This is only my second Yamaha, ever. I don't know how long I'll keep it. It kinda hurts my old back,to ride longer than an hour. I think I want a cruiser, but had never ridden feet forward. I figured I would re-start my motorcycling in a familiar position.
This is my bike history, years and ages approximate. :

1973 10 Tecumseh 5hp mini bike around the neighborhood.

1974 11 Honda Trail 50 to ride at the camp on the bayou.

1976 13 Kawasaki Enduro to ride around the neighborhood, in the woods and at the levy of Lake Pontchartrain.

1980 17 Kawasaki KZ 400 to ride everywhere.

1985 22 Kawasaki Ninja 600. Wife bought it for me as a wedding gift.

1986 23 traded wrecked 600 Ninja for Yamaha RZ350 (red, white & blue, not yellow & black) two stroke. That bike was exciting (ie, scared the crap out of me). In case you're curious, I was drunk and stoned, wheelie-ing through a stop sign and T-boned a Datsun Z car.

1987 24 joined the Navy and the RZ350 was sold while I was in boot camp.

1988 25 shared a Honda Shadow (500?) with a buddy, for commuting to the base. We had overnight duty on opposing days.

1989 no motorcycles...

2020 57 wife passed away in January. Was telling coworker how bad life stinks. He put his have on my shoulder and said solemnly, "you need a motorcycle". Two weeks later I bought a 2008 Yamaha FZ6.

I don't ever recall doing anything to get a motorcycle license. Maybe it was no big deal. Maybe I never did.
Now, as a mature and responsible adult, I have to pay for and compete two different courses of instruction, in order to obtain a motorcycle endorsement.

Welcome to the site!
And thanks for sharing. You have goos storytelling skills