As we get older we change a lot, especially how we feel about things. Take for instance big touring motorcycles. Many of my friends and I grew up with the knowledge that if you wanted to tour and be cool you did it on a big Harley. Some of us got Goldwings, but either way touring bikes were big and heavy.
A friend of mine is going through what I went through a couple of years ago. I had a Harley Road King, and while pushing it around in my garage I dropped it twice! It was then I made the decision to sell it and get something lighter to tour on. So what to get? Well, the industry has changed and the Europeans got it right with the adventure touring bikes. In America we have traditionally toured on big bikes, but in Europe because of the quality of the roads and lots of twisties they have used lighter bikes with longer travel suspension.
When Cyndy and I went to Patagonia we toured on Triumph 800 Tigers, and that changed everything! We now own a Triumph 900 Tiger, and both of us ride it. It is light, comfortable, handles like a sport bike and has the comforts of a touring bike like heated grips, heated seat, good wind protection and great electronics. My friend, that I thought would never get off of his big V Twin, is looking hard at getting the new 2021 Tiger 850! We have to accept a lot of things about ourselves as we get older but we don’t have to quit riding.
On that note, when I was touring in my early twenties we would go on lot runs and overnighters with the So Cal Motorcycling Assn. They would give a trophy out to the oldest rider, and the winners were usually over 90 year old! I was and still am looking forward to riding for a really long time.
