Featured New Bike, New Lid -- Nearly Ready For The Maiden Voyage Aboard My Non- Triumph Tourer!

This is me aboard my 2020 Street Glide Special that I purchased back in early May. Today was the first day that I swung a leg over and stood it up, backed it out of the garage into the driveway, and fired it up. Then I wiped it down and checked tire pressures. It felt great to just do these basic things and I was so darned happy and excited that I was nearly giddy! I did ask Mr. Sandi to stand by "just in case". Some of you know why the major delay between buying a new bike and actually riding it. For those that don't, exactly eight months ago today I had a bicycle crash that laid me up with a broken pelvis and shattered left elbow. I first rode my Speed Triple RS back on August 1st and that has been a total blast along with being very therapeutic (as most of you will understand). But I haven't felt ready to ride this "big boy" until today. I didn't get any further than the end of the driveway but really just wanted to see how I felt maneuvering it a bit. And even though my left arm has more PT ahead, I felt better just doing these simple things than I anticipated.

So...on to the new lid part of this thread. Thanks to @Greywolf55 and his recent thread about his new AGV Pista, I got a wild hair to look at helmets that might compliment my Street Glide's paint job. And this is the result......



Shoei's have worked well for me, particularly their RF1200, so I looked at the Shoei offerings. Lo and behold, after doing some research I found a newer model, the RF SR, that comes in a color called "Tangerine Orange" that seemed like it could be a match. Yes, @Dozers Dad, some of us like to be matchy-matchy. So I reserved it online through Cycle Gear and had it set aside for me at our local Cycle Gear shop. It was definitely a match and truly looks like it was custom painted with the same paint as my bike. There's the tiniest variation in the size and shade of the metal flake but it's nearly imperceptible. Anyway, I'm pleased as punch and after today I feel ready to take this show on the road!



My current odometer reading. But not for long! Mr. Sandi has put all but 20 miles of these 167 on my bike. Those 20 came from service techs doing test rides prior to selling it and after doing engine work and customization I had done while I was still laid up. Now I'm looking forward to putting miles on this bike myself and starting to make up for lost time!

 

As "a female lady of the opposite sex", here's another example of my color (colour) coordination efforts. Here's my Shoei RF1200 with my Speed Triple RS. I had a riding buddy laughingly ask me if I painted my bike to match my helmet.

 

Thanks, @SuperHans! The helmet color is called tangerine orange. The bike is called scorched orange. But for the most part they look like the same color to me! Certainly close enough.

 

@dilligaf
Thanks, Dilli! I’ll definitely report back with some stories and photos when I get this bike rolling down the road… soon!

I’m looking forward to the day when we get a ride report and photos of you on your new Tiger! That will be a day to celebrate!

 

Thanks, @Bikerman! It will definitely feel like a great day to me! I’ve most certainly had lots of practice being patient this year. I appreciate your advice to take it easy and enjoy it when it happens. Several of my riding buddies push a little too much do I know they mean well and are just eager for me to be back out there. But I’ll know when I’m ready. It worked great for my decision when to start riding my speed triple. I appreciate your advice to take it easy and enjoy it when it happens. Several of my riding buddies push a little too much though I know they mean well and are just eager for me to be back out there. But I’ll know when I’m ready. Going with my gut and my heart worked great for my decision about when to start riding my speed triple.

 

You’re quick on the draw, DD! You responded before I even had a chance to delete that repeat post you saw. And the helmet is a size medium by the way.

 

That’s a beautiful Street Glide you have, @Greywolf55! It's a gorgeous shade of blue. And I appreciate your vote of confidence in my choice of bike. How many miles do you have on your Street Glide?

 

Thanks, @Beerman! I'm very pleased with my Street Glide and suspect I'll have it for many years. Although I've said that about bikes before. But I think after numerous bikes, trips, etc. I have a really good idea (finally) of what I'm looking for in a bike for longer rides and trips and this one is it. Plus the first time I saw a bike with this paint color a couple of years ago I fell in love with it. Now I'm lucky enough to have one in my garage!

We don't have any trips planned as of right now--decent or not. There are a couple of reason fo that. One is COVID and the restrictions we still face here in Arizona and the southwest. The other is that our beloved boxer, Annie, has a degenerative neurological disorder that has numbered her days and made her remaining ones rather difficult. So we're staying home as much as we can. And when we are out we either cut it short or one of us stays home with her. We know the time we have left with her is short so are enjoying each day with her.

We may do an overnighter or two in October during our fall break (we both work in a public school district) depending on Annie. If she's still with us, I don't think we'll travel at all. If not, we've talked about doing some shorter trips in Arizona. While we'd love to ride up into Colorado or Utah, at that point in the calendar those places are a bit of a crap shoot for weather, especially Colorado. I'm just happy to be riding again so even a little overnighter to Bisbee or Payson or some Arizona town that's not that far away would be a treat. Part of the problem even planning those sort of trips this darned virus. We shall see. One day at a time.