New Tiger (2006) Owner

Hello all!

Since it seems customary to introduce myself as a new member on the forums, here's a brief run-down.

My name is Marty and I live in NW Missouri with my wife and three sons. I work as a locksmith/armed security officer for a medium sized hospital/healthcare organization. I have varied interests; photography, archery, RC airplanes, movies, music and of course motorcycles. I really don't have very much time for any of them though since two of my three sons are under three years old and being an old fart myself (47) leaves me little time, energy and money for my interests.

So why did I get a bike? Possibly a second mid-life crisis? Hell I don't know. Obviously if I have two children under three years I'm not real prone to making the best decisions! Just kidding. Enough rambling, so my motorcycle experience is fairly brief and ergo, inexperienced. You will find I have many questions. I got my first bike, Kawasaki Z750, in 2014 and enjoyed the power, lightness and maneuverability of that bike a lot. What I didn't like was the hard seat and riding position that always smashed my manhood into the tank. Between those two factors and peer pressure from co-workers, I sold the Z in 2015 and bought a Suzuki Marauder 1600 (re-badged Kawasaki Mean Streak). That bike was gorgeous and fun to customize. The sound was amazing, power was more than adequate and the seat was much better after getting a custom Corbin. So why did I sell that one? Quite frankly, I missed the ease of being able to throw the Z around without much concern of its size and weight. The cruiser was big, heavy and the forward controls didn't allow me the ability to absorb rough road conditions with my legs like I could with the Z. All those factors, plus the fact that a little one was on his way, were more than enough to motivate me to sell the Marauder. I miss her looks and sound when you cranked up her throttle (kind of like that one crazy ex-girlfriend we've all had!) but I don't really regret my decision.

So here I am, almost three years after selling my last bike and what did I go and do, I got the wild hair to get another bike. Hell ya! Oh hell no.... This lady is a real tiger, a 2006 Tiger 955i. After much research I decide that an Adventure bike was my best choice for my needs, style and size (6' 4", 260 lbs.) as well as my bad lower back. So ya'all will be hearing from me because I've already got questions and problems, dammit. So I better finish this intro up so I can start posting my problems already.

Hope to hear from ya!
Marty