Well somehow I just lost my answer to this but here goes. I will try to reconstruct it.JackoftheGreen wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:30 pm My goodness, there's a lot there to unpack!
On the one hand, it's wonderful that the two of you can share this hobby. The ride and the destination both are always such a reward, Carrie and I often talk about how it wouldn't be fun without one another to share all those experiences with. Or, that the shared experience is part of what makes it so much fun.
At the same time, though, there's a whole different element to riding that you just don't get to experience when you ride with a pillion. Not just the type of bike you can ride, which is a huge consideration by itself, but also the degree to which you can sorta loose yourself in the machine. It would seem to be selfish to desire some solo rides, but it would also be selfish of your SO to deny you that experience. And at the same time, at the end of they day, you may enjoy the riding less without your other half there to share a drink with and talk about the sites and sounds. My apologies if I overstep by delving this far into the subject, but it seemed appropriate to the tone.
You mentioned the Africa Twin, do you picture doing some BDR-type riding on that or using it as a highway scoot? I could imagine a scenario whereby the family, whoever else that includes besides the SO, drives a family SUV to a camp spot with an adventure bike of some kind trailered behind, and then you getting some offroad riding in in the region during the day while the fam maintains base camp. Not ideal, but at least everyone is on vacation? Just a thought.
In any case, I'll go on record as saying it's a little awkward having two large touring bikes in the stable for 2Up riding. What's the determinate factor when deciding which to take?
I should perhaps have mentioned that the PCH ride was bookended by a trip across HIghway 50 from Toronto to LA, solo, and then the return from Vancouver to Toronto through the Rockies and prairies and a forest of relatives also solo. in all I did over 12,000km in a month
I was originally planning to look you up on my way through Utah to Las Vegas but then my Vegas couch-surf decided to visit Toronto while I was out there so I opted for the highly recommended Million Dollar Highway from Ouray to Durango. What I probably should have done is gone down to Durango and then turned around and gone back up as I HATED the cross-winds in the Arizona desert. (perhaps the Nevada desert is just as bad but I will have to see for myself when I come out again this year or the next)
The Africa Twin comment comes from my need to travel. I have circumnavigated the globe and done many half circles both east-west and north-south. I enjoy watching "Itchy Boots" videos as I have been to most of the places she visits. But two-up riding is not ideal in many of those locations. Not to dis my wife who has been backpacking through South America for 4 months and on safaris in Africa without complaint ( Ok, there was this time in Cartagena but I was complaining too and Guayaquil is a challenge for anyone) My kids are long gone and the days of family vacations a thing of the past but my son rides so I hope to do a tour with him some time.
I know this may sound crazy to you but after riding the Victory for a while, the ST feels like a sport bike. So if we are riding in the city it is definitely the ST but if we are going to slip the surly bonds of Toronto traffic and go riding it is the Victory.