From the seat of the F6B...

[VStarRider]

Some random musings:

1. I am a perpetual motorcycle shopper. I can't tell you the number of bikes I have researched as if I was going to buy one of them. I always come back to two: Star Venture and new Gold Wing with air bag and auto. Love the storage on the Yammi, linked brakes with ABS, the infotainment system, foot space. Don't like the air-cooled twin, engine heat and wide tank. Love the six on the GW, the handling, power, and the auto tranny and airbag as well. Do not like the lack of storage and the issues with the GPS.

I also have eyeballed a Triumph dual sport (road version...XRT) and a Yammi Super Tenere or Tracer 900.

Then, the same thing happens ... I go out for a ride on my seemingly outdated 2013 F6B with none of the above technology and few of the other attributes, yet it is simple and cheap to maintain, bulletproof reliable, smooth, quiet and handles like a dream. Plus, I have and will continue to add accessories.

It is great to not be in hurry to get my next bike. :cool:


2. I wonder which is safer - a bike with balanced handling that inspires confidence while riding, or one that has linked brakes, ABS, and other safety features. Does the capability of the bike/rider trump those safety features?



3. Miller Lite and PBR used to be fine with me. Now, only microbrew IPAs taste good.

[Bighutch14]

I have done plenty of research on those same 2 bikes. I usually end up leaning to the 18 wing due to Honda’s ease of maintenance and cost to maintain. But I’m a big guy and love the huge, mean look of the new yammy. I always told myself I would not trade in the F6B until I have put 100k on the odo. Plenty of time to watch watch the market and enjoy my F6B as it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned.

[Luther]

You could not give me that air cool twin Yamaha. The 2016 F6B is easily the best big bike I have rode or owed, but with that said getting the f6b packed today for trip From Nashville Tn to Cortez I took A 130 mile ride on my Suzuki 650 V-Storm. Its very lite easy to ride stop, turn around in mid road, took a few gravel roads and just all round fun bike SO the fact is everyone needs at least Two motorcycles!!

[tenxxx]

You could not give me that air cool twin Yamaha. The 2016 F6B is easily the best big bike I have rode or owed, but with that said getting the f6b packed today for trip From Nashville Tn to Cortez I took A 130 mile ride on my Suzuki 650 V-Storm. Its very lite easy to ride stop, turn around in mid road, took a few gravel roads and just all round fun bike SO the fact is everyone needs at least Two motorcycles!!is 4 too many.
There all Honda’s.

[BigAl1952]

Does the changes to the engine in the new Wing bother anyone. I mentioned this already Im gun shy of the new one until theres some proof out there. Ive been burned before by buying first year model with as many changes as they have made.

[tenxxx]

Does the changes to the engine in the new Wing bother anyone. I mentioned this already Im gun shy of the new one until theres some proof out there. Ive been burned before by buying first year model with as many changes as they have made.
I don't think I would worry too much about the new engine. Its been in testing for a few years. And the auto tranny seem to be da thing to come.
I can see a lot of auto's in the future.
The next thing to come should be a hover bike.

[Verismo]

Does the changes to the engine in the new Wing bother anyone. I mentioned this already Im gun shy of the new one until theres some proof out there. Ive been burned before by buying first year model with as many changes as they have made.

I wouldn't say "bother", BigAl, but I definitely have a watchful eye. I brought that up in a poorman's review I wrote about my test ride of one. Not only does it have aluminum cyclinder sleeves, but the DCT allows people with almost zero rider skill to hotrod the hell out of the engine. That combination has me curious as to whether or not longevity will be affected on a large enough scale to notice, but only time will tell. However, it is one sweet ride.

That being said, and along with you VStarRider, I too am a perpetual motorcycle shopper. I want to ride one of the new Yamaha's, even though I'm highly annoyed with the heat that comes off of Vtwins(I'm in San Antonio). But I absolutely love my B. Every time I ride it I just think, damn, what a motorcycle. And there are still plenty of mods I haven't done that are enticing to me. So I feel very lucky for the miles behind and the ones ahead.

Jason

[Pumper]

Oh yes on #3...cannot drink garage beer anymore...must be good craft beer. Call me a beer snob, i do not care.

IPA not so much, porter's and stout's

[GaTeach]

Some random musings:

1. I am a perpetual motorcycle shopper. I can't tell you the number of bikes I have researched as if I was going to buy one of them. I always come back to two: Star Venture and new Gold Wing with air bag and auto. Love the storage on the Yammi, linked brakes with ABS, the infotainment system, foot space. Don't like the air-cooled twin, engine heat and wide tank. Love the six on the GW, the handling, power, and the auto tranny and airbag as well. Do not like the lack of storage and the issues with the GPS.

I also have eyeballed a Triumph dual sport (road version...XRT) and a Yammi Super Tenere or Tracer 900.

Then, the same thing happens ... I go out for a ride on my seemingly outdated 2013 F6B with none of the above technology and few of the other attributes, yet it is simple and cheap to maintain, bulletproof reliable, smooth, quiet and handles like a dream. Plus, I have and will continue to add accessories.

It is great to not be in hurry to get my next bike. :cool:


2. I wonder which is safer - a bike with balanced handling that inspires confidence while riding, or one that has linked brakes, ABS, and other safety features. Does the capability of the bike/rider trump those safety features?



3. Miller Lite and PBR used to be fine with me. Now, only microbrew IPAs taste good.

Yes, Sweet Georgia inspires this kind of love in me. :) So does Terrapin Hopsecutioner. :)

[F6Dave]

is 4 too many.
There all Honda’s.

A salesman once told me the right number of motorcycles to own is...

ONE MORE!

[tenxxx]

A salesman once told me the right number of motorcycles to own is...

ONE MORE!

Hell YA!!

[BigAl1952]

I wouldn't say "bother", BigAl, but I definitely have a watchful eye. I brought that up in a poorman's review I wrote about my test ride of one. Not only does it have aluminum cyclinder sleeves, but the DCT allows people with almost zero rider skill to hotrod the hell out of the engine. That combination has me curious as to whether or not longevity will be affected on a large enough scale to notice, but only time will tell. However, it is one sweet ride.

That being said, and along with you VStarRider, I too am a perpetual motorcycle shopper. I want to ride one of the new Yamaha's, even though I'm highly annoyed with the heat that comes off of Vtwins(I'm in San Antonio). But I absolutely love my B. Every time I ride it I just think, damn, what a motorcycle. And there are still plenty of mods I haven't done that are enticing to me. So I feel very lucky for the miles behind and the ones ahead.

Jason

Maybe you dont Jason as I have no idea of your age but Chevy tried that aluminum trick with a Chevy Vega and we all know the rest of the story with that. Al

[VStarRider]

Maybe you dont Jason as I have no idea of your age but Chevy tried that aluminum trick with a Chevy Vega and we all know the rest of the story with that. Al

Thank goodness engineering and metallurgy has come light years in just fifty years. Remember the turbos of the 80s? Had to skip a generation of car owners to clear out the que of horror stories, particularly from the Chrysler Corp. Now, many trouble free vehicles are powered by turbocharged engines for sake of efficiency.

I, too, will wait a few years till all the issues get addressed in the new GW...didn't it take Honda several years to address bent frames or something like that on the early GL1800s? It takes years and miles of consumer riding to fully vett a new design.