Kawasaki Meanstreak?!??

I'm looking at one to take the place of my Monster. So the Monster would go and the Meanstreak would take over as my main DD, date bike, and long touring bike. Everything I read seems good but does anyone have experience with one?

[Also sorry I haven't been around much, but work, life, a totaled Jeep and shopping for a replacement have been taking up all my time.]

Have you ridden a cruiser?

The mean streak is a good looking bike.

I had a Vulcan 1600 Classic which is pretty similar.

Only ever ridden a Honda Rebel 250 at MS course. I've sat on a bunch over the past few months. They feel fine to me. Not as sporty as the Monster or Ninja obviously. But I'd rather share my passion with my wife than leave her behind. She said she would love to start taking trips but the Monster (even with the bags) doesn't have enough room.

In reply to octavious:

Believe me, riding and sitting on one are two different things. Before you sell the monster see if you can get a ride on one for a while. I'd hate for you to make that trade only to hate it.

If it's in the budget, maybe think about renting an HD for a weekend.

If all else fails I may be able to put you in touch with a buddy that has a Suzuki intruder 1400 that may be amiable to letting you ride it if you let him ride your bike.

From your bike history in thinking a sport touring bike would be the thing. But I may be wrong.

Yeah, sport touring. Safe, fun and competent.

Ducati Diavel. Best of both worlds. I have a thousand miles (1/3rd of the bike's total miles so far) of two-up riding on mine so far and it's excellent. SWMBO likes it a lot - especially 3rd gear pulls. Don't bother with a Strada though, aftermarket bags are far better.

Dave, I wish. I love those, but a little out of my pay range right now.

Nick and Mark, we sat on several ST bikes, Honda ST1100 and 1300, FJR, and both styles of Concours. She liked the Concours the best of those, but still felt like she was sliding into me. Which is one of the issues with my 650r and Monster, she feels that she slides into me and is causing me to get smashed on the tank or could possible cause an issue with the steering or controls.

We sat on Kawasaki 900 and 1500 Vulcans, Honda VTX and Shadow, and Yamaha Warrior and Stratoliner. The only one of those not still in the hunt is the Shadow because it felt too low for me, and it was a 750 so I worried size would be too small. On all those she felt she had enough room that she a) didn't have to hold onto me for dear life, b) could see over my helmet of what was in front of us, maybe the biggest c) that she wasn't sliding into me.

FYI cruisers are not my first choice, but...it means I get to have a hobby that both she and I enjoy and for that I concede.

Also 2 bikes won't work right now so.

Any BMWs? How about Ducati STs?

Yes. BMW RT and GS. No other Ducatis. But Vstrom and Tenere as well. And while I LUST over the R-nine-T it isn't practical or affordable.

Also with the ST's and the ADV bikes we sat on those and she feels they were too tall. She's short so even climbing on some of those was an issue.

I've come to the conclusion a cruiser is in my future. I'm asking about the Mean Streak because I have a line on one that could mean trading the Ducati for it.

Thanks

How about a big UJM like the 1200 Bandit?

Do you have a motorcycle rental place close to you? Something like Eaglerider? You can rent a bike with similar Ergos and see if the feet forward thing is for you.

I second the Bandit 1250, Can be had cheap, Neutral ergos and pretty quick for a big bike.

Well I did it.

Rode the Ducati from Knoxville to Meridian MS today. 385 miles. And it beat me bad. This was my first long interstate stint on it ever. The only other one was about 150 miles. After that ride I knew it had to go. It beat the front part of my knees to death. My butt and lower back were sore, and my shoulders and next were awful.

I made it to Meridan after multiple stops just to stretch cause I didn't need gas or to pee. Met with the owner of the Mean Streak did the deal and took off towards Tuscaloosa AL where I had made a hotel reservation.

The MS is way different than the Monster. Not just different seating but also power delivery, throttle, etc. The thing was a smooth beast for the 90 miles back to Tuscaloosa but it did 85-90 on the interstate like nothing. But slow maneuvers like parking lots is totally different and awkward

Cool. Hope you like it.

Cool! Hopefully you will have a chance to do more touring on the bike. Nothing like seeing the country on 2 wheels!