Old fart problems.  Back issues, other health issues, and no desire to ride 600 miles in a single day.  The Shadow isn’t the problem.  My first bike back in the 80s was an ‘84 Honda Interceptor 700 right after the taxes went up on the 750+ variants.  That bike was stupid fast back in those days.  Those kind of riding days are long gone.

Whoa!  That’s a ride!  Nice set up with seat, foot boards, and cast wheels!

Dave , I rode the 350 Meteor like that after Kent started going on about "Its only a 350" , so we went up to the top of Blood Mountain near where he lives.  When we got to the twisty section ... I just ran off and left him.   So , when we stopped at the top he said "This bike won't go that fast ! " ... I replied , "Well , it's only a supped up 1200 Sportster , you can't expect it too keep up with a 350 Enfield".    

I still feel a little guilty about it , but at the time it seemed like the right thing to do.        I think it embarrassed him a lot and I'm still not sure how to fix it ?    If we ever ride with him again , then I'll have to let him win.   His other bike now is a HD Road King.

In all fairness I should admit right now :

One year I took a 1200 Sportster to a mountain ride with a bunch of Savages .
I ran the snot out of that HD and still barely keep up with those little 650 Savages ... fact is that's how it got tore up.
The only way to even keep-up with them was to run the HD like a Sports Bike.  The  Drive Sprocket on the Primary Drive started slipping on the Crankshaft , two weeks later the splines were completely gone.   Once they started slipping ... it was just a matter of time.   I had no idea of what the problem was till it was time to fix it ???

Isn't that an evo?   Maybe it been a while since I looked at Harleys ?

Remember , don't ever buy a pre-2004 Sportster , if you value your family Jules .  
Really , I'd sort of like to have a 2004-2006 883 Sportster , 4.5 gal tank , the model that came with all the Chrome and Spoke wheels ... but with cast wheels on  it.
But
I'd rather have the Super Meteor for the Ride ability and better mpg.

........................

Every time I see those "Shorty" mufflers I think of the time that the guts in the back factory muffler melted and stopped up the muffler.   That "V-Twin" design might have worked back in the 1960's  but as HP goes up ... so does HEAT.   Maybe HD was using cheaper steel in 2007 ?

A god ? ?  Welllll ….
He does seem to glow a bit a times, but I’m not sure of the source.  Hopefully he is not radio active.

All that going on about ridding twisty roads make me think back to a few bike that I've had that were NOT nice handling machines.

Here is one of them :    I was really impressed with the Guzzi V7 bike I had for five years (40K-miles) but I didn't like those tires wearing out so fast ... soo ... I bought a MotoGuzzi V9 Roamer with the 16" rear tire and a 19" front.  In those tire sizes a person can get long lasting tires !  
But
The geometry of the machine just didn't work .   There was no conference inspiring feel to the bike .   It looked good , pulled good , and got over 60 mpg while doing it , but it was a lot like a 450 lb. Harley Sportster in the Handling department.  
It still handled better than any of the CMA guys Harleys , Older Wings , and Indians ... but the majic just wasn't in it to get out of it   so  after two years I sold it.

Now Springman ... don't make her afraid to ride with me .

I'll tell ya a true story:

Two months prier to this , the guy was talking up the point that "There ain't no way anybody on a 750cc bike is going to keep up with something like his 1800cc Modern Gold Wing."

When I finally got the local CMA group to go to the Dragon we split the normal ride column when we got to the North end.
The most hot rod guy of the bunch ridding solo on a 1800cc New-er "V-bottom" Gold Wing fell in behind Marcia and me ridding on the Guzzi V7. ... so the "Run-was-on" !   It took about 6 turns (to the Top of the hill)
before He wasn't in the mirror no more , so about 10 turns latter I pulled over to wait on him.   And waited , and waited ... I thought he might follow my "Lines and keep up , if he had another chance" .   So , when I passed him the second time I took it sorta easy but his bike was so heavy he really couldn't keep up ... so we just went on to the Dragon Central and waited.

When we all got back together at the Dragon , all he could say was ... We all knew you would open that Guzzi up once we got here.   Well , he was right ... I opened that Guzzi up (80%) - even with Marcia on the back.

So , Don't tell her ... if you've seen me do anything Crazy .


CMA group the second Harley is mine (Crome F-fender on the Sportster).

Yes , that's what you tell her !      
I did stop and help a guy on a Rebel 250 push his bike off today (True Story) !    After trying it twice by hand , I finally told him  "wait till I get my foot against your Strut/fender rail and you hear me open the throttle a little ... then give it a go" .    He must have been doing 20mph in third gear when he let the clutch out ... and off he went .  

I was out on the 650 enjoying a ride to get pluming parts.   It might have looked like I was taking a day off working on my son's house ... but those pluming parts were necessary ... and the sun was shinning !