My first ‘big bike’ was a 1000cc V Storm, pimped with crash bars, knobbies and hard luggage points. Back then it was a way for noobs and pikers of getting in on the new Adventure Bike craze on the cheap.
The 650 V Strom has its merits.
The 1000 has none whatsoever. It’s high centered,
acts like a sail in the wind, it sucks in the dirt and it’s a pig
on the pavement.
Take that with caution and a grain of salt; you can get punched out for saying that to the wrong people in the wrong place. Maybe it’s better to say that I’m just not a “Strom Trooper”. Maybe it’s just that I got old…too old to appreciate the Adventure Bikes? I switched to baggers 10 years ago and never looked back.
But every spring I look at the Adventure Bikes… and really think hard about my age…. But… no. NO. Eight hours on a bagger will do me in. With my back…maybe half that? But lord… those new Adventure bikes get me thinking hard about a pup tent, camp gear and the open road.
And - while we’re NOT acting our age…
why not admire the crotch rockets too…?
Sigh…
Okay… my back hurts. Time to go back to being a creep old guy like Mike or Chutes.
😉👍
As a former Wee-Strom owner, I can attest that the smaller Wee was indeed one helluva bike. Of course there were some painful reminders that it was truly a budget choice, by 50k miles every single bit of plastic on the bike was rattled loose and flopping around. Motor and tranny were good for another 50k, the rest of the bike not so much. I lowered mine by an inch, put on street tires instead of knobbies, and it became a great commuter and could gobble up interstate miles. With a change of sprockets and chain, I could get ~65 mpg too.
ReplyDeleteThe new Transalp looks very promising. If I didn't already have 3 bikes in the garage I'd be at the Honda shop drooling away and signing papers. As it is, I barely ride enough to justify keeping what I already own, spending money on a new bike would be a waste. Fun. But a waste.
I have been having the same thoughts lately
ReplyDelete...It sucks when you reach that age when your brain says "Let's..." and your body says "DONEVENFUGGINTHINKABOUTIT!!!"...
ReplyDeleteFace it, Glen. They don't make parts for us anymore...
Sold the bagger years ago. I figured I needed toys that could be used with the kids, hence the boat and 3 used snowmobiles. They are now on their own so I have a DRZ 400 Suzuki. It's street legal, gets me to the dirt where trouble is easily found . No more big street bikes for me. The Geezers ,Tweekers and Illegals here in Californistan will get you eventually.
ReplyDeleteThat last one with a backpacks looks like an R100GS..
ReplyDeleteI've had five thumpers from 500 to 600cc. A '75ish, Suzuki 500 MX type, not a street legal enduro. A '77 Yamaha 500 XT. An '81 Honda 500 XL. An '82 Honda 500 XR. Last was an '86 Honda 600 XL. All were great fun, the '86 600 XL was just a bit much, a little too tall and too heavy for cow trailing in the hills of So. Cal. It was awesome in the Buttercup Sand dunes, east of El Centro. The sand dunes were magical with the 3 wheelers.
ReplyDeleteThe newest Off road bike, I borrowed, was a 2007 Honda 400 XR, it would blow the older bikes in the weeds. I was 61 when I rode that one, it was exhilarating! I scared myself a few times. Hands down the fastest, best handling bike I've ridden off road. By comparison, I've ridden a 1997 500 CR, WOW! Too much horse power, too light and tall, Just way too squirrely for my neck of the woods, all hard pan, rocks, ruts, couldn't get the rear wheel to hook up, just fish tail, it was a test run, 1st time I didn't buy a bike because it was too hot!
I've also had a '70 175, XL, a '72 250 XL, a '74 350, XL, a '76, 360 CB, a '78, 1000 Goldwing, factory minimal/stripped. And four 250R, Honda 3 wheelers, no quads. Only hospitalized once. Lots of road and dirt rash. I miss and mourn their leaving me. Now I can't afford any year 250-500 XL. The wife is fine with that. Heave sigh...glory days.....
All that to say "they're all too big, heavy and expensive" for me. They would be fun to ride casually on easy/ moderate, off/on road day runs.