I've ridden for about 20 years now and have owned 4 bikes prior-my most recent being a very crotchety 750 Virago. I had decided to buy a new/fairly new bike. I was tired of the unreliability of an older bike and dealing with zip ties and duct tape. So the pennies were saved and off I went. I checked out the Concours, FJR, and the BMWs. My budget for a used bike lived in the 6k range, but it could grow a bit for a newer bike that sang to me, and it would have to belt out an aria. We needed two up riding capability and comfort for shortish touring. I went to Boulder with the wife to "just look at" an 03 with 16 miles on it. I explained all the way there that we probably weren't going to buy it since this was definitely NOT a touring bike, it was just sort-of a touring bike, besides, I just knew she wouldn't like it enough to trade in a comfortable touring/cruiser seat. I tried like mad not to let the sales guy see the huge smile on my face when I looked at it. I tried really hard not to belt out a "whoo!" when we fired it up. When we went out for a test ride, it was a looking like it was going to be a big argument/convincing to the wife-no way that seat would meet with her approval, no backrest and all. When we returned she got off and said "I like this bike-we should buy it." Well so much for playing hard to get with the sales guy. Needless to say I bought it that day and have loved every minute.
It is fast like no tomorrow, comfortable for the everyday travel, and even when I'm juicin' the throttle I get no worse than 40, and that’s a lot of Evergreen, Turkey Creek Canyon/Decker juicing. I keep telling myself that I'm a mature father and husband and that this is my practical, high mpg commuter bike. Then I twist the throttle and that smile from my teenage years comes back. You can really have it both ways with this bike.
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