STFlips
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Mrs Flips recently started a conversation saying “you need to lose a bit of weight”. I mumbled something about “yes dear, I should try that” or something similar.
She then went on and said “that bike in the garage is getting too heavy for you, if you want to keep riding, you will need something lighter”.
I did not mumble my response at all this time and said “yes dear, you are right again”.
Well now I had to think (and have been) about what bike would be a suitable replacement for the venerable and faithful ST. I know many of you here on the forum have been through this exercise previously. Shaft vs chain, DCT, quick shifter, panniers, top box, cruise control, heated grips, engine type, D modes, traction control, whew, let’s start.
Thanks to the threads “older riders” and many others here that I have read, I had a few ideas percolating. I checked out the motorcycle ergonomics site and read a bunch of MCN reviews (love their reviews) as well as seeing what was available in the local market. Sometimes I go overboard and do too much analysis, Mrs Flips then chipped in and said “you’re an engineering nerd, make a damned list with pros and cons”, duh, like she said, organize your thoughts. So first I made a list with bikes with some appeal, the ergos, comfort, weight and personal impressions (all totally subjective of course).
If you are interested, here is my list…
So the final result for me was...
Now squeezed into the garage where I hope it doesn't start a fight with the two Hondas in residence.
She then went on and said “that bike in the garage is getting too heavy for you, if you want to keep riding, you will need something lighter”.
I did not mumble my response at all this time and said “yes dear, you are right again”.
Well now I had to think (and have been) about what bike would be a suitable replacement for the venerable and faithful ST. I know many of you here on the forum have been through this exercise previously. Shaft vs chain, DCT, quick shifter, panniers, top box, cruise control, heated grips, engine type, D modes, traction control, whew, let’s start.
Thanks to the threads “older riders” and many others here that I have read, I had a few ideas percolating. I checked out the motorcycle ergonomics site and read a bunch of MCN reviews (love their reviews) as well as seeing what was available in the local market. Sometimes I go overboard and do too much analysis, Mrs Flips then chipped in and said “you’re an engineering nerd, make a damned list with pros and cons”, duh, like she said, organize your thoughts. So first I made a list with bikes with some appeal, the ergos, comfort, weight and personal impressions (all totally subjective of course).
If you are interested, here is my list…
So the final result for me was...
Now squeezed into the garage where I hope it doesn't start a fight with the two Hondas in residence.
and that's how you do it. Nicely done and congrats. Good looking bike! Over time the difference in weight will become even more apparent and make you value the choice even more.
