2004-2005 Motorcycle Show

Oh, it’s that most wonderful time of the year!…….bike show time!

Each year I go, the fun of the bike show veers more and more towards the social; sitting on bikes is always still fun, of course, but unless there’s a real brand-new show-stopper, much of my amusement comes from meeting and greeting and schmoozing and chatting. It’s a miracle Peter still goes to these things with me. 🙂

We had a large “core” group this year: Peter, me, Steph, Tony, Deb, and Ben. Deb was contemplating upgrading from her current bike (a Buell Blast), and had some specific bikes to sit on; the rest of us had no real agenda in mind.

The bikes.
OK, let’s start with the bikes themselves. First off, hopefully it won’t spoil anyone’s day to hear that there wasn’t The One Super Awesome Brand-New Bike that blew everyone’s socks off. Most of the things we saw were color changes/minor tweaks from previous years’ models. Still fun, but nothing to gush about online, really.

The one new bike that we all enjoyed was the Triumph Thruxton 900. The six of us all met up at the Triumph booth, so everyone got a chance to sit on the Thruxton while waiting for the others to arrive. I was surprised by how light it was — OK, granted, the bikes at the show have no fluids in them, and probably no battery, but still. For a 900, it felt like a feather.

Peter sat on the Triumph Daytona 955i while we were milling about, and I was surprised by how well it seemed to fit him. I could have sworn he’d sat on it in previous years, and didn’t think he’d been that comfortable.

….Aha! I was right!


Peter on the 2002 Daytona 955i


Peter on the 2005 Daytona 955i

This also allows me another oppotunity to point out that my boyfriend has not aged in like 10 years. I’m seriously going to start searching the attic for a Dorien Grey-esque portrait.

Anyhoo. I got a big kick out of the Honda Ruckus. Any scooter that matches my cargo pants gets an OK in my book.

As always, we sat on the Superhawks. I continue to be saddened that they are tall and top-heavy. Peter thought this year’s tank seemed to fit differently; his legs were more comfortable than they are on his 1998 model. This greyish-gold is definitely the 2005 color of choice; we saw it on quite a few bikes. I have to admit I like it more than the “all red, all the time” theme of 2001 or the “everything silver” of 2002.

Finally, in the Yamaha booth, I found a bike I could flatfoot.

While in the Yamaha booth, I played around with the Yamaha XT225 dual-sport, whose motto should be “The vertically-challenged’s only option”. Fortunately, I liked the bike, since it seriously is the only dual-sport I can even vaguely consider. With a seat height of 31.9″, it wins the I Live In The Real World award.

In contrast, the Kawasaki KLR250 does not live in the real world. This is a TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY cc motorcycle, Kawasaki. You already have the KLR650 for those lucky enough to be six feet tall, wtf were you thinking when choosing the seat height for the 250?


What we in the real world call “tiptoeing unacceptably”. C’mon, people. Throw us a bone here.

Anyhoo, I’ll rant about the tragedy of being 5’1″ and wanting a dual sport some other time.

Have I mentioned that deep down in my heart of hearts, I want a Hayabusa for no reason at all? Now, y’know, OK, let’s think about this for a second, in light of the dual sport rant. I can fit on a 1300cc totally excessive super dooper sports bike, but CANNOT FIT on a TWO FIFTY dual sport. I ask you.


Someday, my pretty….

And that was pretty much the bikes. Peter is dragging me off to breakfast now, so we will continue the bike show story in a bit….

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