In The Wind Once Again

What? THREE updates in one day? Yep, I'm just churnin' 'em out!

Maybe it's because I'm happy, dammit! And maybe I'm happy because after 6 years of being bikeless, I am now, once again, a motorcyclist.

Yes, this past Saturday, once the payoff check from the house sale cleared, I borrowed my father and his truck and bought myself a new (used) 1993 Suzuki vx800.

What the Hell is a vx800, you ask? See that picture? That is a vx800 - albeit not mine.

This one is mine:


The picture is from the dealership website, but I hope to have more up soon.

It's got the OEM optional bikini faring and luggage rack/sissy bar, although I'm going to swap out the luggage rack for the basic grab rail like in the first picture. It's not exactly black, call it a very dark midnight blue with a little metalflake in the finish. The engine is based on the 750 Intruder, so it's shaft drive, but it's bored out to 805cc.

While I did test ride it Saturday, as did my father to give me a second opinion, it was only last night that the weather allowed me to take it for a longer ride.

God, but I love it. The kicked-out front end gives it straight-line stability, but makes steering a little harder than on a more sporty bike. The ergonomics are like those of a an old-style standard bike, which is really nice on my back. The faring does little to keep wind off my face, so I'll need to use a face shield on my helmet, but it does keep it off my chest. The v-twin engine is narrow and torquey, although it bogs a bit off the line without some RPMs, and it's surprisingly cool - there's almost no engine heat.

In all honesty, I never imagined myself getting a bike with this "modern" styling. (As an aside, the styling is a bit off for most people, which is why it never sold well in the States. But it suits me OK.) I've always been an old-school motorcycle enthusiast, with a fondness for British iron. I've had three BSAs in various states of disrepair, so I thought I'd end up with a newer Bonneville or Thunderbird.

But somehow this little beauty caught my eye. Probably it was the $2400 price tag that initially intrigued me, but that's not enough to sell me. So far, this has been a great bike.

My only complaint at this point is the lack of under-seat storage. Still, she's my baby and I'm falling in love with her.

Don't tell my wife.