Hey alancorcoran, Look here

[alanmcorcoran]

I think this is another one of those religious arguments, like helmet vs. no helmet, ATGATT vs NEATGATT, Harley vs metric, where there are strong feelings on either side and not much point of discussion because neither side is going to budge. I've mentioned several times why I felt the GZ was not enough motorcycle for me and even explained that it may be related to the infrastructure, topography and weather where I live. I didn't mean to disparage everyone that is riding it, but I admitted I might have been in a pissier than normal mood when I posted about it being an eccentric novelty. Sorry again.

No matter how much one loves their GZ, for me it is not fun to ride in the hills, it is too slow for the highway, it is too light for windy and is also too light for the hacked up concrete that passes for freeways. My wife and I were carless for a day and a half as the Suburban needed brakes and I had lent my daughter's '95 Camry (200K) to a friend whose car was also in the shop. Had to ride two up down about 12 miles of freeway to collect the SUV today. Guess which bike I took?
The GZ is, however, a very adequate bike for going to work and flatish backcountry roads with 50 mph speed limits. It really shines in the areas of:

1) Gas mileage
2) Initial cost
3) Ongoing cost, especially insurance
4) As a bike to learn on
5) As a bike to work on
6) Maneuvering in tight spaces, such as parking lots, garages, and anywhere it must go backwards and/or uphill.

I've learned to ride at this point, and with the exception of the insurance and the occasional tight spaces, the rest are not priorities for me at this stage. I wanted to learn how to ride to live out the fantasy of the open road with the wind in my hair and, well, if the opportunity presented itself, kill victims infected with the T virus. I don't think the Strat is necessarily the perfect bike for that, but it was a lot closer and was somewhat of a bargain. I think the Resident Evil chick had a BMW and I suspect there will be one in my future. I hear it has a 7.5 gallon gas tank!