VStarRider
12-04-2015, 08:05 PM
Thanks to the combination of wind protection offered by the Madstad windshield, full fairing, and El Nino conditions influencing the weather in the northeast, I took my first ride in the month of December. I am currently still in what is now an eight month riding season, another first. I don't think its over yet, either.
I picked up the bike at the dealer on October 13. I remember fearing I wouldn't get enough miles on it to see if I liked it; or, when my Madstad showed up on 10/29, whether I would get enough time to evaluate whether it was the shield for me.
Ha!
17889
Here I am, with 1,000+ miles, and I feel a little more comfortable on this bike each time I ride it. I love how it handles. Do I dare call a 900 lb bike "nimble"? I feel like I can toss this thing around like a little crotch rocket. I have only ridden standard bikes and cruisers…I wonder how I would feel on a true sport bike?
I love how comfortable it is. Others mention an aftermarket seat…not for me. The standard seat is great for me.
The effortless power…and so much of it on tap…
I even think the storage is great…one of the reasons that I was considering the Vic Cross Country…now that I know how to stuff my helmet in the saddlebag. Today, I went to the mall and got two pairs of shoes…put one in left saddlebag, one in the right…with room left to spare. All of the keyed storage is annoying, but I will solve that with either the remote unlocking device from WingStuff or just uncoupling one bag from the lock mechanism. Also, I am figuring out how to "make it work" with the existing configuration.
All the while, I know that I have a 15 year old design that is proven and I can rely on this bike for 10+ plus years of trouble-free service!
I picked up the bike at the dealer on October 13. I remember fearing I wouldn't get enough miles on it to see if I liked it; or, when my Madstad showed up on 10/29, whether I would get enough time to evaluate whether it was the shield for me.
Ha!
17889
Here I am, with 1,000+ miles, and I feel a little more comfortable on this bike each time I ride it. I love how it handles. Do I dare call a 900 lb bike "nimble"? I feel like I can toss this thing around like a little crotch rocket. I have only ridden standard bikes and cruisers…I wonder how I would feel on a true sport bike?
I love how comfortable it is. Others mention an aftermarket seat…not for me. The standard seat is great for me.
The effortless power…and so much of it on tap…
I even think the storage is great…one of the reasons that I was considering the Vic Cross Country…now that I know how to stuff my helmet in the saddlebag. Today, I went to the mall and got two pairs of shoes…put one in left saddlebag, one in the right…with room left to spare. All of the keyed storage is annoying, but I will solve that with either the remote unlocking device from WingStuff or just uncoupling one bag from the lock mechanism. Also, I am figuring out how to "make it work" with the existing configuration.
All the while, I know that I have a 15 year old design that is proven and I can rely on this bike for 10+ plus years of trouble-free service!