#57 grey: Been on that road with the Wing a few years back. EVERY vehicle is affected at 14.5. The reason Honda complicated the carb system with the 1500/6 was to allegedly avoid and "systhesize" an FI system. Works great untill you face a $700 carb rebuild. I think too much ethanol has ruined many a carb over the long run. The Honda 1800/6 is FI. And standard carbs have been refined over the years but are coming under emission probs what with oxy sensors and cat converters showing up. Another point for FI. The mapping on my 07 V-strom is perfect yet a stock '05 has more glitches. Also, mod exhaust systems can confuse FI mapping comps and high alt intensifies this effect. That's why my Uki is stone stock. Another $1.25

Chief love motorcycles, but dangerous things. Poster 'Grey' say '...take safety class...' and Chief second that X 10.

They are a blast, but people don't see you.

Watch out! Get heap insurance!

Still....love the dam things...

#62 I see the Indian Motorcycles named is getting resurrected yet again. Seems the number of lawsuits increase every time, so I'm surprised anyone would touch this any more. You getting a piece of the action?

I agree with the chief about the insurance, but with a caveat...make sure you know what you are getting for your money when it comes to insurance. In Florida, when you think you are getting full coverage, you are really insuring just your bike and anything you might damage in a crash... YOU (your injuries) are not covered...that is the first letter they will send you also...because some law states that motorcycles are not considered vehicles or some such thing. The injuries go to your health care insurance...and boy do they all like to fight about that one...

Buy used, 1100cc or more. I know you have lost some weight but the extra cc's are better in the long run and to get good milage in the top end.

Enjoy, but every car is your enemy. Eye contact just means they will look you in the face and pull out in front.

If you are an agressive driver (in your car), you will probably see potential danger a little further in advance.

Have fun.

Gringo

Was riding yesterday with a 5v robusto, stopped at a light, and this guy in the car next to me, an older gentleman, yells out, "Great day for a ride! Whatchya smoking?" so I told him and he told me to check out cigarbid. All I could say was, "Yeah, I know" and I was grinning cause the light turned about then and I had to move. It wasn't anyone from here yelling at me, was it? Blue minivan...?

We need closure !

You know what Senior - that bike is a great choice. I’ve been riding for better than 20 years, including a lot of saddle time on police motors (both the KZ-1000P and the BMW RT-1150P), and cruisers are by far the best way to go.

Some of the sport-touring bikes are nice, but there’s a lot of plastic to scratch and you’ll be above $12k pretty quick … and they still won’t be as comfortable as that Honda.

Somebody mentioned Harley’s. To be honest, they cost twice as much as they’re worth, and all the aftermarket crap you need to buy to fit in just doesn’t appeal to me. By the way, somebody mentioned the Sportster because it costs about that same as the Honda you’re looking at. That might be true, but it’s the total chick-bike of the Harley line, and nobody will take you seriously.

If you get the bike, I’d be happy to send you some training material from my Department’s Motor School … things that will save your life like High Visual Horizon and Threshold Breaking. Bikes are great fun and economical, but I’ll be damn if car drivers don’t even see you on the road in front of them.

Oh, and GO NAVY !! (Former FC1(SW) and the wife is a recently retired CMDR - O5). 👍

Forget about buying a brand new cycle. You ARE going to put it down at some point whether in your driveway, parking lot, or on the road at speed. Save yourself some coin, and heartbreak, and buy a used Sportster. There are a ton of them out there, both the 883 and 1200, for under $5k that are in great shape. Nice thing about them is that there are a ton of after market parts out there to cutomize it to your liking and the improvements will only help with the resale when you're ready to move up to a bigger bike.

I started on an '01 883 Hugger (Sportster) in 2005. After 6 months I wanted more power so I bored the cylinders, new heads, cams, exhaust and doubled my power at the wheel for about $2k. After all that I still spent less than what your new Honda goes for that won't be worth spit in 5 years. Granted I did all of the wrenching myself saving about $1k in labor.

The way I have it built it will outrun the 110ci CVO bikes from Harley and keep up with anything else on the road up to 100mph. Bottom line, it is still fun to ride after 6 years of road experience and 20k miles including a trip to Sturgis from PA and back.

^gimbel=d> =d>

Honestly can't believe this post is still active since being originally posted in 2008??? What closure do you need???

BUY AMERICAN!!! If I am not mistaken Harley Davidson offered a "Ride For Free" incentive then, again in 2010, and the promotion originally started around the late 1980‘s. From my understanding it was a "Ride For Free" promotion for the Sportster in which you could return it in 2 or 4 yrs (respectively) and receive in trade the full purchase price towards the purchase of a bigger bike. A new 1200 Sportster comes in around 10k. For the extra $1,500 over that rice rocket, I'd rather rather ride for free on an American bike and be able to upgrade to a bigger better one in the future.

Just my American 2¢

you don't wanna even hear my opinion on this bro, course, you know that already.

just ride.........

just got my license this past fall... (yes, Tank is worried)

hope to pick up a very small bike for tooling around our village for 2 years or so before I go bigger.

I know if I go too big, I won't be able to handle it yet. Someday.

Let us know what you decided on.