I was *this* close to a Harley and didn't know it!

 2006, I pick up a barely used 2005 Honda Aero 750. I outfit it with a
Mustang seat, sissybar, etc to make it more comfortable for me wife to
ride with me. We ride short distances, but the Aero proves not to be
an adequate 2-up platform.

Spring 2007, I'm out looking for something with more oompf. Set my
sights on a Honda VTX1300R and test ride one at a Honda dealer across
the water. Now, this is more like it. A little bigger feel than the
Aero and way more power. My mind races... Hmm, i could sell the
Aero... yadda...

The next week, I see an ad in my local paper for a 2002 VTX1800C.
Well, if the 1300 was that nice and 1800 must be better, so I'm off
the check it out. One spin down the block and I'm hooked and the bike
is cheaper than a new 1300.

Things work out and I buy the 1800 and sell the Aero. I tell the wife
I've got a bike that can take us to the Honda Hoot in TN next year.

Later that summer, my wife has both knees replaced. It's a rather long
recovery - she's still recovering, in fact. This past fall/winter I
asked her about the Hoot so I can make reservations. Her knees just
aren't up to it, she says.

Oh well, guess I'll just enjoy the 1800 for what it is - a thrill
ride.

Spring 2008, I'm tiring of the bulkiness of the 1800. I feel like I'm
getting a large SUV out of the garage every time I ride.

So, I sell the 1800 to a retired NAVY guy who - of all things - wants
a bigger bike to ride he and his wife to the Honda Hoot in TN (the
same reason I bought the 1800 for in the first place). I mean, my wife
has decided she doesn't want to ride great distances other than to
local eateries and such, so I don't need the 1800.

That week, I'm looking for a new bike. I checked new Kaw/Suz/Yam and
used bikes of nearly every make. The 1300R/S keeps popping back in
mind, so I start looking to a local deal on a new one and find a
dealer I respect that has leftover 2007 stock. I make the best deal I
can between this dealer and one closer to me and end up riding it home
Saturday.

This weekend, the wife talks about wanting to ride again and wants to
know if I can outfit the 1300 with one of those trunks with armrests
and a backrest for the passenger. You mean like a Harley, I ask. She
says, yes, I saw one at the mall today and the rider looked so
comfortable. Like a Harley... like a freakin'; HARLEY, I start yelling
in my mind, You mean you'd like to ride a HARLEY for CRYIN' OUT
LOUD??? Who knows how close I could have gotten to buying a new Harley
with her blessing, if I had only waited :)-

Actually, I don't want the payment right now - 2 kids in college, wife
has a new car, yadda. But I can tell you this - when I'm ready to buy
a Harley, I'm taking my wife to the dealership with me so she can
"talk me into" buying the Harley of her choice :)-

Greg

 
One word..."Goldwing".

 
Yeah, I thought she might have gotten the two confused, so I didn't
press her to identify what she thought was a Harley :)-

Related... when I went to pick up my 1300 at the delaership Saturday,
the GW riders assoc chapter that this dealership supports was
gathering in the parking lot. One of the folks there had a GW trike.
He was an older guy - 70 maybe. And the way he looked on that trike I
swear, it looked just like a mobility chair for the disabled only a
little bigger.

Greg

 

Yeah, I thought she might have gotten the two confused, so I didn't
press her to identify what she thought was a Harley :)-

Related... when I went to pick up my 1300 at the delaership Saturday,
the GW riders assoc chapter that this dealership supports was
gathering in the parking lot. One of the folks there had a GW trike.
He was an older guy - 70 maybe. And the way he looked on that trike I
swear, it looked just like a mobility chair for the disabled only a
little bigger.

Greg

When I was younger I used to scoff at the trikes and often refused to call
them motorcycles. Actually, when you think about it, they aren't. More like
a half motorcycle.

Anyway, as I have met more than a few older guys that actually ride them and
talked to them about _why_ they ride them, I realize that if not for the
trike, a lot of older, infirm and/or handicapped people wouldn't be able to
enjoy our sport without their existance.

I have a more respectful stance for them because of that.

 

<Vader>  Come to the dark side, Greg.   Join us, Greg, and together,
we shall rule the universe....  </Vader>