Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, the deed is done.
The more I road the more it became obvious that two bikes is the minimum for me but, my primary ride has got to;
1 Feel stable on the highway including making me feel happy
2 Comfortable for 2 up
3 Storage galore
4 Very good turner
5 Have some serious ass
6 More than happy to go to the bank or store
3 doesn't count because anything can be geared-ed up, including the busa
The busa buffeted me too much but, is ROCK solid in and of itself on the highway. 1/2 point deduction. No good on 2. Final score; 4.5/6
Concours left me a vague feeling on the highway I still can't put my finger on after two decent rides a month apart. Plus it was the loudest helmet noise of all, even with the adjustable shield. And I would not be comfortable with a passenger. 4/6
V Star 1300 not a great turner. Good ass, not great. 4.5/6
K1300GS; Didn't like the way it made me sit. Sticker shock (part of my making me happy
)
R1200RT; Runner up, sticker shock 5/6
R1200GS second or third bike. Not a 2 up machine for me 5/6
Ultra Classic; too much of a pig around town, sticker shock 4/6
Road King; better around town but, I felt like I needed to stand up and put both feet on the inside peg to turn the thing on twisties plus beach bars kept hitting telephone poles. On both sides of the road. At the same time. Quiet on the highway. I think. All I could hear was 'lope, lope, whirrr, rumble, zzzzz"
Buell didn't get much of a test.
I road 3 bikes I did NOT want to get off; the 1200Rt, the r1200 and the Strat.
The Strat shocked me how well it turns. the 50/50 balance seems to be for real and seems to help around town as well.
1800 cc's is not the same as the k1300 or busa in terms of their fluid, electro-mag-esque ZZZZZZZZOOOOOMMM. It has that V twin roar and violence that, well, when that bytch harmonizes, that just flat out kicks ass. Roar. It is a long twist between take off and there ain't no more. I like it.
I don't even notice the passenger.
IT is not as calm for me on the highway as the r1200rt, got that big twin eyeball vibe, brain rattle thing but not as bad as the HD's.
And I like no fairing. At least on this bike. I didn't like 'no fairing' on the v star 1300 for some reason.
All told, #2 on the highway behind the RT in total comfort but, evens the score with that 850 pound solid footing and I think for me, better for 2 up.
I seem to evolved to be happier in cruiser sit position than sport/cruise which surprises me but, it is what it is. Saying that, I LOVED my position on the R1200gs. If any of you have ridden South Mountain, and if you haven't, you've ridden dozens of places just like it, I didn't want it to end on the Strat.
And that was the tipping point; of the three bikes I did NOT want to get off, the Strat had the most other variables.
So, again, I thank you all for your input. It was VERY helpful and made for a very interesting evolution.
2008 Stratoliner 3,400 miles, 12,800 on the road including 3 year Yami-warranty.
