Hello New Friend

Remember back a ways when I said that anything that does everything, probably does not do anything very well? After a few touring trips this became apparent about the Mule. I could have lived with the shortcomings of road use but my riding habits never evolved into the Paris to Dakar type I had envisioned. The real rub has been the “burden” of Strom ownership. The fit & finish of the engineering was not there. Air-box problems, finance company issues, crankcase issues, clutch issues, chain-set issues, rear hub issues, fuel-injection issues, aftermarket luggage, windscreen, crash-bars, center stand that never fit quite right… issues. Most damaging was the lack in confidence of the entire platform and longevity concerns. Since the drama of owning this had been so high the dealer bought her back from me at what I would call a very fair price.
So, out with the Mule and in with the Honda ST 1300. I got a square deal so the buyer’s remorse is at a minimum. This is a purpose built machine of the sport touring ilk. If this bike could only speak 3 words it would say “I eat miles.” And since it is a Honda it has engineering that makes Germans and OCD people (me) giddy.

It was hard to say goodbye, but we both will be better off. Dusted down in the drive this morning I took one last picture of her. I have always given human emotional attributes to my modes of transport, so it hurt as little bit to watch her rolled away. It was reminiscent of breaking up with a crazy college ex-girlfriend. The one that would start fights (with men) in bars and do all that crazy “stuff” you could ever imagine. You hate to see her go but it is best for everyone that she/it is gone! Such as it was with the mule.

The sadness did not last too long though. The moment I sat astride the ST I was in love again. All of the anticipation, newness and excitement renewed with a turn of the key and a stab of the throttle. Love is fickle I guess when it comes to bikes.