New owner 1st impressions

[glengarrygr]

I purchased a 2013 F6B last month. After a 1 way flight, I had to drive it 8 hours from Las Vegas back to Carson City, NV. My first thought was "I made a mistake, this motorcycle has a VW beetle bolted onto the front forks". The size was intimidating but honestly, by the time I was out of his subdivision I felt fine. It's true, the LCG does make for easy handling. Record high temps. Saturday it reached 118. I saved my arse by reading a bit about surviving a desert run in the heat. A trick that saved me: one bag of ice between my thin leather jacket and my wicking t-shirt, plus another on my handlebars...both bags picked with holes from a pen. The ice water cooled me well. The bags last about an hour. It was essential for comfort. My impressions of the F6B are in bullets for brevity; and other car forums have an unwritten rule about how posts should include pics to tell your story. Feel free to skip down to the F6B impressions.

My Experience
Started in dirt as a kid. I am a retired Road Racer (Privateer). Qualified for 3 pro races (Loudon, Daytona, Mid-Ohio) in the 90s, but admittedly, when in the national pro level races, I was a back-marker. Humbling experience.

My current bike
2014 Harley Breakout CVO w/ V&H Big Radius

Past bikes
Sucker Punch Sally's bobber
2009 Street Glide
2006 Road King
2013 Road King
2014 Ducati Monster
A boatload of sport bikes trashed on the tracks


My F6B
2013 Black 14k miles
Cobra exhaust
Madstad
Chrome added to lower area


F6B Pros
Wind protection
LCG handling, agility
Madstad is rad; I could smoke a White Owl back there
Acceleration (wow)
Looks like a bullet train
I am shocked at how many people comment on the bike's looks. Everywhere.
I love my F6B; just as much as past HDs.

F6B Cons
By far worst thing is Cobra pipes; WAY to loud. Sounds cool up to 40mph. Then it is like a low drone roar in my ear as if a baritone tenor was on the pillion blasting in my ear. I plan to put stock pipes back on. HD tour bikes I've had delivered a smooth sounding rumble at speed.
Plastic looks like stolen from a Honda Accord (wonder if anyone modified this)
Not digging the lack of a 6th gear. In the desert at 90mph I was at 4k RPMs if my memory is correct. But I know the Honda flat six will be fine.
Stock seat. I recall in 7th grade being propped up on a pommel horse. Same feeling. Help! I want the Saddlemen RoadSofa but lists show fitment for 2014-2017 for F6B. Why not my 2013? . I do see the Saddlemen Profiler available. Also read about difficult fitments on aftermarket seats.
I'd pay more for better looking plastic on the dash. I think HD wins in that category, but Honda wins in the engineering category. IMHO.

That's it. I am pleased with my purchase. Thanks for having me here, and I look forward to contributing.