Welcome new members! Introduce yourselves here.

[Stormtruck2]

Glad to find this forum.  I may be one of the outcast though, I'm conservative and ride a Guzzi.  I love riding have have been riding since the late sixities if you count mini bikes in the back acre and doing stupid stuff.  The first real bike I rode was my father's 46 Indian Chief with the suicide shift.  The next was his 74 AMF/Harley ElectraGlide in that beautiful blue they had.  Was gourgous looking sitting next to the road.  I own a few bikes, most Guzzi's but also others. Looking forward to the ride out to Virginia for a week then back at the end of June 2012.  I look forward many hours on here.  My touring bike is an 07 Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 in silver.  The first one ever sold in the US.  That and $5 will get me a happy meal at MickyD's.  

[Papa Lazarou]

Welcome Guzzista. I rode one of those horrible suicide shift Indians once. Never again.

[uglicoyote]

I'm not new to sport touring but I'm returning after a hiatus.  I had an 81 GW1100 which I certainly rode like a sport touring bike. I sold it and went to an Eskimo village in Alaska for a couple of years (teacher). When I returned I decided to try a Harley and for the last 6 years I've been on  the p[irate ship. I'm retired now and I've decided to join the 21st century. I'm trying to sell the Harley so I can buy a new Concours. My wife, who doesn't ride, says I can have only one bike at a time.  I rode many miles on that Hog and I loved every mile but it's not the type of touring and riding that I love.

[Arizona Dan]

Hi  I am a new member and would like to introduce myself.  I live in Phoenix, AZ and am 55 yrs old.  I use to ride a lot when I was younger, but have not ridden in 20 years.  My first ride was a Honda trail 70.  Then Honda SL175, then Honda CB360.  Then off to college and sold the 360.  Ten years later, I bought a Yamaha 350.  Then sold it and bought a Honda Sliverwing 500.  Got married and sold it.

Now, may years later, I am thinking about riding again.  I need help in choosing a bike.  I have a short inseam, 28.5 inches.  I have been using the internet to research a lot of bike and have been to a lot of dealerships in Phoenix.  Here is what I have learned so far.  A Suzuki 1250 is too tall and heavy for me.  I would love a ST of this size, but at least I can rule out this group of bike.  Let look at midsized bikes.  So - I think I need low seat height and low weight.  Except for the cruiser style, where weight is less of an issue.  I sat on a Ninja 650.  I think I could handle it.  I also sat on a Suzuki FZ6R and felt I could handle it.  I have sat on every non sport bike in the shop, but not sure what to get.  I am almost positive that I will buy used.  I have about 10 pages of notes that I have put together, but would like input from experienced riders.  

What are my options for really low seat height and low weight.  So far, Buell xb12scg has seat height of 28.5 in. and weight of 395 lbs.  Ducati 696 has seat height of 30.3 and weight of 360 lbs.  I have no idea how these two bikes are for a 250 mile trip, but the seat height and weight are low.  The Suzuki GS500F might work.  I sat on a Kantana Saturday.  I like the fairing, fuel gage, storage, winshield, etc. but it was a little tall and heavy for me.  I do not know which model number it was, though.  I know there are a lot choices, so let's have fun.

Dan
 

[Arizona Dan]

Earlier, I said I sat on a Kantana.  After looking at pictures, it might of been a Concours.  So many bikes, so much to learn.

Dan

[Mr.Black]

Good  morning Dan.


Katana, Concours, same thing.


Welcome. Watch where you step and keep looking over your shoulder. There is a crazy Welsh sheep farmer on the loose.

[CLAY]

Welcome all!  

[nmbikeboy]

I've been guilty of enjoying the forums for a while before posting but .... hello from southern New Mexico.  Relatively new motorcyclist - too old of a road bicyclist.  Decided that it was just time to upgrade the engine about a year ago.  Proud owner of a 2000 BMW R1200C.  Okay -- I know it's a cruiser but, really, has BMW ever really made a cruiser?  After a year of motorcycling, I've discovered that temperamentally I fit best in the sport-touring niche.  I'll may perhaps replace the R1200C with a R1200Rt eventually but I'm not too convinced of the necessity.  We'll see after my first real tour -- an exploration of the national parks of Utah in September.  Meanwhile, I'm loving motorcycling in the mountains of New Mexico and even, as a victim of long distance relationship, the plains of New Mexico and west Texas.  

Thanks in advance for all the information I'll continue to find on the forum.

[Kneescrubber]

Greetings Chuck. You're in either Alamogordo, Ruidoso or Silver City. Silver City is a very old stomping ground for me as I have an upper 80's great aunt that lives there. I really need to go visit her.  

I moved from Dallas to Amarillo after a 5 year long distance relationship. Been here 3 years now. I beat a path like nobody's bidness on 287 for 5 years.

Good luck this fall in Utah.  

[Abner Ravenwood]

Hey i am a new member here from Grand Prairie, Tx.  Right in the middle of the DFW Metromess.  I ride a GSXR-600 k8, looking to trade it for a Triumph Sprint GT.    

Hope to ride with you guys sometime.  

Chris

[Kneescrubber]

Welcome Chris. One word: Arkansas.  

[Textrain99]

Howdy from Houston.... I am brand new here, not a lurker.  I'm trying to be a daily rider/commuter but my real thrills come from getting away and putting some miles on the bike.

My beloved is a 99 Blackbird, lightly modified.  Latest best trip was a week-end blast up to NW Arkansas.

I've joined to take advantage of the expertise and camraderie.

[Mr.Black]

Howdy from Houston.... I am brand new here, not a lurker.  I'm trying to be a daily rider/commuter but my real thrills come from getting away and putting some miles on the bike.

My beloved is a 99 Blackbird, lightly modified.  Latest best trip was a week-end blast up to NW Arkansas.

I've joined to take advantage of the expertise and camraderie.

Welcome!

Expertise? We got that. Just ask us!

Camaraderie?

Just climb in the back of Ed's truck!

[BanditJake]

I have an 02 Bandit 1200s with a Hyabusa front end that I got from a buddy of mine.

The majority of the week I'm using it to commute to work in Riverside from Pomona and then on weekends hitting the canyons and countryside. To me I'm "sport touring" but my definition could be wrong in some eyes. Me and my buddies pick a spot to ride to and then ride, not much flying at ground level going on these days and we've gotten our girlfriends to go along now.

My places to ride are Santa Monica Mountains of coarse but not so much anymore, roads are too short it seems and go by sooo fast. A run I came up with that goes from Crestline to Big Bear and another going from Banning to Idyllwild and Palomar/San Diego or wrap up around to Palm Desert and reverse. A couple weekends ago we did PCH up to Santa Barbara for lunch and came back.

Yesterday I picked up a givi trunk for the bandit to haul and store a little more stuff for when I have my gf along as the tankbag only holds so much.

Hoping to let the bandit carry me through paying some bills and my car off and then pickup a Concourse 14.

Anyway... I'm Jake and live in Pomona CA and just hit 41 this year

[Mrs. DantesDame]

To me I'm "sport touring" but my definition could be wrong in some eyes.

My places to ride are Santa Monica Mountains of coarse but not so much anymore, roads are too short it seems and go by sooo fast.

It sounds to me like you need to find some longer roads - like out of the state. That would take care of both of your problems  

[BanditJake]

It sounds to me like you need to find some longer roads - like out of the state. That would take care of both of your problems  

very true... LOL

[Ninjawarrior]

Hey fellow Sport Touring riders ....just found this site.....have a new 2012 ZX14r with all the goodies on board, and a C-14 fully decked out with all safety, power and comfort amenities....and the Goldwing is collecting a little dust these days, but is gassed up and charged up ready to go anywhere...

Am in Central Florida area near Daytona Beach..sunny skies, lots of back country roads with curves and unless it is raining, can ride every day....

Hope to learn new things here and share some of my equipment and upgrade experiences too...am into power, safety, great driving lights, and hi-visibility so the cagers can see me and let me enjoy my sport.

Ninja

[Kross Kountry]

Hi to all the STN riders. Especially those who came to the Rally in Eureka Springs, AR. My name is Tracy, I live in NW Arkansas and work for Butler Motorcycle Maps. I want to thank all the members that came to the ES Rally for allowing me to be a part of it and for making me feel like I was just one of the gang. I look forward to meeting and riding with more of the STN members.

Tracy
Butlermaps.com

[Southwade]

Hi


20120614-IMG_0845 by Southwade, on Flickr

[Mr.Black]

Hi


20120614-IMG_0845 by Southwade, on Flickr

Hello

Where is you at?