I had an interesting thing happen to me this summer. My mileage went up, but not for the reason many of you might surmise. I bought a smaller bike.

Oh, I still have Black Betty. But I came into an unexpected windfall and I bought one of those new Sportster 48s. My intention was just to have a "scooter" to make deliveries for my business, and make the short 12 mile hop to the dealership to share coffee. What I found was that I packed on 6,000 miles without thinking about it, still rode Betty, and had more fun than I had in years.

This happened during a shortened season, we had several weeks of serious rain in spring, and I did not take a vacation.

What I also noticed is that my friends with big dresser Harleys didn't do much riding, at all. While I was out exploring back roads, taking the Sportster to the gym and running errands to the grocery store, my firends seemed trapped in their cages. In fact, even on a Saturday morning at the dealership there were more trucks than bikes.

As I have discussed elsewhere I believe that we have gotten to a fork in the road. The bigger bikes have become so bloated that they no longer provide any true freedom. They are a hassle to drive in traffic--especially in my city--expensive to fuel, and even roll around in the garage. To the contrary, I was doing so many impromptu trips that I just kept a jean jacket in the garage--with a garage door opener hooked to one of the buttons.

I hear ya,
thats why I love my rk, i peel off the windshield and bags and romp around without a care.
I see all these guys doing just what you say, putting so much crap on their bikes and then not wanting to get 'em dirty....
My bike's a '94 with 80 cubes, I get 38 / 50mpg not the fastest but I always enjoyed the trip.
RK

Key comment here is you use your 48 for local commutes. My 2001 Ultra was the best of long rides,a little much going back and forth towork. I believe you have a great set up. BB for long hauls and the 48 for local. 50 miles gas tank would get on my nerves quick.

Oh, I agree. The issue is that most guys are not like you. "Touring" here is one trip up to northern Wisconsin and perhaps a trip to Sturgis every ten years. The majority of the miles are day trips, commuting, and then simply parking the big bike.

I believe in this idea so much that I wish I would have invested in two bikes long before this. My problem now is that I have become very attached to Black Betty. She's paid for, and there's no penalty for leaving her parked. It just seems a waste somehow. As I write this, I'm still riding the Sportster, but Betty is down at the dealership, already in cold storage.

Only since I am older do I want to tour on 2 wheels. When younger I liked looking cool and being tough. I was into image like a MF'er. Its only been the last 3ish years that image takes a back seat to functionality and long distance touring.

Great thread! Nothin' like have a light weight errand runner. I picked up this buell and put some carbon on it. Like havin a 20 year old girl friend. Agile, sexy and always fun to ride.

Oh, I haven't given up totally on the "comfort" aspect of riding just for giggles. The stock seat on the Sportster 48 is going to have to go this winter during any possible mods.

The nice thing about a little bike is that its value is "little," not just being intimidating. I don't really have to add a super-tuner, a big-bore kit or even Screaming Beagle pipes and mufflers. I've had the little beast up to about 85 MPH passing a semi on the slab, and she scooted fast enough for my satisfaction.

If anything, I could see improvements in suspension before modifications to the engine. But to be fair, I have more money in Betty's suspension than I do in her engine.

I bought a brand new 1996 Buell S2T and had it for about 11-12 years. It was 1/2 black 1/2 orange w/ a white stripe down the middle just like HD's VR1000 race bike. Man I use to carve up these mountain roads with that. She could fly and hug the roads hard.

Touted as the "touring" version of the Buell S2's the only thing I thought was remotely touring was the lowers and the hard bags. The seat sucked.

I got rid of it in 2007 or '08 when I upgraded my iron to touring. Wished I could have kept her as she was a fun ride.

But I bet Betty can flat roll on command?

Well, yeah.

My goal on the Sportster was not to simply create a "little Betty," but to have a completely different motorcycle. Betty was built in a San Fran style which I feel best handles the crappy roads and continuous repairs we do to our city streets.

But we do have lots of rural roads within an easy few minutes time. For example, due to construction on 39/90/94, the Illinois tourists would completely plug up the slab going south for several hours on a Sunday afternoon. Many times to a standstill. But I knew where the rural routes were, and I simply took them to the southern side of Madison and had access to our dealership.

And a little Sporster is a great bike for changing your mind. Many times I get a wild-hair and decide to go someplace else in mid-trip. I drove up a sidewalk once (and only once, I never break the law ) to evade bad traffic and one-way streets.

I love Betty, but there is a free and light easy feeling on a Sportster.