OHMYGAWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was my reaction after I took a 'test ride' of about 170 miles on the '05 R3 that I'm buying. I don't think I've EVER been on a bike as comfortable over long distances and that was so much unadulterated FUN to ride! Considering the bike's weight, it handled beautifully (even in the parking lot, which surprised me), it out accellerated anything else on 2 wheels, and it just Looked so GREAT! I've never been a V-Twin man, and when the time came to move on from my Voyager (a wonderful bike in its own right), I was worried because there wasn't anything else around that I could afford that wasn't or didn't look like a V-Twin. This Rocket fills almost every requirement I had for a touring bike (a major one being-No Plastic!) There are a couple of minor problems, the bags will have to be changed (They've been out in the sun too long), and the riding position isn't quite right (something I've arranged with the dealer to fix), but other than those 2 minor problems, it's PERFECT! Interestingly, the ads for the bike put the gas mileage at 33-36 MPG, and on my ride, I got over 42...and some of that was at extra-legal speeds. Yep, I'm satisfied, and when I go to pick her up in 2 weeks it will be a very happy day. Boy, are the guys in the club (The Enchanted Voyagers out of Albuquerque) going to be surprised at the rally next month!
(I might get kicked out of the club!)
Everybody Ride Safe!!
Hank S