Tommy is home!

[whosea]

Here we are, Tommy and I! My daughter keeps calling him Stumpy, though, lol. I played in the parking lot for a bit and then took him down the road, grinning from ear to ear!

[amethaelf]

What a lovely bike, (and what a major smile on your face too, I can see why!!!!) You are going to have so much fun on that boy, (and he definately is a boy, for sure).

[PIPEDRMZ]

Wow congratulations! Love the color too! Nice! Enjoy!

[firefly]

I see that the wait was worth it - cool bike !

[Wyomom]

Love the smile on your face! Beautiful blue!

[bikerchic]

Awesome bike, congrats! You'll never get that smile off your face now!!!

[Blacktop]

Great picture of the two new best friends Blessings and many miles for you & your beautiful new bike.

[sportygrl]

Beautiful bike...you two look like you were meant for each other! Enjoy!

[susanL]

Beautiful bike..congrats..wish you many safe rides. That is a very nice pic.

[DaisyMae]

Beautiful bike!!! I always like to know what is behind the name. What is behind Tommy?

[SFW]

pretty bike...actually makes you look really really thin.....
I need to get me one of those!!

[Trish]

Here we are, Tommy and I! My daughter keeps calling him Stumpy, though, lol. I played in the parking lot for a bit and then took him down the road, grinning from ear to ear!

Tommy.jpg

You're daughter is quite the scampette!
Beautiful guy there.

[Trish]

pretty bike...actually makes you look really really thin.....
I need to get me one of those!!

the Virago worked pretty good too!

[cheyenne71597]

Nice bike! Congrats!!

[Alice]

That is one sweet bike!

[Zoom]

That is a very pretty bike whosea... congrats!!!

[whosea]

Tommy comes from the name of the paint color...Tommy Blue. Friends and family have somehow now named it Stumpy Tommy Sapphire!

I am very skinny, so the bike doesn't have much to do with that, lol. That is due to a combination of genes and Crohn's disease.

I had all my girls, their husbands, the 6 grandchildren, and my mom and dad (who has Alzheimer's) here for the day so I only got one very short ride in. Hoping to take a longer one tomorrow! It was torture not to be on that bike today. I have already found that something will need to be done about the seat for long rides. The handlebars seem to be great right now, but we will see how that goes as I get more riding time.

Thanks for all the comments...it is fun to have a place to go where the women actually understand my excitement

[Zoom]

whosea, from the pictures it appears you may not need the risers, you do have nice long arms so you may be good to go! How ya liking the fuel injection?

[SFW]

You know when you need pull back risers when your making a sharp turn and the stretch is uncomfy...I waited a while driving the bike to make sure I got used to it and verified that I needed them and figured out what I really needed for pull back. Too much or too little would have been a waste of $. You can also do parking manuers - fred flinstone style to check out reach issues.

[whosea]

I love the fuel injection! We went for a ride tonight, and I fell more in love with the bike. I have a couple issues I need to work on, the biggest being the seat. It is not comfortable for me at all, and I think the feeling has just come back to my tush, lol. I'm thinking of getting an Airhawk cushion for now and then a new seat in the future. The other thing is how heavy it is to get off its sidestand. I do fine if I remember to turn the front wheel to the right, but sometimes that is even hard to do. It is a dream to ride otherwise, and it surely likes corners as much as I do. I did scrape once tonight, but have to admit I was trying to, grin.

So far, the handlebars feel fine to me, and I find this bike easier to maneuver in parking lots than the Virago, so I think the reach is okay. I have only ridden about 50 miles at a time so far, though, so the true test will be a longer ride.

[SFW]

I'd say hit the gym start leg lifts, leg presses build those thigh muscles....really helps me use my legs when jumping on the bike, backing up etc...
Plus men think strong legs are sexy!!

[Zoom]

whosea, I am sure you will get use to the difference in weight pretty quick. It is probably just a complete different feel than the Virago. I go out and whip mine up off the stand like it's nothing now, but in the beginning it did feel a little heavy.

I ended up buying a sheepskin covered gel pad for my seat and it helps a lot, but I also want a new seat. I ended up taking the gel pad and putting it inside the seat but I am finding it doesn't seem to work as well. My trip home from WV (300 mile trip) was very uncomfortable so I was telling DH last night that I need a new seat. I have put 15000 miles on Journey so far and yesterday was the worst it seemed to affect me. Maybe one day I will be able to get a new seat.

Enjoy that bike!! LOL as I know you will.

[88shadow]

Beautiful bike!!!! You look so happy. You'll figure out what Tommy needs and then you'll be all set.
Dang Zoom 15,000 miles on an uncomfortable seat - ugh!

[PIPEDRMZ]

I have put 15000 miles on Journey so far and yesterday was the worst it seemed to affect me. Maybe one day I will be able to get a new seat.

Zoom - You should get the Iron Butt award!

[Zoom]

ROFL, yep, my butt felt like iron yesterday! Hahaha

[whosea]

You have 15,000 on your bike already?? Wow! We usually get between 5,000 and 6,000 a year, although last year was a lot less due to summer never really arriving. Most of our riding is within the state, usually 200 miles on weekends and a few 50 mile rides during the week, weather and workload permitting. It would help if everybody would quit having baby showers, birthday, anniversary, and graduation parties on weekends this summer. I want to RIDE, lol.

I am sure I won't get anywhere near that many miles before I do something about a new seat! If you didn't have an iron butt before, you MUST now!

[Trish]

whosea, I am sure you will get use to the difference in weight pretty quick. It is probably just a complete different feel than the Virago. I go out and whip mine up off the stand like it's nothing now, but in the beginning it did feel a little heavy.

I ended up buying a sheepskin covered gel pad for my seat and it helps a lot, but I also want a new seat. I ended up taking the gel pad and putting it inside the seat but I am finding it doesn't seem to work as well. My trip home from WV (300 mile trip) was very uncomfortable so I was telling DH last night that I need a new seat. I have put 15000 miles on Journey so far and yesterday was the worst it seemed to affect me. Maybe one day I will be able to get a new seat.

Enjoy that bike!! LOL as I know you will.

Your seat deserves a good seat! MC'ing is a major occupation for you! You NEED the right tools for the job. If it isn't broken in by now-then it never will be. I figure 1000-2000 miles should be enough to let you know if you and your seat are going to be compatible. 15,000 on a sore seat-now THAT'S REAL dedication.

[malteseyo]

What a pretty bike! I know you must be proud of him.

[Zoom]

You have 15,000 on your bike already?? Wow! We usually get between 5,000 and 6,000 a year, although last year was a lot less due to summer never really arriving. Most of our riding is within the state, usually 200 miles on weekends and a few 50 mile rides during the week, weather and workload permitting. It would help if everybody would quit having baby showers, birthday, anniversary, and graduation parties on weekends this summer. I want to RIDE, lol.

I am sure I won't get anywhere near that many miles before I do something about a new seat! If you didn't have an iron butt before, you MUST now!

LOL yep, 15,000 in one year, I had my bike a year on the 21st of this month. I do ride a lot!

The thing about the seat is that I got a sheep skin gel pad and it helped tremendously. I have used what extra cash that we had to put other things on the bike that was needed, like luggage rack, engine guards, risers, extra lights, etc. With the gel pad I was comfy, I actually went all the way to FL with it and was fine. BUT everywhere I went I had to take it off and put it in my locked bags cause I was afraid that someone would steal it and it was a pain plus it was actually affecting it because of having to sorta fold it. So I took the gel pad part and put it IN my seat. Well now it's not working so well. LOL I don't know why since it is the same set up "kinda". Oh well, I already told my DH that if we ever sell the 650 I want a new Mustang seat if I don't do anything else.

[PIPEDRMZ]

Oh well, I already told my DH that if we ever sell the 650 I want a new Mustang seat if I don't do anything else.

Zoom - When I was looking for my Mustang seat I went to a forum on the internet (for my bike/model) and found a used Mustang seat which I bought from one of the guys. This is how I got to that site - I Googled "Mustang seat for a Kawasaki Vulcan 900". The scary thing is I sent him the money via paypal and I did it on blind faith because I didn't know if he was going to actually send me the seat. Well, it all worked out fine and I ended up buying a second Mustang seat the same way for my S.O. I saved about $200.00 per seat doing it this way. The seats were in new condition and I'm so glad I did it! I hope this helps you shop for the best deal!

[whosea]

I broke down and ordered the Mustang seat with the driver's backrest. I sold Pearl, my Suzuki S40, so I decided to take some of that money and put it to a new seat. I have 500 miles on Tommy, and my butt and right hip are numb within 30 miles. I am anxious to see if the seat affects the reach, hoping I don't have to get risers now, too. The reach is perfect right now, but if I have to stretch out much more it is going to be uncomfortable. It never ends, lol!

[PIPEDRMZ]

I broke down and ordered the Mustang seat with the driver's backrest. I sold Pearl, my Suzuki S40, so I decided to take some of that money and put it to a new seat. I have 500 miles on Tommy, and my butt and right hip are numb within 30 miles. I am anxious to see if the seat affects the reach, hoping I don't have to get risers now, too. The reach is perfect right now, but if I have to stretch out much more it is going to be uncomfortable. It never ends, lol!

You're right - "it never ends" or at least it seems that way! LOL
Should you need the risers you can look at some of the post regarding risers which might help you make the right purchase. I took a chance buying my risers and I'm really glad it worked out - riding for a long stretch of time is way more comfortable now than before. Good luck!

[CieBme]

... ahhh, the joys of life: the shopping never ends!!

on longer rides, specifically when I have the back seat loaded with a duffle bag or the tombstone, I roll up the pillion Alaska butt pad and stove it behind the back portion of the rider butt pad. It forces me forward just an inch or so, but allows me to change it back when I want to stretch out again. Sometimes, for me, it takes having options to keep me comfy (such a wuss ).

[PIPEDRMZ]

... ahhh, the joys of life: the shopping never ends!!

on longer rides, specifically when I have the back seat loaded with a duffle bag or the tombstone, I roll up the pillion Alaska butt pad and stove it behind the back portion of the rider butt pad. It forces me forward just an inch or so, but allows me to change it back when I want to stretch out again. Sometimes, for me, it takes having options to keep me comfy (such a wuss ).

You're funny! Good idea but I solved that needing to stretch problem with a set of Long Horns!
Me too for the wuss comment!

[RoseD]

Sorry to be so late ... gorgeous bike! Congratulations!

[~~Darci~~]

Beautiful bike!!

[5thwheel]

I'm glad that your enjoying you're new bike, it looks great.

[Zoom]

whosea, did you get your mustang seat on yet and if so is there a difference? If I can sell my 650 I am planning to get a mustang seat also.

[whosea]

No, whine. I actually ended up cancelling the order due to finances right now. I have had to go parttime as my mom had shoulder surgery and is staying with us for 6 weeks, and my daughter is starting college this month and we have to come up with some money for that and books, etc. I will probably get the seat for my birthday this fall, when my husband's heating business picks up again. I will be sure to let you know when I do. I have over 800 miles on it so far, and it definitely just isn't going to work for me with the stock seat for long trips.

[Zoom]

Other than the seat, are you liking the bike?

[whosea]

I absolutely love it! It is a dream to ride! I don't notice the weight at all anymore, just feel the smoothness, and am finding it actually easier to maneuver in parking lots than the Virago. Love, love, love this bike.

[Zoom]

Yup, what you said! LOL

I do love mine too, it is a nimble smooth ride. I sold my 650 yesterday, hoping to get a mustang seat soon for Journey.

[whosea]

Anxious to hear how you like the mustang seat when you get one. By the way, I really like the name of your bike, very fitting!

[Zoom]

whosea, I got my Mustang seat today and I love it. What a difference it makes. I haven't taken a long ride yet but I truly believe it will be an awesome investment... my butt thanks me! hahaha

I got the plain one with the removable backrest.

[whosea]

I am jealous! I want the plain one with the removable backrest, too. Ahhh the relief it must be, lol. I can't wait to hear what you think of it after a long ride. Any pics of it yet?

[Zoom]

Yes here is a pic of it. I will know more once I take a long ride.

[whosea]

Looks great! I hope you and Journey enjoy many miles with the new seat.

[whosea]

By the way, would you mind telling me where you got the seat and how long it took after you ordered it to receive it?

[Zoom]

Well actually we ordered it through the company my DH works for. He ordered it on August 16th and we got it yesterday the 25th.