Well. . . I Caved

Been away for a while but I haven't forgotten about the best motorcycle site in the world.  Hands down.

I went and did it.  

Last summer the wife and I started spending more time on the bike and she remembered, after a decade or so, how much she loved it.  Let's be honest though, the VFR isn't the most comfortable two up.  So I broke down about a month ago and got a cruiser for us.  I got a VTX1300S at the local dealership.  It's just starting to warm up here in Ohio so we've only put about 100 miles on it together but we both love it. Alone, I've put another 150 miles on it.  I never pictured myself as a cruiser guy but I do enjoy the laid back riding style and I like the fact that my wife is massively comfortable on the back and not hunched over me.  We have saddle bags and a trunk to go grocery shopping (yes, we took it grocery shopping).  It's pretty much decked out with a Mustang seat, dual back rests, locking saddle bags and trunk, powerlet, light bar, Memphis Shades windshield, crash bars with highway pegs, rider and passenger floor boards. . . I think I actually paid about $200 for the VTX itself if you count the add-ons.

The drawbacks:  I scrape the floor boards leaving stop signs.  I keep looking for a dashboard and it's just not there.  How many RPMs?  Hell if I know.  What's the outside temp?  Hell if I know.  What's the engine temp?  Hell if I know.  What time is it?  Hell if I know.  Where are the foot pegs?  Up THERE?

The upside:  All of the drawbacks above.  I guess it's a little more relaxing or something?  Cruising through the country, two lane back road and just taking in the scenery.  These are the same roads I would routinely blast down hitting the ton+ on the VFR.  The wife has never seen the ton but another bonus is that she's on the back now.  I see her in the mirrors and she's just loving it, taking in the scenery, smiling.  Serious quality time together.

Carry over between the two:  Gear.  I haven't succumb to the cruiser mentality and never will when it comes to this.  Speed.  It'll still do 110 with a big ass windshield, full bags and still get 35 mpg doing it.  Serenity.  The kind you only get on two wheels, just different versions of it.  Wheelies.  Just kidding!  I don't even do those on the VFR purposely.  

That being said, I put the battery back in the VFR last weekend.  I have tomorrow off and I plan on spending some quality time with the VFR (nicknamed "My Mistress" years ago by the wife).  I plan on riding my mistress hard and putting her away wet.

Hope I can find the foot pegs.  :-)

[image: 20150307_111326 (1).jpg]

Grocery shopping on a cruiser... that's what, two 6 packs and a box of crackers? :wink:

Congrats & good luck with it. My wife is still waiting for me to finish my VF as she was more comfortable on it. Can't find time to ride any bikes lately though, so I have a pass for now.

Congrats! It's only caving if you traded in the VFR otherwise you're just adding to your collection...

I rode a friend's VTX1800 a few times. He used to tell me it was a rev limiter, not a shift indicator. I never could get used to shifting it like it was a diesel. :goofy:

I want to add to my collection as well.  It be great if my wife and I spent more quality time on a motorcycle.  Unfortunately, I have other budget priorities ahead of the second bike.  Still hoping for VFR1200 based replacement for the ST1300.  Cycle-ergo seems to indicate that the VFR1200 has less leg room for the pillion than the VFR800.  Is that possible?  I suspect that the cover for the pillion area is throwing the calculations off.  I also modified the VFR800 in their software to match my ergo changes on my current 6th gen for the operator, so ignore the calculations in the caption.

[image: 06wi0013HYQRJUyUyUyUyUy0pH2SB.png]

[image: 06wi0030HYQRJUyUyUyUyUy0pH2SB.png]

Congrats! The VTX is a fine looking bike and if I were a cruiser kind of guy it would be first on my list.

Sadly if I head down the routine two-up route it will probably be via a Gold Wing, which is a fine bike too but zero personality except for their fugly attempt to compete with Victory.

If you get bored, don't forget about the ST1300! V4, comfy for passenger, tons of luggage space. :beer:

If you get bored, don't forget about the ST1300! V4, comfy for passenger, tons of luggage space. :beer:

And don't forget 740 pounds of bike between your legs.... :blink:

Congrats, let us know where to mail your Metamucil :goofy:   

If you get bored, don't forget about the ST1300! V4, comfy for passenger, tons of luggage space. :beer:

And don't forget 740 pounds of bike between your legs.... :blink:

Gone as soon as you move. Takes far more effort to take it off the side stand than to go peg to peg in the twisties! Good luck keeping up with KEBrider on his. As soon as BaileyRock gets accustomed to his, try to keep him in sight. Me, I'm slow on anything I ride. So it's definitely not the ST!

I'd like to ride that, the FJR, and the Connie 14. Just to see...

Oh! The horror. j/k Congrats. Hope the mistress is faithful and kind to you.

There's nothing wrong with a cruiser. I once had one and there are times I wish I still had it. They're so comfortable.

Somebody mentioned leg more leg room for the passenger on the VFR... I found that to be true myself. When I was looking at bikes, that was one of the reasons I wanted another one because of the passenger leg room. More on it than on most bikes. 

As far as the cruiser goes, I like it! Sometimes I would like to have one in my garage too but only if can sit along side my VFR. 

I have actually test riding quite a few cruisers and have liked them all.  I can totally see the draw to them.  But not quite there yet.  Nor do I have a wife that would be willing to put up with two bikes.  Of all the ones I have ridden the Yamaha Raider was my favourite.  Enjoy.  Variety is the spice of life.