Im not a big guy, standing tall, 5'6". Im about 150 pounds & Im not strong any more. I had a Guzzi Nevada, saddle is a bit high, toes on the ground straight up, a little lean & 1 foot flat. I stopped where some small gravel was scattered around & my foot slid out. Nearly did what I call the "Power splits", but was able with great effort to halt that foot & hold it up.
Ive even had the 40 come close, but it was easier to save. Said all that to say this... The way the 40 is built, low & pretty light, makes it much easier for me to keep it off the ground in those situations where gravity has an advantage & my traction is limited. It also has enough power to accelerate & work thru traffic OR cover me if I miss an oncoming car & pull out & realize I Need, I mean I NEED to get the heck on & get outta the WAY,, & yes, Ive done that. On a Honda 50, I woulda been a hood ornament,.,.
I can rip across town on the 40, Im not having to contend with an unwieldy hulk. Its light & quick. For where I ride, its just a really good tool to solve my transportation problems. IF I was wanting to make a long ride, like 3 or 400 miles in a day, Id rather have a bike that more comfortable at high speeds. The 40 runs 70 MPH okay & its fun, but not all day. If I was gonna do that, Id want something heavier & with a windshield. Something the engine wasnt putting out over 80% of max to keep it at highway speeds. Something that had the kind of acceleration reserves at 70 that a guy mite need to avoid a problem at speed. What bike answers those questions? Dang, theres a bunch O them. Ive never owned a big heavy bike, never will, unless someone wills me one. ( Hint, hint,,
)
I live out in the sticks, County roads for about 5 or 6 miles before I hit real civilization. The 40 runs thru those curves, corners & lumpy, poorly maintained roads fine. It easily blends into traffic, accelerating easily &
making progress thru traffic effortlessly. It has everything I could ask for in a local area kinda transportation device. With some clever work, it can be made to haul all kindsa struff. Ive had backpacks strapped onto each side & a gym bag, reinforced with 1/8th ply & D-Rings sewn on, strapped on the seat, extending past the tail light. All easily removed, making it easy to carry in groceries & put them up, Slap them on, run errands, take them off, run wild. All to say, the 40 is versatile. Its quick & fun. I think its the right tool for my job. It may not be the right tool for your job. There may BE a better tool out there for what you want.
But, if youre wanting to run from home, into town, knock out a few errands, pick a few things up & get home & do it quickly & have fun, riding something thats more like a pet horse than a wild mustang, always requiring your attention to keep it from biting you.
( I was never able to be fully comfortable coming to a stop on the Guzzi. Thats THE moment, for me, when Im most "at risk" for dropping a bike. The 40 is the least worrisome Ive ridden. Ive never asked,, Is this a Point others have?)
Anyway, if youre feeling youve graduated from the 40 & your transportation needs arent fully met by it, I hope you find something that Fits YOU, allows you to feel comfortable on it, able to be in control of it thru all the little things we encounter regularly, sand & gravel at a stop sign & such. Weve got a road that intersects another & a stop sign. Just as ya get there, the road has a rise to it thats so steep that If ya stop At the stop sign, the front tire is high & the distance from seat to asphalt it enormous.. Very bad for a biker. ONly option is to stop back.. & thats fine, as long as some idiot on a cell phone isnt behind you,,
Anyway, I hope you can keep the 40 a while after ya get whatever you decide on. You may decide its just too cool to get rid of.
Pages: 
