voldigicam wrote on 08/02/09 at 19:19:16:

oh - aftermarket tach!  - duh

I'm again reminded that this is an excellent bike.  Trying to see what I would step up to.  I can gain 10 cu in at the cost of 150 lbs and a longer wheelbase.  Which doesn't really look like much improvement, if any!  The additional weight seems excessive.  

I suppose I should just get a Sportster & be done with it!

Actually, for my use as a backroad hauler, with decent mileage and light weight, I still find the 650 single hard to beat.  Bikes tend to have lots of plastic shrouding, extra length, needless excess weight, too laid back a front end and so on.  I would like something with a smoother ride, but maybe the fork brace will do that.

I'd like to ride a Bonneville, a Gladius, and a V-Strom 650.  Unfortunately, the bikes that really feel good to sit on are BMWs.  $$$$$$   And I must try the new Enfield.  But something will have to really strike my fancy to switch over.

I'm going to go rent a dual sport this fall, too.  Perhaps the Adventure Touring route is the way to go.  Was looking over the DR200 . . .  That might be an excellent second bike.  I can get that one into my truck, or put it on a back mount without hurting anything, and it looks like a fine utility hauler.

And on rides.

Went along the front edge of our local mountains to Pigeon Forge yesterday.  Long narrow twisty road.  Sort of a mellow cruiser Dragon.  No other bikes - undiscovered route.  Not even any bicyclists.  Goes to show that great bicycle routes are great motorcycle routes.  Eventually I got lost, hit a major road, knew where I was and was soon back on a familiar backroad route.  A few surprises.  The bike doesn't like ground up road surface on corners.  Tourists can't drive well.  Then I came back behind the mountains.  A few bikers have discovered this route.  Gets narrower and narrower.  Sudden turns, lots of beauty.  Great route.

I had a Kawasaki Super Sherpa 250, one of several fine light dual sport bikes.