01-29-2018, 07:53 PM
Anticipation is sweet, but the suspense was killing me . . . anyway, the sales manager called me yesterday morning to say that my 2017 EX was finally in! Since it was only about 37°F at noon (and the bike had nowhere to plug in heated clothing, yet), they said they'd deliver the bike. It arrived around 5:00 PM and I HAD to take it for a short ride, since snow was expected (and, yeah, it's white outside this morning).
Oh, my . . . it's everything I imagined it to be and more! I did not expect a big four-cylinder engine to pull hard at low rpms like that. Smooth and sweet. Obviously I did not try to run it hard and never went above 60 mph (this road wouldn't permit it anyway), but what a sweetheart! It felt the most natural of any new bike I've ever ridden. For example, when I bought my first Harley Road King in 2007 (and this after riding for 28 years), it felt as though I wasn't really controlling the machine (nowadays, a Road King feels very comfortable and natural to me). When I bought my KLR, it felt as though I was perched atop something like a toy (and now it's easy and pleasant).
But the Honda felt immediately as though I'd had it for years. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, because they do an outstanding job of making silky engines/transmissions and creating an overall smooth package in their cars and motorcycles.
I spent a couple of hours in my garage last evening just looking at it . . .
Oh, my . . . it's everything I imagined it to be and more! I did not expect a big four-cylinder engine to pull hard at low rpms like that. Smooth and sweet. Obviously I did not try to run it hard and never went above 60 mph (this road wouldn't permit it anyway), but what a sweetheart! It felt the most natural of any new bike I've ever ridden. For example, when I bought my first Harley Road King in 2007 (and this after riding for 28 years), it felt as though I wasn't really controlling the machine (nowadays, a Road King feels very comfortable and natural to me). When I bought my KLR, it felt as though I was perched atop something like a toy (and now it's easy and pleasant).
But the Honda felt immediately as though I'd had it for years. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, because they do an outstanding job of making silky engines/transmissions and creating an overall smooth package in their cars and motorcycles.
I spent a couple of hours in my garage last evening just looking at it . . .