So. I'm 53 and have close to 40 years experience riding. I have always has sports bikes or naked bikes and loved the four cylinder rush of power and acceleration. I was out of bikes for a while and decided to choose a "sensible" bike, a Honda VTX 1800. Now, let me say that Honda hit it out of the fucking park with this bike. It's comfortable, stable as shit on the highway and except for being a bit of a gas hog it does the job it was designed to do VERY well. Many, many VTX owners have 70, 80, 100k on their bikes with only routine maintenance. The shaft drive is a welcome element.

So what's the problem? Well, I love riding back roads and at 800lbs this thing is a fucking pig on turns and in acceleration. There does seem to be a bit of a disconnect with cruiser riders as to what constitutes "fast" because they always think their cruisers are fast when they are mediocre at best. I had a Honda 919, a bike that was lambasted as underpowered compared to the FZ1, etc... but it had 100hp and weighed 427 lbs. The VTX weighs 1000 lbs with me on it and has 107hp. It's not fast. I miss the "going to warp speed" feeling of fast four cylinder bikes and the great handling of sports and naked bikes. I think I may have to sell the VTX and get a ZX14 or Connie 14 (which makes way more sense). I love big engines and torque plus acceleration. Having said all that, I'm worried that if I get those faster bikes I will find myself routinely cruising around and realize I'm doing 120 so I have to figure this out. Maybe I can make the VTX more fun with suspension mods?? Haha!