The 'xs' in xsPain dates back to when I had just one motorcycle, and xs1100SH (special). If I still had that bike, I would be riding it on this trip without hesitation. Unfortunately it suffered a catastrophic engine failure in August of last year, and since I am working on saving for this trip I decided not to fix it. Yet, anyway.
The 'current' xs1100(H) a standard, has a few advantages, like a kick starter, that the special lacked. Also longer travel suspension. It was also the heaviest xs1100 ever made, 640lbs dry weight, without the vetter fair and luggage that was added before I got it. So it is very, very heavy. But I have over 100,000 miles on xs11s, (mostly the special), and know the bike very well.
I took the SR250 (and sr250 was my first ever motorcycle, and I rode it all over the USA, before getting the xs1100 special and selling my first sr250, something I still regret doing. This is a replacement I bought for $65) on a longish ride this past weekend, with a test pack. The available luggage was just a bit short of what I wanted (really only a couple of liters), but over 200 miles a day was pushing it. Mainly I think it was the seat. While 200 miles is a good average, I want to be able to do more if I have too.
The xs1100 is getting it's brakes done this weekend/early next week. My mechanic gets to do it, since I don't have the time with work. I really need to settle on a bike soon, so I can start taking it apart. Getting a tad nervous.
And reading some guy got a GL1800 all the way round didn't make me feel any better
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