective gear ( necessary ) and take the MSF course ( should be necessary ) . Figure in another $1200 for those three things if you don't already have health insurance as I've heard the MSF is $250 in CA.
Or, post a budget and I'll be glad to help with your car selection.
Edit: Oh yeah, you mentioned you rammed a truck. Has this happened before? One of the first things they teach you in the MSF course is if you have alot of close-calls or wrecks in a car, you'll also have them on a bike. And in a bike, the lethality is increased 200% or so.
And you wanted a truck to stay safe from other trucks? You do know that avoiding accidents is always safer , no matter what you drive, right? MSF again.
And you are wanting to get a sportbike? Hmmm... think heavily on the subject of a bike. It's a serious reponsibility. And that, in your words, "is the bitter truth"