how soon we forget

I find it absolutely amazing how fast we forget things. Before 2008 every bike I ever owned was a standard motorcycle or a chopper, thin bikes, no bags, no windshields, fairings, lowers, or tour packs. In other words, if you wanted something with you, you either wore it or you tied it on somewhere.

In 2008 I bought a bagger and added a windshield. I have had nothing but a blast with these bikes, Throwing them into corners, dragging the floor boards through turns, flipping them in and out of tight spots and enjoying every bit of it.

 In 2010 I exchanged the Star (Yamaha) in for a Street Glide, and except for a short period after I put it on the ground and having it repaired, I threw that bike around. That bike had higher floor boards so the easiest way the drag them was to drop into a corner, let off the fuel til the plate contacted the ground then throttle up scraping all the way through. 

In 2012 I exchanged that bike for a Limited and found it surprising how easy it was to turn that bike, drag its boards and maneuver it anywhere. Well do to leg issues, a crappy winter and the arrival of the Dyna with Apes, not to mention it needing to be shopped for an instrumentation issue, I have been living on the Super Glide. I can't turn in the same radius as the Ultra, (different fork rake) but it dives in quick and still turns pretty good. There are no boards to drag, the most I get is worn boot heels when you lean in so far that you feet on the forward controls drag through a corner.

Here in lies my forgetfulness, I jumped on Charlene this afternoon and honestly, it scared the hell out of me. After being out in the open on a light bike, it felt like a tank, heavy as hell, unyielding, large yet confining in the straight up sitting position. Just about everything I did last year as though the bike was an extension of myself, today was alien. So, eights months, (roughly) with ape hangers and I will have to learn to ride all over again.

Last year was zigs and zags, loop pull in back up...

Today,

Charlene is scheduled for her 15,000 mile, the rear tire replacement, the dash electrical work and having the tour-pak wire set installed at Ocean State Harley in Exeter RI. She goes in on the 27th.