The KSL trip brought a nerve issue between my spine and my shoulder to a head pretty quickly. 3 full days of riding make it pretty easy to get to know a bike. I determined I would need to get the Wing Helibars. Got them put on and went for a ride for a short ride this afternoon. I explained my situation to the installer, who is about my size. He set them up for himself; apparently he has the same type pain I do. They are pretty high up. My forearms are not level. They go slightly up from my elbo. Not exactly apes, but higher than what I am used to. First ride today was good. Bike seems easier to handle at low speeds Some of that may be due to the Helibars, and some to the height of the bars. No nerve pain, but it is hard to tell from such a short ride. The current setup makes the "Master Yoda" riding position very easy to achieve. Everything is in the right position for it; the backrest and the bars are right there. I may lower them a little, but I am happy with the reach. I'll need to figure out how to do that.
On my ride today, I rode into a rain deluge. Cars in front of me were pulling over. I have the windshield as low as it would go and the MRA X-Creen touring windshield extension up all the way so that there is a largish gap between the top of the windshield and the bottom of the X-Creen. It worked out pretty well. My legs didn't get wet hardly at all. I had to go around a guy who was stopping early at a red light. I didn't want to sit in the rain and be the last vehicle in the line. I downshifted, hit it, and discovered the Wing doesn't have traction control! I slid a little but nothing scarey. The rear didn't kick out or anything. I may replace the 4 YO tire earlier than I thought.
The 3 day trip didn't reveal much of a problem with the seat. I wore my usual Moto-Skeeves (cruiser) and stopped every hour, hour and 1/2. I can at least get through the riding season with this seat.
The kickstand pad turned out to be a non-issue. I took one of those pads they give out at rallys, dropped it, and positioned it under the kickstand with my foot.
Luckily I have found a mechanic that only works on Wings. He works out of a garage behind his house. Just what I was looking for. He is in Southern Indiana right off the interstate. It takes me about an hour for to get there. I can live with that.