Just have to say I love riddin my motorcycle

[zzzdat]

New bike guy,

Love it,

This weekend I picked a direction and went, used road signs to navigate around the country roads, no rhyme or reason for a destination, just went.

A total of almost 300 miles. A new passion.

Thats all, just had to say.

Cool Beans

Gene

[JGale]

Tits...Err...Pics! or GTFO!

[zzzdat]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-VTX-1300S-MINT-ONLY-2510-MILES-XTRAS-CHEAP-/160953047713?pt=US_motorcycles&forcev4exp=true#v4-37Here it is,

All stock, will probably keep it that way

[tbonesullivan]

Nice! How is the ride? I've looked at the Honda VTX 1300 series for a while. Seem a bit more manageable than the super huge 1800 series they had for a while.

Of course, part of me really wants to get a V-strom from Suzuki, as I like standard bikes more than cruisers. My current bike:

Also, I just have to say, SCREW YOU HARLEY DAVIDSON.

Why?

Because they shuttered Buell. Buell was the greatest and best hope for modern innovative UNITED STATES MADE motorcycles, but their new CEO, after he rolled in, decided it was stupid, and had it closed.

[zzzdat]

The VTX 1300 is my first street bike, I can't compare it to others. My friend who has had other bikes and now has a Yamaha vstar1100, really likes it, a Harley guy I know really likes it, I;ve seen it used for police patrols. It is very smooth with a lot of low end torque, I've been up to 90 MPH for a short blast and it had no issues with power or stability, I usually just putt at around the speed limit. So i'm told being a cruiser the slower speed handling is a bit trickier, but I'm used to it. I wanted an cool old man cruisin bike, and this fits the bill. It took a while for me to get cornering from a stop nailed on this big bike, but after that I just took off and rode.

Another friend of mine has a yellow honda that looks just like yours, the four cylinder engine feels way different, revs way faster, has more upper end zing to it.

Cool Beans

Gene

[tbonesullivan]

The nighthawk is the direct descendant of the UJM (universal japanese motorcycles) of the 70s, which were in fact very similar to the older Triumph and BSA motorcycles. Inline twins, and later quads, upright riding position, lightweight and nimble. Not as unstable and wind cutting as a sport bike, but a nice happy medium. Sadly, in the US, standard motorcycles don't sell very well. In Europe, and just about everywhere else, variations of the "standard" and "sport" bike reign supreme. They have more winding roads, and in general that platform is more user friendly on those types of roads. The big cruisers are great for highways and long curving roads, but in the twisties if you don't know your stuff you can get your ass handed to you.

I actually was more of a fan of the Shadow Spirit line that came before the VTX series. They were more of an upright "bobber" style than the VTX series.

Also, don't let anyone diss on a VTX. They are a great platform for customization, and just great bikes overall. Very well engineered. What is important is that YOU like it. You are the one that has to ride it after all. Nothing makes me laugh more than seeing the idiots around my area driving "custom choppers" (choppers my ass) that have zero suspension, handle like a pig, and make a ton of noise. If it rides like hell and makes your back/ass/shoulders hurt, what's the point? it's all about comfort.

What I see a lot of is people with bikes that are just way too big for them, or their experience level. Going directly from a MSF course to a 1800 CC cruiser is NUTSO.

[zzzdat]

Just saw the quote on the Buell's, Thats what I took the motorcycle foundation safety course on, and the bike I used to take and pass the SC drivers road course to get a license. I really liked the way those bikes were built and the way that they handled.

The place I took the MSF course was Thunder Tower in Columbia SC, they had a shit load of the 500's they used for motorcycle training. Taking the test on that bike was way easier than taking it my bike for sure, they handled great.

Cool Beans

Gene

[diablo175]

Cool.

This was my ride all stock and newbie:

And after the mods. Ya see? I can't leave well enough alone on anything, not just guitars...

[Jem]

Ahemmm...................i actually went to test ride a Sportster. "They're very special and different from Japanese bikes sir" said the sales guy, "i know, i've ridden Triumph's, Norton's, Laverda's and the like all my life, even had a Sportster in passing once" i replied, "oh, which model sir", "a '76 XLH", "an H, that was the hot one, what did you think of it ? "he enquired" one up, three down, no f'king brakes" i replied before i stabbed the starter button and chugged on up the road. On my return the keen salesman immediately ask's "so what do you think, an improvement on the old one you had ?", "yes", was my reply but before his smile could gain full strength i added "it's now one down, four up and no f'king brakes !"

Had the M2 for 12 years now and i can't see us parting anytime soon.

[jettster]

Congrats and enjoy!!! Me and the better half both ride and have had a blast so far.

[BadgerDave]

Nothing like being "in the wind".

mine:

[Thundernotes]

Snow is quickly turning to mud around here, but I suspect within a month or so, I'll be back out riding this. There's a nice twisty ride to my new job too.

[JGale]

OMG! You're a fucking cat! All this time, I never guessed.

Meow dood.

[kizanski]

[hamerhead]

Had it widened and added a couple wheels. Less tippy now.

[diablo175]

OMG! You're a fucking cat! All this time, I never guessed. Meow dood.

Nah, he's a wizard from Hogwarts- turns into a cat until someone comes to sit on his bike or steal it, then he changes into a raging pissed off bike owner.

[Toadroller]

Congrats and enjoy!!! Me and the better half both ride and have had a blast so far.

Nothing like being "in the wind".

mine:

Snow is quickly turning to mud around here, but I suspect within a month or so, I'll be back out riding this. There's a nice twisty ride to my new job too.

Love the Triumph, the Beemer, the Connie. Am eyeing an older Triumph Trophy myself this spring. It's been too long without a bike. Left my old Suzie behind in Colorado back in '05.

[sledhead44]

My new ride. Still in dealer storage. Can't wait to get it home.

[gwayne]

I hear ya Gene. I picked this up last year and can't stay off it. Aren't you near Columbia? We need to hook up and put in some miles.

[Brooks]

Congrats and enjoy!!! Me and the better half both ride and have had a blast so far.

nice ride rodney!

the bikes are nice looking, too.

riding my bike is the most enjoyable hobby, and i really needed something else in my life after 30+ years of guitars/bands.

love my kawasaki vulcan, much more comfortable than the HD 883 i had.

[Turdus]

I'm jealous... last bike I spent any serious time with was this Suzuki, and its been over 30 years.

[jettster]

dgstandard - looks like some killer places to ride!! My brother has a street bike and a dual sport and has had a lot more close calls riding off road. (Had a fair share of both truth be told)

[specialk]

Nice bikes! I'd love to have a street bike one day but for now I guess I'll just have to play in the dirt...

Nice bikes, but I really like that Toyota pickup! Yours?

[JGale]

Just $7000, south of here in Birmingham. SO. VERY. TEMPTING.

I saw one decked out for touring last week in Seneca Rocks. My only exposure to date with V-twinns has been through Harley. This supermoto/tourer was very un-Harley like.

[dgstandard]

^ I would love one of those!

Nice bikes! I'd love to have a street bike one day but for now I guess I'll just have to play in the dirt...

Nice bikes, but I really like that Toyota pickup! Yours?

Yep

[dgstandard]

oooops