[dmaclean747]

Greetings all!

I am about to join the ranks of CTX700 ownership, but it's been a long, painful road.

20 years ago, I caught the motorcycle bug and decided to go for it. The problem is, I'm a big guy – 6'3", 265. Most of my height is in my legs – I have a 36-inch inseam. I never could find a bike that fit me well. The other issue is that I have never driven a manual transmission in my life.

My girlfriend and I decided to do this together as an adventure. After waiting an entire year for a slot to open up (it takes that long in Illinois), I took the MSF course. And failed miserably.

There simply wasn't enough time for me to get the hang of clutching/shifting/riding. Matters were not helped by the fact that the learner bikes were those itty-bitty TW200s. I had too much pain trying to fold up my legs to fit on the bike. Bottom line, it was a complete and total failure. To make matters worse, my girlfriend took the course and passed with flying colors!

She was a good sport about the whole thing, though, and put her riding aspirations aside, and we chalked it up to "one of those things."

I am now 61 and I've gotten the bug again – but with a few key differences:

1) I got both my hips replaced a few years back. I had no idea how physically compromised I had been. I thought I was hurting because I was just old and out of shape. It turns out I had been bone-on-bone in both hips for a long time.

2) There is a whole new plate of automatic motorcycles out here that provide some excellent options.

3) I am now in a financial position to have a custom seat made that will ensure that I can fit on my bike of choice.

I started doing my research and found out about the CTX700 DCT – it's PERFECT for me. Big enough to haul me around. Simple enough to learn and bypass the (relative) hassle of a manual transmission. Ubiquitous enough that there is a vibrant aftermarket seat community for me to get a seat made that will allow me to get the right fit.

I came across a 2016 CTX with less than 5K miles last week that I've placed a deposit on. I will complete the purchase this week. Unfortunately, since I live in Minnesota, I won't be able to ride for a couple of months. In the meantime, I will do as much reading/research as possible. I will also sign up for private lessons and then the MSF course.

By the way, regarding my girlfriend - she is now my WIFE - 15 years this year. At the same shop where we found my CTX, we found a Rebel 250 with only 1300 miles. It's bright red with a windshield, soft bags, and a crash bar. She took one look and fell in love, so I'm buying that one too.

I'm glad to be part of this community and look forward to learning and contributing!

View attachment 90371

View attachment 90372

Really nice story, thanks for sharing. I wish you guys years and years of enjoyment.