Finally arrived: VX800!

Not so many posts here so I thought I’d share my good news: bike was delivered last week (by Peter), a 1995 VX800. Since it’s been nearly 15 years since I last rode, and over 30 since I last owned a real bike, I thought I share why it’s so different today.
 
First, I forgot how much I like the smell. When you park the bike in the garage after a ride, the hot metal of the engine and exhaust have a specific smell that I had forgotten I love. (I’m a big aviation fan too and I never forget how much I love the smell of burnt jet aviation fuel. Gorgeous!) A hot bike engine is appealing in the same way, though smelling very different.
 
Second, it turns out that (from memory) a VX800 has the same dry weight as my old 1970s vintage Z650 – about 213 kg. Strangely, 213 kg in 1979 weighed a lot less than 213 kg in 2017…
 
Third, the gears are hard! I have terrible hearing and do not wear hearing aids inside a helmet (what’s the point?). But, the VX is very quiet and I can’t hear well enough to know what the revs are doing. In the olden days, I’d do it by hearing mostly, but also by feeling the vibrations. Well, a VX is quite smooth and the difference between 3000 rpm and 4000 rpm isn’t so pronounced (maybe I’ll get used to it?). This means I never know what gear I’m in. I suppose I’ll have to do it by revs on the clock, but knowing revs and speeds for all gears is a tall order…
 
Fourth (last!), I dislike modern motorcycle design greatly: modern bikes sit you at the bottom of a ‘V’. On a ‘proper’ saddle (old, that is, like a Bonneville), they’re flat so you can push a lardy backside rearwards to ease an aching back or leg. In a ‘V’, you’re stuck! Dreadful. (Not so pronounced on a VX, but still restrictive.)
 
So – not all good news I suppose, but even the belly-aching is good (for me) ‘cos it means I have a bike!  

 
RESULT! 

 
Cheers,
 
Chris

Hi Chris everything will fall in place, we are now coming into summer, longer rides, the more you are in the saddle the more you will enjoy your bike.The saddle can be modded to suit your riding position by getting it redone by a seat upholster quite cheap and makes a lot of difference.  Have fun.