Another ride.

Last Sunday was the demo ride day in a nearby town.
Saturday we had the rides at the dealership where I work but had I been
there I would have been working instead of riding.
I wasn't there but that was because my sister got married (again) that
day and I swapped Saturdays with a cow-orker.

Have a round on me while you read on.

The demo rides were in Morden, a small town by the USD-Canada border in
Manitoba about an hour and a half from Winnipeg.
The store opened at 9am and the rides started at 10.
I set out at aboput 7:30am from my house on the north side of Winnipeg
and headed south and west to Morden.
It was a bit chilly but I survived.
The first part of the journey was through the city which was pretty
deserted being early Sunday morning. Not much going on around here apart
from Church until noon when the stores open.

Headed out of town to Carmen and turned south towards the border. I
haven't gone that way too often and it was kind of pleasant going past
the fields of alternating crops, corn, alfalfa, wheat, sunflowers, more
corn. The opccasional hog farm/barn caused a temporary change in the
prevailing odour but overall it was a nice ride.

Got to Morden shortly after 9 and signed up for various rides.
Unfortunately, you can only sign up for one ride at a time but I didn't
let that stop me.
In spite of it being a Harley only dealership they also had some Buells
on hand so I signed up for the 1125R first.
My overall impression was that I didn't like it. It seemed cheap although
it was certainly powerful. No problem hoisting the front wheel off the
ground in spite of admonishions to avoid doing so.
The brake pedal is as small as the shifter causing me to use too much
front brake. The front brake is where Buells really shine. Fortunately I
was ready for that and avoided any stoppies.

After that I rode a Fat Bob which was much more to my liking although,
once you have ridden with a fairing you can never really go back to
naked.
Power delivery was even and steady, the bike was smooth and handled well.
It mostly fit me well too although the handlebars were a touch too far
for me.

Next up was a Ulysses. I liked it. t fit, felt decent, had fairly linear
power, was easy to pop up. The major drawback and something that would
keep me from ever buying one was the heat on my right leg. Not just
uncomfortable, but painful. That bike is hot.

After that I tried out a Nightster. A fun bike but it felt like a
buckboard. Also a bit cramped in spite of only being 5'7".
Not sure I could ever get used to it. I can't understand why the MoCo
dumped the XL1200R model which, AFAIAC was the best Sporty they made.
It handled well and accellerated well but was just plain uncomfortable.
With a stage 1 kit on it, that bike hauls ass.

After that I rode the new V-Rod Muscle.
Stupid name, shitty pipe design, ugly (IMHO) air intake but what a
machine.
It was almost a match for the 1125 in power and was doig 100mph in the
blink of an eye. A thicket waiting to happen.
I did find some fault with it though.
The large rear and skinny front tires make for some awkward low speed
handling, especially trying to turn it around. I was made worse by the
fact we turned around on gravel.
The integrated turn signals and mirrors look great but apparently they
are weak and the handlers broke one of the mounts and had to rig it up
since H-D doesn't seem to believe in shipping parts for the new bikes.
All in all, I would consider one of these for a second bike though if I
could get an aftermarket exhaust.

I also rode a new Sreet Glide. Those bikes are possibly the most popular
Harleys out there and the new large rear tire and various other changes
are only going to improve the market.
I would definitely spring for the lowers though as well as the 6.5"
windshield.
One thing the big tire has done is cause the mounting kits for the
backrests and tour paks to get more expensive although you now only need
one combination kit for both.
The new frame seems to work well and the bike is rock steady. Some people
were claiming it surged at a steady 35mph but I didn't notice it.

After the rides were over it was time to head back home past the farms
and fields.
I love summer.

Drinks on me.
--
Bob Mann

Cap'n, ah need moor pow'r.