What Was I Thinking?

Forgive the length, but this confession is important to my rehabilitation:

I started riding motorcycles in my senior year of High School. (1973) Greatly influenced by two-wheelin' celebrities, like Michael Parks (Then Came Bronson) and Elvis Presley, I began my riding adventures on Honda CB-175. I then progressed to a 4-cylinder CB-360, followed by a CB-750, and a slick black Harley XLCH-1000cc Sportster. In 1976, I graduated to a brown and white Electraglide.
Transfixed by the legend and unquestionable comraderie, I rode nothing but Electraglides from 1976 until 1998. ( I was even the editor of the Northeastern Electraglide Association's newsletter, the club that inspired the Harley Owners Group)
I always admired the technical precision and long-term durability of foreign bikes, particularly those from Japan. Yet, being a slave to the classic lines and distinct sound of Milwaukee's production rigs, I could never switch to the other team. I felt that the designs from the Orient, in the seventies and eighties, were merely unflattering copies of Harley's designs. That was, at least, until 1996, when Yamaha introduced their Royal Star line.
The Royal Star was the bike that I had been waiting for. Visually, it was a work of art. And its bullet-proof V-four engine represented a satisfying powerplant that wouldn't require regular rebuilds, and wouldn;t roast my leg with a blazing rear cylinder. I was sold! I was a convert!!!
I purchased a 1997 Tour Deluxe and, having excess funds from the sale of my Electraglide, I adorned it with every option from Yamaha AND added a Batwing fairing and a chopped tou trunk. She was a natural beauty who served me for 11 years and over 107 thousand miles.
Yet, by 2008, I was getting "the itch" to seek out a new two-wheeled project. In the back of my mind, I had always admired the Valkyrie, and the way that Honda had chosen to pursue their unique design for a "cruiser." I felt that the massive, powerful six-cyclinder engine, crammed into a lengthy cruiser was awesome. And so, I decided that a VALKYRIE was to be my next motorcycle choice.
I found a mint 2000 interstate in Florida and I flew down to purchase it at the start of that year's hurricane season. I hurriedly rode that handsome rig from Palm Coast, Florida, to Huntington, Long Island...all the while being pursued up the coast by the season's first tropical storm. It was a fretful excursion, but it also revealed the Valk to be a premium rig capable of handling any road condition. I WAS ENTHRALLED!!!
The wife and I traveled the Eastern US on that awesome Interstate for five plus years. The only "problems" involved its voracious taste for fuel and an occasional tire or two. And then, foolishly (perhaps it was caused by early onset dementia?) I began to feel the need for another change. After all, the Valk had served us well, but the rig had been "done" for several years now. I began to think that I wanted to return to the low-slung, narrow profiled, "potato-potato" cadence of a big V-twin. I sold that precious Valk and purchased a 2006 Road Star 1700 in the Fall of 2013.
I adorned that Yamaha with over $5000 in extras, including a color-matched batwing fairing, Vance and Hines pipes, an Ultimate seat set, hydraulically operated suspension, K&N filter, tach, wide touring bars, custom striping and more, and more and more. But very quickly, I realized, no matter what I did, it paled in comparison to the Valkyrie.
And so, after 14 months of ownership, and only 2600 miles of uninspired riding, I sold that very attractive Road Star (eating the cost of the many accessories) and proceeded to start my search for my next rig: Another Honda Valkyrie!
JUst this week, I scrambled south from my native Schroon Lake, N.Y., (In the Adirondacks) towing a U-Haul motorcycle trailer, to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. (just west of Philly) There, I test rode a mint 2003 black Valkyrie, (with only 22K miles) that was already adorned with a batwing fairing and HD saddlebags. (just my style) It was Love at first sight, and I was able to negotiate the price to just under 6K. (though I was prepared to pay the $6500 asking figure. I've spent the next two nights buffing and shining that already pristine rig. And, I have to say that this awesome, burly, incredibly beautiful motorcycle has, once again, completed my road-riding world. I look at this bike and I see a work of art. And I realize that, no other brand or model has ever inspired me, like a Valkyrie. And, with 45 years and 500,000 plus miles under my wheels, that's saying alot!
So, I hope that all of my fellow VRCC members can forgive me for my straying. Maybe it was a belated crisis of some kind. But, whatever it was....I'm back. And I plan to hold onto this beauty for MANY years to come.
I never stopped visiting this sight, when I owned that Road Star in 2014. But now, at least, I feel that I truly belong in the ranks again. It's good to be back and it's good to have eased my burdens by confessing my transgressions to my friends. Ride safely all. I'll hope to see you on the road.
Mike in New York