Full story – I finally pulled the trigger – it could almost be described as an accidental shooting.

I was still mulling the choices around in my feeble mind.  Believe me, there’s lots of time and space for thoughts to circulate.

I had pretty much ruled out the Ninja 1000 on insurance costs.  The estimated quotes I got from Progressive said the Ninja was 2 or 3 times as expensive to insure as a Connie.  What I learned in hindsight is that Progressive’s estimates – even though made on my policy – are not very accurate.  The actual cost to add the Connie to my policy was $300 different than the estimate they gave me.  So who knows what the real cost of the Ninja was – not that it mattered – I didn’t like the luggage options. 

I’m telling you; if they ever put a half-fairing and suitable hardcase luggage on that Yammie triple all you guys are ever gonna see is taillights.  But I digress.

I stopped at a dealership to compare fairing and footpeg positions of the ’13 FJR to the ’14 FJR.  I sat on the ’14 FJR at the DC motoshow and didn’t like the way the fairing collided with my shin.  Note to RDoug: Riding posture is just plain different for us who are too-tall to be cowboys. 

The dealer I stopped at had a brand new didn’t-even-have-oil-in-it left-over 2013 Connie on the floor at what I thought was a grab-it on-the-spot discount.  Same as Montgomeryville was asking for a used 2012 with 7000 miles on the clock.  Plus I got to use my $500 Kawi Kash discount from the show. 

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In truth, I went home & discussed it with my wife.  I was seriously considering a 2011 BMW R1200 RT with 7000 miles on it; one really really nice machine!  Lighter, far more comfortable for the passenger, and loaded with accessories and electronic suspension.  Three things concerned me: more $$$, knee room (my knee doesn’t quite fit under the notch in the tank with my foot on the peg), and I got a whiff of the notorious BMW attitude while perusing accessories and that just turned me completely off. 

I’ve never agreed with the philosophy that being the most technologically advanced makes you the best.  Just for a moment, let’s consider civilizations in general.  The bushmen lived happily on the savannahs for 5,000 years without leaving any permanent scars before America was discovered.  We’ve managed to progress further technologically in the last 400 years than those savages ever did.  And we leave hundreds of Love Canals as a legacy to future generations.  Meanwhile, those primitive people left a pristine environment for their children.  Now [let me ask you] who had the “better” civilization?  Anyway, I digress; this site is about motorcycling.  Gimmie back my 2-stroke!  I can't deal with that better-than-thou attitude because I bought a more technologically advanced machine, whether it's because you got chrome steel fenders or a single-sided swing arm.. [RANT OVER] 

So here I am with a full ear-to-ear sh@t-eatin grin.  An I'm glad it's a rice-burner cause gasohol is crap. 

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Got back to the dealership and closed the deal on the Connie not long before another prospective buyer who had also gone home to think it over.  Not my favorite color; it will show the dirt, but at that price, I guess I could learn how to keep a motorcycle clean.

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PS  Heated grips are the BEST.

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Very nice!

First bike I've ever had to keep on a charger, even part time.