Anyway, I now have a parking space and commute in my VX220, so the bike is a little superfluous. It's not really my kind of bike. I hate its unsexy looks, the stereo, speakers and the stupid arial. I really hate all the chrome.
Above all else though, I hate the riders. A bunch of fat middle aged biking wannabe's who've never gone round a corner beyond 70 degrees of lean. In case you don't believe me, on the LT forum there are several threads about how they're too scared to use the centre stand, many more about how scrared they are riding round town in traffic, and even how they can't turn right uphill from a stationary start. Several have sold the bike because they can't handle it. I'm 5 foot 6 and weight less than 10 stone, but the bike's a pussycat to ride and handle. If you can't handle it, it's because you shouldn't be on a motorcycle. The worst thing about the riders though is their predeliction to accessorise. Big screens, more chrome, relectors and more lights, and even more chrome. Fortunately, my bike only has the big screen, which as you can probably guess given my height I don't need.
However, it is a useful bike. It's great to tour around in the mountains or go away for the weekend. It isn't fast, and doesn't like being thrashed, but it's very good at what it does - tour withh comfort, and biking in Switzerland is wonderful even if you're just pottering about and enjoying the view. Rather than sell it I'd rather just get another sport bike for hooning, and keep this for trips.
But - can it be sexed up? I'm wondering if I can go the other way to the accessorisers and de-bling. I'm thinking of painting it matte black, and even painting the wheels - sort of rat bike style. What do you think? Any other ideas? I'm basically looking for 'wow, no one's done that to an LT', without going this far: -
