Buyer's Remorse on the Tiger !
After nearly 2 months of waiting for the weather to warm up a bit and for things at work to calm down following Easter, yesterday I finally brought home my 2012 Tiger 800XC. Have put about 70 miles on it so far.
Am a longtime Honda rider: GL1800 and then ST1300 most recently. Due to work, family, and health issues, no bike for the past 2 years, and this is my long overdue step of getting involved in one of my greatest interests and passions.
Have probably taken about 5 demo rides on the T800 since its release. Always marveled at its comfortable ergos, power, and fun factor.
So as of now, day 2 of ownership, I wish I had held off on the purchase. During the past few weeks I've followed the news reports and ADVrider thread regarding the Honda CB1100. I'm right in the demographic that Honda is aiming for -- 50 years old, grew up on Honda, always admired the CB750, and during the 1980's had a few smaller 4 cylinder Hondas. Then 2 GL's, then the ST. As soon as I pulled in the garage last night and stepped back from the Tiger, I just began to feel buyers remorse. Kept walking around it to get a really exciting angle for a photo, or just to admire it. Most angles not as exciting as in the dealer showroom! So today I went to a nearby Honda dealer, on the Tiger, and was actually able to demo a CB1100. Believe it or not I was pulled over by a motor cop during the demo for cutting into the other lane of traffic to merge toward an exit. It was one of those situations where I waited until the last possible minute to merge. He let me go with a stern warning.
I loved the ride on the CB. Smooth, smooth power, and an entire experience that just took me back in time 30 years. The sound, the smell, the feel, everything. And staring at it in the sun after the ride felt the same way. Would have much preferred to ride that home instead of my brand spanking new Tiger.
My wife is not going to be too happy about me trading this bike in any time soon!! Any one else ever have an experience like this? Any wise counsel? My present plan is to enjoy the Tiger for the season ahead, and likely trade in for the Honda next spring. I also have a 30+ year relationship with the Honda dealer, so would hopefully get a minimum of a spanking on the trade. Heck, maybe it will even be blue in 2014, the color of my first 3 Hondas way back when.
Wonder what my therapist would say about all of this! Hah! I love the hunt for new bikes, and confess that oftentimes the anticipation of owning one is much more exciting than the reality of it being in my garage. Even still, that CB1100 is all I can think of right now.
Thanks.