Decided to jon since i'm pulling the trigger on a new zx14r.

A Little about myself. been riding since i was 5 in the dirt and for 6 years on the street.
bikes owned:
07 Honda 919
98 Suzuki gs 500
94 Kawi ninja 500
02 Honda Goldwing
03 Yamaha FJR1300
08 Triumph Speed Triple current street bike
03 Honda CRF450R AKA insanity incarnate with wheels current dirt bike
02 Yamaha YZ250f wife's dirt bike
79 Honda CB400 Hawk current running project
08 Honda TRX450R technically a quad but but still not a cage

Figured I'd get the bike leniage out of the way.

I'm going to miss the Speed Triple a lot but want something with some wind protection can't get much loess than a speedy. I like to Hoon around the back roads so the big ZX might not do that as well as the speed and the speed averages 55+ when used as transport which is quite often when there isn't the white curse of living were there is 4 season. I'm assuming the ZX is thirstier.But the pillion seat oon the triple is none existent especially when your 6' and 220 or more after the dirt bike lays me up for a couple months. And the misses is a mother.

I like to tour and just plain ride as much as hoon though and I think the ZX beats the current stead by miles for that. And the wife likes to ride pillion when there is room. She's learning to ride herself so hopefully she will have her own street machine soon. Some 17 inch hoops, sticky rubber, and number plates for the CRF should cure my thirst for hoon better than the speedy can any how.

I'm from the St.louis area not one of those people with a false since of pride because of were I come from so that's all I'll say about were I came from it snow's here and gets hotter and more humid than most of the country so it sucks any how.

I like my cages too but being I can't justify the amount of coin it takes to put the smile on your face a bike does in a car I've stuck to economical and enjoyable. Sportwagen TDI with a stir stick If you want to know and an 88 f150 with a stir stick for the work horse if any one cares.I don't like slush boxes.

I'm not a fan boy of any particular brand if the list of bikes didn't give it away. that list isn't including the bikes I've bought to flip or the rest of the quads I've owned or miss. If you care to know or swap quad stories that's cool just didn't see it as relevant here.

Looking forward to something that can tour again and having the wife on the back again. And maybe wiping the floor with a friend or two's bike down the highway, the twisties are a given only one that can stay on me or pass me for long in the small group of friends is bike less because he is 22 and bullet proof but the bike wasn't twice.

I've had the itch for one of these bike since I test road one at the ride event in 2012 almost traded the FJR in on one that day not far off in comfort but god the smooth mountain of power. Can't wait to pick up the new bike.

I do have one question about the bikes and i'm pretty much made up my mind. But is the ABs worth it never had a problem with out it but planning on getting it anyway for the fact I will travel a lot on this, I put on average 4-5k a month on the fjr and for the 35 days i had the wing I did 8k miles. And I'm not afraid of the rain, except on the triumph but that things brakes are something to experience and traction is of short supply in the dry at the rear. Is there any major reason not to get the ABS version? I'm putting my deposit down tomorrow evening so I can still change models but as a tour bike I like the Idea of ABS long days inn the saddle definatley were at your finite control of a bike and god knows what the unknown road ahead has in it when in uncharted territory.

Charlie
Aptly named since every movie character ever named Charlie was some sort of crazy.