September 7, 2005 @ 9:50 am
Blessed Singleness
First, a disclaimer: Where motorcycles are concerned it’s "freedom hall." Whatever floats your boat or turns your crank is what’s right for you and ain’t nobody going to tell you different.
That said, let me go on to say that it seems to me that motorcycles have gotten too damn big, too damn heavy and way too expensive. There is something about huge luxo-tourers like the BMW K1200 LT that misses the point.
The point is that your ride should be super-maneuverable; easy to push, park, and pick up. It should be as much fun on crowded city commutes as it is on inter-city super slab runs. And has it struck anyone that if your scoot needs a hydraulic center stand something is not quite right?
My local Triumph store has been doing a brisk business in the retro Bonneviles, T-100s and Speedmasters. Compared to today’s giants these bikes are pretty small, but they are as big as all the bikes we used to call ‘big.’
My guess is that maybe more and more people are finding out that sometime less really is more.
I’ve become addicted to my BMW F650CS, a single-cylinder bike with more displacement, horsepower, and mechanical sophistication than many of the "big" bikes I started riding. It gives great gas mileage (60 mpg) will cruise all day at 75 to 80 and is super maneuverable.
It’s a kick to ride.
