Back in the 70s when I was a student in Johannesburg, South Africa, there was a Le Mans that would park near my dorm and I admired the lines and especially the V twin configuration. However, I had a Triumph TR2 in those days and no motorcycle, and was in the camp of "motorcycles are dangerous". I rode a bike (Yamaha 350 military issue) for a short time in an official capacity but that was it back then. I did not purchase a bike until I was living in Oregon in the 2000s, when I bought a pair of Honda dual sports that were in need of repair, more for something to wrench on than to ride. Had a vague notion I could use the bike while Chukar hunting but that never materialized. Sold one and fixed one. Bought another one and fixed that too. Held onto both of them and when I moved to TX, I rode them a bit on the ranch. Never put them on the road though. Wasn't until I had a near miss with cancer that I decided it was now or never. Bought a used 2014 V7 Special (the yellow and black tank version) and have been riding for a couple years, short trips, there isn't much traffic around here and there's a couple of nice stretches of windy road in the vicinity (May to Comanche). Bike has not missed a beat, has 11K miles on it. All I have had to do is brake bleed, oil change, new rear tyre, new battery, valve clearances.
Last edited by a moderator:
