Getting older is certainly one of the most unexpected of things that can happen to a man, to paraphrase Leon Trotsky. There are a lot of things that prompt us to realize our age; for example, realizing that the 20-year-old waitress is in fact not flirting when she calls you \u2018hun.\u2019 I prefer to view this realization as representing a certain level of wisdom being attained, and I should state that I\u2019m not hung up on getting older in the least. Not that I\u2019m that old anyway.<\/p>\n
Looking back over the variety of street bikes I\u2019ve owned over the years, the common thread has been a preference for \u201call rounders.\u201d General purpose bikes that serve well for around town, commuting, or for weekend touring. Of course, there\u2019s no reason that one can\u2019t do all those things on a Gold Wing or a GSXR1000, though it\u2019s been my experience that a \u201cstandard\u201d model that does several things well, rather than one thing really well, has been better suited to the kind of riding that I do. Additionally, the ability to tailor a bike to my exact requirements becomes part of the enjoyment of ownership. This has been the case as I\u2019ve been slowly turning my plain-Jane Super Glide into what I need in a motorcycle these days. Or at least what I think I need.<\/p>\n
My long range plan had been to ease from the more sporting side of standard (or naked sport if you prefer) to the more relaxed standard posture, via the lightest and best handling chassis in HD\u2019s Big Twin lineup. Always a fan of both the old FXR and FXRT models, sadly unavailable now, the newer FX Dynas offer a degree of both (relatively) nimble handling and longer range comfort. Let\u2019s not forget that back in the day\u2013I just don\u2019t hear that phrase enough\u2013people regularly rode unfaired standard motorcycles like Norton Commandos and Triumph Bonnevilles for touring. Distinctions however were not really made between touring, sport touring, cruiser, touring-oriented cruiser, and of course the latest to be compiled with this compendium of categories, adventure touring. This, at least as far as I can tell after closely examining models that are defined as such, usually equates to riding street bikes with long travel suspension…on the street.<\/p>\n
Try as I may, I haven\u2019t been able to arrive at a classification for whatever I\u2019m trying to arrive at with my unpretentious, garden-variety FXD. However, for better or worse, what I\u2019m finding is that while my eye may veer toward a stripped, lean aesthetic, much of the rest of me wants what I have been referring to myself lately as \u201cdresser light.\u201d As evidenced in last issue\u2019s commentary regarding windshields, function is trumping form at every turn. Over the past several years, minor aches and pains have become a little more magnified, whether moving a few yards of topsoil into the back garden, or after riding a few hundred kilometres. Not that I\u2019m suddenly falling apart barely into my forties, indeed I\u2019m still decades from resigning myself to a full on touring bike. To those in their late 50\u2019s who ride Ninjas all day long, I know you\u2019re out there, and well, good for you.<\/p>\n
However, as the years pass, finding ideal ergonomics has now won out over visual considerations, not unlike the way clothes become increasingly worn for comfort over style. Those of you who have had that sudden realization that you\u2019ve become your father, have already tumbled down this slippery slope. First it\u2019s a windshield, then saddlebags, after which it\u2019s all downhill.<\/p>\n
Until recently I haven\u2019t had saddlebags on a bike for the past eight years, though the sheer practicality of this addition needs no justification really. If you use your bike for anything other than an hour-long Sunday ride to Dairy Queen, they are just too practical to not have, sportbikers with those really cool backpacks notwithstanding. This spring I was able to find a decent quality set of leather bags that fit snugly between the rear shocks and turn signals. They look ok, though more importantly they hold rain gear, lunch, or even more important still, eight 500 ml cans per side of my favourite German malt beverage. And yes, that is a comfort issue.<\/p>\n
Not long ago I would have balked at the idea of an engine guard, sneering at the very notion of bolting a cumbersome piece of tubular steel to such a lithe, trim bike. But after finding one in black powder coat with integrated foot rests, I found myself at the parts counter before I fully realized it. To be clear though, the primary purpose was not preventative maintenance in the event of a slow speed tip-over, nor was it to enable me to assume a near \u201cgyno exam\u201d stance while cruising downtown in second gear. I\u2019ve always preferred the feet under posture, perhaps a holdover from dirt riding, though certainly practical for optimum control regardless of surface. For a second opinion on this, key \u201cHells Angels-History of the Chopper-Jesse James\u201d into YouTube for a definition of Frisco style bikes. No, the reason for this addition was simply to enable an alleviation from the occasional leg cramps that occur after a few hundred kilometres of riding. Pure functionality and nothing more. And well, apparently black is the new chrome.<\/p>\n
For years I had no issues with stock seats, and an aching posterior was something I rarely felt even after a full day\u2019s ride. Though after losing my ass sometime during 1998, this has become more of an issue on longer weekend jaunts. The most recent addition in this pursuit of longer-range comfort is an Airhawk seat pad. There\u2019s nothing stylish about this thing whatsoever, though for the price it also doesn\u2019t rest there on the stock saddle unattended either. I\u2019m pretty certain that I could lay this thing across the bare frame rails and ride clear across the country. No product plug here, just a satisfied customer.<\/p>\n
Of course, the third point of contact in the ergonomic equation after feet and keester is hand placement, and this so far has proven to be the most difficult to get correct. In less than three full seasons I\u2019ve had no less than four different handlebars on this bike. The latest option, black 12-inch rise \u201cmini-apes\u201d (monkey bars?), were chosen in order to match a custom made sissy bar. These are both in keeping with the vaguely mid-1970s look I seem to be drawn to, likely resulting from the first HDs I remember seeing as a child. Though they look great, here again form may succumb to function if I can\u2019t get the reach fine-tuned. The only true discomfort I ever feel when riding any distance is something akin to having a red-hot knife blade penetrate my upper right (Trapezius?) shoulder after a few hundred kilometres. This has persisted for years regardless of bike, bars, helmet, etc., and no, I don\u2019t grip the bars too tightly thank you. The solution here may ultimately be Motrin and A535. When I begin thinking about this issue too much I usually consider our forefathers, those who built this great nation, and realize how soft subsequent generations have become. Then I feel a little guilty. Then I pop another muscle relaxant.<\/p>\n
Editor Roberts recently asked veteran builder Jesse James about his prediction for future trends in bike styles. Damned if I can find the issue to quote directly, but to paraphrase, it had to do with regular bikes that get ridden regularly. I also came across the term \u201ca rider\u2019s bike\u201d on a web forum not long ago, and began considering what the term really meant, as it doesn\u2019t seem to belong to the myriad of current typical motorcycle classifications. It\u2019s not a chopper, it\u2019s not a bobber, pro street, tourer, or bar hopper. It\u2019s just my bike and I ride it. I am getting a little older but maybe I\u2019m a little ahead of my time here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Getting older is certainly one of the most unexpected of things that can happen to a man, to paraphrase Leon Trotsky. There are a lot of things that prompt us to realize our age; for example, realizing that the 20-year-old waitress is in fact not flirting when she calls you \u2018hun.\u2019 I prefer to view […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49613,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[51,1856],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n