[MarkH]

Started riding last year at age 55 on a Triumph Tiger 800. Commuted on it and rode all over the Sacramento Valley and from Lake Tahoe to the coast while building up my skills and comfort level. I'm now interested in doing some multi-state tours and don't feel comfortable using the Tiger for that. I've been researching for months to find my next bike, focusing on larger adventure bikes and the Triumph Trophy. Based on what I've read about the CTX1300, I took one out for a short supervised demo ride last weekend and thought I'd have no problems touring on it. That ride was simply part of my research and the possibility of buying the bike that day was not on my radar. I was also not yet ready mentally or financially to trade in the Tiger. Over the next week, an interesting thing happened. I lost interest in visiting the forums for all the other bikes on my list. So I went back to the dealership yesterday to take another look, took another ride, said screw it, and ended up going home on a black deluxe model. I didn't want to wait 2 weeks for the preferred blue or red model, so I took the black one they had on hand. So I'm now on a CTX1300 after 13 months on a 13 Tiger over 13000 miles. Good thing I'm not superstitous. Looking forward to soaking up the collective wisdom of the membership.

First order of business is addressing the windshield. Had a Madstad bracket and windshield on my Tiger and it was wonderful. Open face shield all the time, except when cold. The Madstad site says theirs for the CTX1300 should be ready for ordering on April 26th. Going to take a look at that before considering other options.

 

[bob]

Welcome to the board!

You're not the only one wanting a taller shield, as you read here.
Check out this thread if you haven't already since RICHB2 has blazed the trail for you with MADSTAD to provide the template and produce the first shield from them for the CTX. He is forgoing the Honda offering since he like his MADSTAD pre-production model better.

 

[sleepngbear]

Welcome to the board, Mark! I just love screw-it stories like yours.

 

[MarkH]

Welcome to the board!

You're not the only one wanting a taller shield, as you read here.
Check out this thread if you haven't already since RICHB2 has blazed the trail for you with MADSTAD to provide the template and produce the first shield from them for the CTX. He is forgoing the Honda offering since he like his MADSTAD pre-production model better.

Good to know. Thank you.

 

[MarkH]

Welcome to the board, Mark! I just love screw-it stories like yours.

While in screw-it mode, I decided not to bother warning my wife what I was up to. I simply rode the bike home, walked in the front door, and said, "Hey, want to see my new bike?" All I got was surprise bordering on shock. It worked out very well.

 

[bob]

Somehow I don't think that would work with us.

 

[sleepngbear]

While in screw-it mode, I decided not to bother warning my wife what I was up to. I simply rode the bike home, walked in the front door, and said, "Hey, want to see my new bike?" All I got was surprise bordering on shock. It worked out very well.

You, sir, are my hero. And maybe add that this puts you solidly in the lead and the absolute frontrunner for our annual Screw It award that I just made up, because this is so worthy of just such an award that it demands one be made up for it.

I implore other members to challenge, if for no other reason than this makes such fascinating reading.

I confess that I did consult my not exactly spendthrift wife before making my purchase, knowing full well that her response would be 'get it if you want.' So not exactly a fair fight there.


Bob, pay attention here and see how it's done.

 

[bob]

I KNOW how it's done... here. I say "I want... " and before another word she says "costs too much" before she even knows what it is. Well, ok, she does know what it is but she didn't know the price until she finally asked just last week.

 

[sleepngbear]

Hey, Mark, are you anywhere near LA? If you are, Cee Baileys is looking for a donor bike to model windshields on. And they'll pay. Check it out here:
http://www.ctx1300forum.com/forum/appearance-body/3505-do-you-own-ctx1300-l-area.html

 

[MarkH]

No, I'm about 5-6 hours away. Getting there would require traveling straight down I-5 which would make it seem like 10-12 hours. I haven't been down there in 20 years, but I might be going to the area in late June. I will keep an eye on this development and would be amenable to helping out if the need is stil there at that time.