got er dun. 129 miles in 4 hours today, only 3 short stops with the misses, longest ride by far all year long.
I took it easy since wife on back putzing along and got best MPG ever at 39 as well only 3.3 gallons used in 129 miles. TONS of cycles all over today high 72 HEAT wave going to do it again tomorrow we think probably over 130 miles the other way this time.
One of those stops was for poops and giggles stopping at a somewhat local Honda/Kawi dealer wanted to scratch my itch putting 15 miles on a 2004 honda goldwing they had 57K miles for 7K. How come everytime I test drive one (twice now in 2 years) I keep disliking it going back to my old Valks? The newer Wings have NO wiggle room in the saddle, sit too far upright, and the darn upfront hwy. pegs my kneecap/lower leg areas hits the plastic tupperware in front which annoys me. I did not mind the handlebar placement and the 1800 wing felt more flickable/easy to maneuver slightly and 312cc's more had tad bit more power and better braking than my 01 Valk, but ONLY REAL thing I liked better was the 300 rpms less at 65-70 mph was 2600 to 2700 rpms vs. around 3000-3100 rpms with my VAlk at those hwy. speeds. I tended on the hwy. on the 1800 wing be doing 70-75mph vs. the normal 65-70 mph on the Valk.
As far as misses on back if she liked it, she preferred much to my surprise my old 01 Valk I/S better. She is normal 5'5" 160lbs. or so and the rear hwy. pegs were too low for her as well as no passenger armrests on this one but some have it on the wings would be needed for her. she also said the stock rear seat was too plush/soft sinking in too far did not like it either. she also felt more cramped in the seat as well as I did on the 2004 Wing we drove today. I think the 9 year old hard tires still plenty of tread had something to do with how firm and choppy over bumps in the hwy. felt did not like that either my 01 Valk absorbed hwy. imperfections so much better which I find odd would think the newer 01 on up Wings would be a smoother hwy. ride? I tried messing with push button air suspension on the wing but did not make any difference for the 15 miles I drove it.
Did have tad bit more power though and more oomph vs. our old Valks and seemed like said more flickable at all speeds. The main drawbacks for me was too upright seating position and tupperware in front touching legs on upfront hwy. pegs stock pegs too far back for me to be comfy on for sure.
got out today again 98 miles but wife got cold said yesterday high 72 and sunny, they full of BS, 11 a.m. was still cloudy and windy and cold only 53 degrees possible high of 64 today with 2 percent chance of rain. Guess what, on way home since wife cold wanted to go another 100+ miles, hit a rain cloud for 10 minutes and COLD rain no fun there. Could have been worse due north about 20 miles away was VERY dark rain clouds but due south complete sunshine. We caught the edge of the rain on the way back for a brief downpour of 10 minutes or so.
