Riding for fun and adventure...

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by mrlmd1

As an aside, I can't believe the dealer didn't give you a full tank of gas, you get one in a car when you leave the showroom.

Impulse buyer. Love is blind. :whistle:

Wonder what else they screwed him out of because of those thick rose-colored glasses he had on ??? :roll:

[mrlmd1]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Impulse buyer. Love is blind. :whistle:

Wonder what else they screwed him out of because of those thick rose-colored glasses he had on ??? :roll:

You said it, I'm glad of that, and I agree.
But If I said that, someone (maybe you) would have jumped all over me. :poke2: :biggrin:

[alanmcorcoran]

Originally Posted by mrlmd1

A few questions now that you've had this for a short while - we need your experience now to educate the rest of us.

Any reservations or recommendations now on moving up from a 250cc, 300lb, to 1800cc's, 800lb., motorcycle, without stopping somewhere in between first?

Not really any reservations as far as the bike or the size. In fact, I'm glad I skipped the mid range. Would have been a waste of time and money (for me, anyway) I think. Here's a few things that you guys didn't mention, but should be considered by upgraders:
Inseam is VERY IMPORTANT when upgrading. Ideally, you should be able to touch the ground, while on the seat, with both feet flat. I'm 5'11" and I can't quite do that, but I'm pretty close.
INSURANCE. This will ultimately be my single biggest cost. Probably the single most important consideration for most competent riders NOT to go too big.

I've only been on it three days, so don't want to sound like Johnny expert, but, regular readers know I am a big pussy and, if I was afraid of the thing, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you. I have had to tighten up my slow speed maneuvers and, it takes a few days to re-adjust to the start/stop, clutch control business, but, honestly, once the thing is going, I sometimes forget I'm on a bike that's twice as big as my old one. A good analogy is trading up to an Excursion from a pinto. It's gonna be a lot different in the parking lot, but, once you are on the road and going, you are never going back to the Pinto.

How does it handle in the city congested type of traffic being that big?

The Strat handles real nice. The only time I get a little clenchy is on stops/starts on steep hills. I'm getting better at those, but you have to focus or you'll have "issues." On the flats, it's no problem at all. Best "tip" can give is: Plan your stops, take it esy - and waituntil the bike has stopped moving before you attempt to put your feet down. It's really no big deal.

How long do you think that ear to ear grin is going to last every time you even think about it as well as ride it? For most of us including me, it would probably be forever. I doubt it will wear off, but let me know anyway.

Unfortunately, I tend to get used to stuff pretty quickly. To be serious for a moment, I'm a little sad because this is one of my last little middle aged fantasies, and, well, now I've done it. I still haven't taken a long road trip with it, I'm looking forward to that, but as many of you oldsters are well aware, the anticipation of these things is often better than the event itself. One good thing is that I don't have any buyer's remorse (the impulse buyer's hangover!) If anything, I think I got the right bike for me. Did I mention I tend to overthink these things!!

As an aside, I can't believe the dealer didn't give you a full tank of gas, you get one in a car when you leave the showroom.

That's actually not always true. I am, among other things, an ex-car salesman, and back in the day, we didn't do that as a matter of routine. I did use it a few times to close a deal, but I had to take the car myself to the gas station and fill it with my own money. Of course back then we were talking, like 6 or 7 bucks. I know some dealers do that as a matter of course, but it's not universal.

[music man]

One or two words of advice Alan, First of all don't be so quick to say that you are glad you skipped the mid-range bikes, because A: you haven't ever even rode a mid-range bike, and B: you haven't rode that big bike long enough to make that kind of judgement call.

But that being said, if you did get what you really wanted on the first try, you will be a lot luckier than I ever have been, Oh and I haven't got to say this yet, Nice Bike Alan.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

1) Did we forget to mention the inseam thing? Well, that kind of goes along with gettting a bike that is TOO big. You can easily gain an inch with a different seat or by removing a little padding.

2) Does the douchebag-impluse buyer apply to buying insurance too ?? Shop around a bit. I don't know what you got or who with but many have found that the best "know" names for bike insurance are not always the best, price wise. Check with the company that insures your house or cars; sometimes they will insure a bike ONLY for existing customers. Get a big deductible.

3) Did we fail to warn you about that too ?? :roll:
No, believe me you aren't done yet. Just because you have one of the biggest monsters on the road doesn't mean it is the best. You WILL get the itch again.......might be years or only months.......... when you see something you like better. It is kind of like Herpes; never completely goes away and flares up again from time to time!! :biggrin:

[patrick_777]

Hell, you might actually end up wanting something *gasp* SMALLER!

[JWR]

And your problem would be???????? :jo: :jo: :jo:

[patrick_777]

Originally Posted by JWR

And your problem would be???????? :jo: :jo: :jo:

I'm sorry? :skeptical:

[JWR]

No , you posted while I was was on reply.

I should have used the quote function.

Just :poke2: :poke2:

[patrick_777]

No prob.