Motorcycling is a solo thing. Even when you are riding with others you are absolutely alone-and responsible to yourself. It's the way of it, always been.
For those that don't know, I have a new motorcycle. A RED motorcycle. It's not exactly new, just new to me. It's actually a 2004 Honda Goldwing that has been cared for carefully for 18 years.
Which explains why I've been so absent the last three weeks. New motorcycle and the learning curve that goes with it. It takes some time and mileage to start to quantify how good a motorcycle is, particularly in relationship to the ones that have gone before.
I rode home from Indio, California to get my first taste. I spent parts of several days learning to be smooth with the red beast. Smooth is life on a motorcycle. Jerky and irregular is death. I choose and work at smooth.
It's a truly great motorcycle. Everybody acknowledges the Goldwing greatness. Is it comparatively the best? The very BEST?
Better than a Ducati Multistrada? Or Connie? Or a BKing? Or a Kawasaki KZ1? Or ....
This is the view out my front door right this minute. As you can see it's very dark. When it gets light, and a little bit warmer, I'm going to light up the beast and head out for the day. I haven't been to Organ Pipe National Monument in years, I suspect today is the day.
What this all means is that I'm not in position to call Big Red the best motorcycle ever. I'm not anywhere near ready to call it the best I've ever owned.
But I am dammed sure ready to anoint it my very best current motorcycle, which is plenty good enough for me to spend another day deciding on the rest of it.
All words and photographs and motorcycles in this post are mine.
For better or worse.
