New line from the Motor Co.

It looks like Harley is getting back into the "smaller" displacement game. After the demise of Buell's Blast, HD the smallest HD was the 883 Sportster. A liquid cooled, 500cc, under 500 pound Harley? Sounds like they are actually trying to compete with the Big Four for new riders. Good, the Motor Co. could use some new blood. Put some rear mounts on it and I'll try it.

It's alive!

Well, the blog is still alive. Still sans wheels though. That part is a work in progress.

Speaking of progress, I was in the area of one of Roanoke's larger motorcycle shops today. I figured I could drop in, just to drool copiously over carefully examine the inventory. The place is a dealer for the Big Four, plus KTM. So, I was hoping to butt-test a KLR (to compare with BMW's F800GS later), a Ninja 300, perhaps the FZ6R, and--if I was very lucky-- the Duke. When I pulled in, they had a ZRX1200 and a V-Strom 650 in the line-up of used bikes out front. This looks promising. Inside, it is your standard fair for a Big Four dealer. Sport bikes segregated from cruisers, all separate from dirt bikes and ATVs on the other side of the shop, with gear and accessories in back.

Looking around, I was not surprised to only find KTM off roaders. But... no KLR. Ok. Umm, nor Ninja 300. Damn. One FZ6R. Alrighty... wait... what's this? A Honda middleweight sportbike? I'm intrigued. I threw a leg over the CBR500R. Ergonomically, very similar to the old Ninja 250 or Suzuki's GS500F. It seems to be a pretty comfortable bike. Coming in about $1600 less than the Ninja 650 it was sitting next to, it looks like a pretty good deal, too.

But the 650 has a little more grunt, an adjustable windscreen, slightly more room, and better (to me) ergonomics... And that brand new 636 down the line....

Too many bikes, too little money.