Sharp tool or a Leatherman - bikes, not knives

[mgoodie_imp]

For me being a young guy at 25 I love my CB1100 but for me I would love a new R1 or equivalent. I work in the quality control industry and I guess that part of me comes out with such a highly tuned and engineered bike such as most supersports they are such precision tools meant to do one job and do it very well. As for the reason I dont own one is because I cant justify spending more on insurance a year than my bike payment. The CB is a real work of art and I love it but to be honest if money was no issue it would not be my first choice.

[rboe]

Many of the extreme sport bikes are the car equivalent of Ferrari's, Porches and Lambo's. Which clearly are beyond the means of the everyman/woman. Besides, typically family needs push us to buy minivans, SUV's, commuters etc. Some SUV's, like the Suburban, can be speciality cars but the niche is a bit more open with Police, Secret Service, Civil Engineers, ranchers etc. using them for the large interior room; more than what a Taurus or Impala would give. Oddly enough, you just don't see many Taurus', Impala's - your standard full sized family sedan that much any more. They have been replaced by Focus, Cruze, Camray's and such.

And pickups, oh my, units like a Ford F150 King Ranch really push the envelope! Even my truck is well beyond anything I imagined as a kid and she is no King Ranch (beyond my grasp, but would have loved one!!).

So in the car game, there are cars and trucks we'd like, but either can't afford or justify the expense of ownership. I've seen folks tour in a small Lotus and Porche, can't say it was the best choice - especially once you hit the great expanse of the West and Mid-west. The thought of traveling across the big states out here have me considering a "cruiser" like an Indian Chieften or Moto Guzzi 1400 California. Even though, the CB would be a better choice once I arrive at my destination.

[DBXXX_imp]

I agree quite a lot with this sentiment. I'd like to add that I think this is because motorcycles have become a hobby more than a tool for most people. I bought my CB1100 precisely because it's good at a lot of things, because I need it to do a lot of things. My wife and I share a car, which she takes out of town for work 3 days a week, so the CB lets me do normal stuff when she's gone. My dad is a harley riding weekend warrior, and he likes to cruise the country roads, so I needed something that would be highway capable and fun to ride. And my wife and I love camping, so I needed a bike that could handle two-up riding with cargo. This bike really handles it all beautifully.