Randys' Cycle in Marengo is the best dealership in the world, except when it comes to his Demo Days! I went yesterday and had the opportunity to ride several new models, the Magnum, Cross Country Tour, Octane, and rode there on my 2012 KP. I just bought the KP in December and was talked into the Cross Roads Tour by the Northern Illinois riders club guys who were helping out. Well, I took it for a ride and fell in love dammit! Now, I LOVE my KP. I have added Lloyds timing, Vance Hines Pipes, windshield, backrests and rack, and more goodies. And it runs like a raped ape. The Magnum is one sexy beast but with the Stage 1 it ran very similar to my KP though I feel the KP handles and rides much better. Just my opinion. So I'm glad I got that out of my system. The fairing doesn't seem to protect me from getting battered any more than my Memphis Slim on the KP. The radio controls suck too unless you have a 13" thumb to reach it while driving. But the radio sounds good, gotta give it that. The 21" front wheel I think impedes the handling and general feel as well as the lowered rear end. On the road its not bad but slow speed maneuvering it felt like a tank. But was very surprised at the buffeting with a fairing that size on the bike. Now I will still admire the looks but it felt like I slept with a drunk woman and woke up unimpressed.
SO on to the the Cross Country with 2500 bucks in accessories like the adjustable backrest and some other goodies. Before I even left the lot I knew there was something special about that bike. And I took her on some country roads which is almost every road by Randy, and put her through the twisties. The handling, the feel, the no wind, the stereo, heated everything, equalled my old BMW with the added pleasure of a V Twin vs. the Boxer feel. Never thought I would find another touring bike as good as that BMW without going to a 6 cylinder car engine. Well now I have.
That bike even at low speeds felt as light and nimble ss a 650CC, plenty of leg room for a tall feller, and all the controls except the heated seat switch were very easy to use wihout looking off the road. I instantly fell in love and now I have a 5 month old KP I love and torn to shreds over selling it and buying a Cross Country Tour. I have 5 cars and a bike and simply no garage room for 2 bikes. I rolled back into the lot and as the Riders Club guys were standing there I yelled out to them that they suck. Never should have let me on that bike. That is how Randy got me on the KP. He said "ride a few and let me know what you think." I told Randy back then he sucked too. No high pressure sales at all there, not even close. That man KNOWS that a good ride on the right Vic will sell a bike no matter what your tastes. He hands the key off and stands there with a XXX eating grin when you pull back in with his finger on the cash register. And he did that, just let me ride the bikes when I bought my KP and made a sale. BTW he is one hell of a great guy to deal with. But for some odd reason the Cross Country had no incentives other than the 500 dollar demo day rebate. The other bikes you could get up to 2500 off, which would have made the sale. So I barely escaped with my KP.
Now this is like picking a hot mistress over an older wife who is a hell of a cook. Eventually one of them has to go....agggh!
If you are in the market for a touring bike, this thing handles, feels, and performs better than anything out there. I'd still be on a BMW except I cannot stand the looks of the newer ones. Same reason I gave Randy for NOT riding the Vision. I have not accepted the looks ( no offense to Vision owners, just a matter of personal taste ).
I did not want to fall for a Vision because everyone says if you ride one, you'll walk with one. But that CR...what a gem, so who knows. After the summer I may turn the KP loose, although the styling of that bike is awesome. I get compliments everywhere on it. Why Ma Vic decided to do away with the classic lines and poise of that bike I'll never know. But bringing them back wouldn't be a bad thing. So I now feel I am being torn between 2 great loves and am depressed. Guess I'll take the KP for a nice long run today and stretch her legs and let her comfort me a bit......sigh.
SO on to the the Cross Country with 2500 bucks in accessories like the adjustable backrest and some other goodies. Before I even left the lot I knew there was something special about that bike. And I took her on some country roads which is almost every road by Randy, and put her through the twisties. The handling, the feel, the no wind, the stereo, heated everything, equalled my old BMW with the added pleasure of a V Twin vs. the Boxer feel. Never thought I would find another touring bike as good as that BMW without going to a 6 cylinder car engine. Well now I have.
That bike even at low speeds felt as light and nimble ss a 650CC, plenty of leg room for a tall feller, and all the controls except the heated seat switch were very easy to use wihout looking off the road. I instantly fell in love and now I have a 5 month old KP I love and torn to shreds over selling it and buying a Cross Country Tour. I have 5 cars and a bike and simply no garage room for 2 bikes. I rolled back into the lot and as the Riders Club guys were standing there I yelled out to them that they suck. Never should have let me on that bike. That is how Randy got me on the KP. He said "ride a few and let me know what you think." I told Randy back then he sucked too. No high pressure sales at all there, not even close. That man KNOWS that a good ride on the right Vic will sell a bike no matter what your tastes. He hands the key off and stands there with a XXX eating grin when you pull back in with his finger on the cash register. And he did that, just let me ride the bikes when I bought my KP and made a sale. BTW he is one hell of a great guy to deal with. But for some odd reason the Cross Country had no incentives other than the 500 dollar demo day rebate. The other bikes you could get up to 2500 off, which would have made the sale. So I barely escaped with my KP.
Now this is like picking a hot mistress over an older wife who is a hell of a cook. Eventually one of them has to go....agggh!
If you are in the market for a touring bike, this thing handles, feels, and performs better than anything out there. I'd still be on a BMW except I cannot stand the looks of the newer ones. Same reason I gave Randy for NOT riding the Vision. I have not accepted the looks ( no offense to Vision owners, just a matter of personal taste ).
I did not want to fall for a Vision because everyone says if you ride one, you'll walk with one. But that CR...what a gem, so who knows. After the summer I may turn the KP loose, although the styling of that bike is awesome. I get compliments everywhere on it. Why Ma Vic decided to do away with the classic lines and poise of that bike I'll never know. But bringing them back wouldn't be a bad thing. So I now feel I am being torn between 2 great loves and am depressed. Guess I'll take the KP for a nice long run today and stretch her legs and let her comfort me a bit......sigh.
