Rami:
Nice bike! You're a better man than me. My weak back, bad joints and arm/hand/wrist problems preclude sport bikes for this biker. I'd love one, especially a Duc 1098S, but I can't see the serious outlay of dosh for something I'd be in agony riding for more than 15mins. at a time. Enjoy her in good health.
Peter:
Good point!
Tinted eye protection certainly helps during bright sunny and/or overcast, days. Try to avoid wearing ridiculously dark tints and/or polorized stuff...you miss more than you think. You don't wanna be wearing them as it gets dark either, LOL!
Personally, I use changeable photochromic lenses in my eyewear. I prefer the Panoptx windproof speed-rated eyewear line. They make different models for specific action sports (i.e., Motorcycling, skiing, shooting, etc), are available in Rx, have proper anatomical ergonomics (each model was based on a different head mold shape for near-custom fit for most head/face shapes), and were designed by an eye Dr. to eliminate tearing and minimize fatigue due to motion/wind. I have two pairs of the Cyclone model and one pair of the Diablo model. They are identical, save the Diablo has removable eye cups (foam eye surrounds), and the Cyclone's are fixed. I have the older Varia photochromic lenses in the Cyclone, and the new Day/Night lenses in the Diablo. Think wrap-around wayfairer-style sunglasses, but with foam orbital seals for wind/dirt/debris protection. They aren't cheap, but neither is anything else that's good:
http://www.panoptx.com Technically, it's against the law in most states to utilize tinted eye protection after dark. I do wear them because the aforementioned stuff turns clear or nearly clear at night and tends to reduce glare and increase clarity for me.
Bob:
You're right. Your only alternative is a ST, but they tend to be less appointed and less comfortable. Luggage space is less, and no smooth opposed flat six option exists in that segment. Honda ST-1300 aside, you can get a LOT of options on the Beemers, and Yamaha and Guzzi offer quite a bit in the way of same as well.
Still, I think you're right on the money. IMHO, Honda would probably sell more ST's if it was more like a baby GL than the current ST-1300.
Personally, I don't so much mind the heft and size of the Wing. I do mind the extremely restrictive leg room due to the intrusion of the lower fairing and the engine cyl. heads. This causes my bad knees to ache...I need the freedom of legroom to allow multiple positions and leg stretch and the comfort of boards as opposed to pegs. I also loathe the linked brakes and am not a fan of ABS as well. Try trailbraking the rear at extremely low speeds to see what I mean. Looks aside (they are subjective, right?), a bike that huge should have more luggage room as well, no?
Cheers,
Kevin
