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My wife has never liked motorbikes, I had one when we met in 1974. Sold it when I went abroad (RAF) after we got married in 1975. Next bike was mid 1990's when my car was stolen and I had a Honda Superdream to commute home at the weekends from Maidenhead to Gloucester and back. She started to realise that everytime I went out I was not coming back a mangled wreck in the back of an ambulance!Very nice.
I'll show my wife this thread when she gets back in later this afternoon. I've been banned from motorbikes since we got married 30 years ago.
I'll let you know how it goes
You have the answer............... Arrange for the car to be "stolen".Very nice.
I'll show my wife this thread when she gets back in later this afternoon. I've been banned from motorbikes since we got married 30 years ago.
I'll let you know how it goes
Still miss my bikes, I'd have another one in a heartbeat if I could. I had a Harley Dynaglide for a year or so back in the mid 2000s ish. It was bought on a total whim and fortunately I had it at the same time as My Honda VFRs, I can see the appeal but it just wasn't for me. I ended up turning it into a Bobber and selling it for more than i paid for itI had the HONDA CTX1300 for 2 years but I've always had a problem, the only one I must say, in that it was so heavy when moving around by hand. The slightest incline would give me trouble or a tight manouvre I'd tend to drop it.
I had to decide that a 350kg bike is just too heavy for me as I get older (I'll be 71 this coming November) and so looked around.
I test rode a few, liked the Honda CrossTourer Highlander but again it was just a little too heavy, Suzuki VT800 was awful to ride due to continuous vibration even cruising in top gear. I liked the courtesy Honda Rebel 500 but it was too small and then spotted that Thunderroad Gloucester had a Harley Sportster Superlow in so I thought it was worth a go. I did test ride a Street Bob about 4 years ago and liked it but not for cruising. This Sportster is the XL1200T, a touring version of the sportster. They have removed the peanut tank and put on a larger tank so you can go more than 75 miles! Added a windshield and panniers. When I saw it, still dirty from just being taken in, I liked the look of it and booked a test ride.
Very different to the CTX but I recognised that I could live with this bike. It's only 100cc less but 100kg lighter. I pushed it around, very easy, and being superlow it is easy when stopping. Harley throbbing is a bonus and the vibration that is there smooths out when cruising.
In short, I love it, in a very different way to how I loved the CTX but it really does suit me better in a number of ways
I've added a large top box for when I go camping, which I did a few weeks ago down in Wales when we had a lot of torrential rain! The bike performed well and I'm very pleased.
First view of the Harley when I went for the test ride (that wet on the ground is from a quick wash the dealer did to make it look a bit better).
As it is now
The tank and air cleaner cover
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) - who knows what the future may bring? At the moment I'm happy fettlin' old Brit cars but a bike as well would be the cherry on top.
Probably on retention Rodders, the fella who bought it had a private reg he used on his bikes ......... He could also have wrecked it of course
Talking of my past vehicles, Tess has been sold on again. No profit involved, James sold it for what he gave me for it to someone darn sarf. Apparently he wanted to go back to owning a Porsche again.
My very first bike was a CB175 in 1974, applied for my test as the guy in the bike shop said it would be at least 3 months before I got a test appointment. Got a letter (yes, before emails!) saying they'd had a cancellation so I took my test after just one month. Mind you, it was a very different test to that which new riders have to take nowadays, in fact it was a bit of a joke looking back but I did pass.Funnily enough I've got a bike 'urge' ... nothing big and adventurous .. just another 'unticked' Bucket List item . My first bike in 1973 was a Honda CD175 , loved it to bits , brand new etc but I really wanted the CB175 which was just outside my price list. Scroll on 46 years and with recent 'recapture of youth' stuff like Kawasaki triples and Honda 750K2's etc etc (as detailed under the Bike section here on the forum , a CB175K6 fully restored has come under my radar ..... a few pics for you motorcycle buffs . It's a very very comprehensive 'rebuild/ restoration' with a 1000 + detailed pictorial disc. Shall I ? Would be nice to just pat it now and again .....
It's funny you should say that about the Harley attraction syndrome. I never had it really although I always liked the sound of a Harley. Happened across this one because I was looking for something smaller and lighter but, as above, it's only 100cc less than the CTX but 100Kg lighter at around 260kg. Makes a huge difference to my ability to push it around, plus it is the 'Superlow' model. Now the Harley Syndrome - I really feel it when I'm riding that sportster, I can't really define it but I do feel good, in a different way to the enjoyment of riding the CTX. You do have to ride the Harley whereas the CTX pretty much rode itself in many respects.Glad you are happy with the 'Harley' DJ.....strangely despite my love of most things motorcycle, I've just never understood the attraction, similarly with the 'Gold wings'....especially these towing trailers, they might just as well buy a small car!!.....I just love chucking a two wheeler into a corner, it's what it's about for me.
I must admit I'm finding the 450kg 'Firestorm' something of a handful as I approach 60 (twelve months to go :frantic: ).....so I keep looking for something a little less powerful, but then 'the power' is part of the addiction!
