Buying motorcycles based on 'reality' has led me to some strange places with the resulting ideas. I remember the first time it happened.

For example, throughout my teens and early twenties, I always bought, "bigger, faster, more chrome." I figured that was just the way all consumers bought stuff.

However, after I officially went inactive from the club I began to ride longer and farther away from home. Sadly, I realized how much free time I had by not going to saloons. Our club was friendly with "The Blue Knights," and I began riding with one of them, who became a close friend. He had a Gold Wing, so I got a Gold Wing. More of a case of 'monkey see, monkey do.' Good times, though. It taught me a lesson over time, and I had bad experiences with bikes built during the AMF bowling ball fiasco. When bikes improved, I went back to Harley. My career had become more structured.

That's over now, dramatically. In effect, my bikes are designing themselves. In fact, I see younger guys doing the same things I did, but now I view it with fresh eyes. I see them limping around huge, expensive elephants, and modulating their cruising as the price of gasoline fluctuates--some guys aren't even 'happy.' So as I peruse the showroom floor, I see my eyes settling on the same bike--a bike I would have never even given a sniff a scant few years ago. And I am a bit ashamed about that.

I always made choices in modifications due to actual use, and then added a bit of 'macho.' Now I wonder. After all, what is more pathetic than an old fudd in a fiery red Corvette? Does the concept of finally attaining true happiness based on contentment also apply to the stuff we ride?

I agree with your way of looking at the bike has changed. I used to think, how can i make it go faster. now i think how can i make it more comfortable. i find my modifications are more about back support and not letting my hand go dead, than about air shifters and tweaking that air fuel mix. This is not to say that my bike does not run well. I had the heads flowed by a guy in Texas and the cylinders bored to 95ci. it has true duals and it will light them up, but my but does not go to sleep and my back does not hurt. I will race anyone, just now i want to race to the coast, not the stoplight!!

My bikes both run well, and both have go-fast parts. One of them is used primarily as a 'scooter' for fun.

Let's be honest here, if just getting your nuts in the breeze was the goal--and it was--I could have filled that desire with one of those big step-through scooters with an automatic transmission. In fact, think of all the storage space under the seat. Even a CB450 Honda would have been okay.

Lots of guys say that their bikes represent the person they are. BS. Their bikes represent the person they want the world to think they are, and probably are not.

A touring Sportster with engine that can do the slab is the guy I really am.

I like mine stock, push the starter and it starts every time whether I am down the street or across the country. Except for a few added comforts or more lights for safety. I don't mess with them. As for jugs the only ones that I want to play with are sitting behind me!

Well I guess I'm the one that is the exception to the rule:
I bought the only bike I ever wanted, made minor modifications to adapt it to my riding style and haven't done anything to it in 16 years other than the mandatory / needed stuff.

I have a set of highway pegs to stretch out on, I added the luggage rack and passenger back rest to make the old - ol lady happy, now it works great with the t-bag ruck sack i use on long trips. I had to change out the exhaust system cause the old/stock one kept cracking/breaking at the 2into1 weld.
I tried a couple different brands of tires but seems the Dunlops work the best.

I'm ready for a little headset bearing adjustment and some re-torquing on the engine bolts cause I'm getting a little weeping from the bottoms of the jugs. All in all so far I've had a very good experience with the somewhat stock bike.
AND no it will never be fast enough, cause I don't believe that exists.

I never did either. My past is littered with Sifton cams, assorted lifters, blown apart (or roasted) big twin cylinders and one completely fragged motor.

Slowly over time I realized the problem was not the metal. I finally built a motor hooked to a decent suspension, and as I went to wring it out I found (and by surprise, mind you) that I shut her down while she was still pulling.

The weak component was me. Who was that chiseled featured Adonis with the gray hair that looked back at me from the mirror? And since when did shards of hot broken steel, shattered bones and the possible kiss from Angelique make me want to hit the brakes?

A good actor knows when to leave the stage.

I saw a modified new style Yamaha V-Max go into the Harley dyno room last year. They had made it turn over 230 BHP, and now they wanted to tweak it a bit more. I had absolutley no desire to ride it.

It's not the bike, or you, it is the road/track you are on, given the correct place I still have to say too much is never enough...
I road my buddies V-max years ago and I got to say I was grinning for a week.

I don't have many regrests in life, but one of them was not buying an older style V-Max back in the day. It's a piece of history and an icon and I never owned one. Bad choice. I had also just turned about 30 at that time, so I have no real excuse.

More to point, my focus in riding has changed. I like to cruise and joy-ride now. I haven't scratched off against anyone in almost four years--and that was only for two gears against a good friend, the late Mickey Foster.

But I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. My MIL told me once that each decade of life seems to bring new joys, and I've found that to be true. Had I stayed like a teenager, I'd still be flying my rags, smoking, chasing women and eating nothing but saloon burgers.

Being an adult has obviously brought me so much more.

I believe you can get a NEW V-max I'm pretty sure I read an article about them in a bike mag a year ago.
Don't know how much but they are supposed to be really hot. Speaking of new models or reinventing an old main stay, these days are so far IMHO, the best for motorcycling.

I looked into the blurb on the computer when the newer style first came out, and I believe the pricing then was 17K. At 200 BHP in stock trim that's a very fast Moped. Heck, my CBX made only 105 BHP back in the day, and I could walk away from anything. I didn't stop at a yellow light all that summer.

I think people should try some touchstones in their lives. They should visit certain places, try signature food dishes, see particular plays and operas and read classic books. In that list of things, we should try certain bikes, and I believe a V-Max is that kind of iconic motorcycle.