As I was nudging my new wee Suzi up a Vermont hill, in the “slow
traffic” lane, barely hitting 36mph in 4th, I got to wondering why
everyone was hurtling by in such a feverish rush! Where was everyone going on a
gorgeous lazy Sunday afternoon, in August, in one of the most beautiful States
in the union? Was there a BBQ I was missing? Was there a tsunami rushing up
behind us? What was I oblivious to? It is funny how modern communication
technologies with their lightning speed transmissions have not removed the
haste with which we like to get places physically. For me, an incorrigible
nomad, the phone and internet have removed all urgency from my peregrinations
and have enabled me to take my sweet time (much to the chagrin of other
travelers) when I perambulate somewhere. I now enjoy every moment of every
journey. I just sold my V-Max, and my HD bobber, they were too fast. I would
race around noisily and find, upon getting home, that I only had an adrenaline buzz and memories of
the blacktop in front of me…when you top 60mph you cannot afford to admire the
views, or notice the birds overhead, or see the trees, or smell the smells of
the mountains and forests you navigate through, it’s just too dangerous to gaze
off left and right at the beauty around you. So I sold these gas guzzling behemoths and bought the TU. This truly is a reliable "vintage" bike for the modern age.
And I adore it.
Once, when I was in my 20’s, I stood at the basecamp of
Everest and gazed in awe at the summit. Next to me stood a weary climber who
had twice failed to reach the peak. I tried to empathize with what I imagined
he felt and when I expressed my condolences he said very simply “it’s not the
point, it’s the journey that matters”. I have owned every manner of cycle in the past 34 years in the
saddle and have developed mean skills, ridden in far-flung places, seen
extraordinary things. But my fondest road memories are from rides on smaller,
slower bikes. Admittedly riding across the Mekong delta on a 250cc with barely
a molehill to ascend is very different from the Green Mountains, but 50mph is
the golden mean wherever you are. Above 50 and you're on a slalom course and only absolute
vigilance will keep you alive (except on freeway riding which I loathe). That
can be exhilarating in itself but in a country of arbitrary geriatric speed
restrictions it’s just not a good longterm motorcycling lifestyle choice. The
TU is also a lifestyle choice and of a very different sort. It’s a choice to give a
firm bird to all those hasty drivers in their $60k cars, to slow down and smell
the roses, to take your time and a deep breath and get somewhere at a beautiful
speed. I have never had so much fun being the thorn in every car-owners side. I
hate cars, I hate what they have done to this planet, killing a billion birds
and mammals annually (and that’s just American roads), hate their noise and
their smell and the aggressive folks inside. Cars kill twice as many people in
this country as guns yet no one talks of banning them. If I had one wish I
would ask for their instant disappearance from the face of the earth – what a
sight to behold them suddenly propelled (yes, perhaps with their occupants)
into outerspace! Wow. How wonderful that would be. Anyway. Back to reality.
For the first 800 miles I babied my TU, coaxing it through
the gears, keeping the throttle at a quarter turn or less just to get all her
little parts oiled and correctly seated, annoying the hell out of everyone else
on the road. Heaven. I know a lot of people talk about the amazing gas mileage
(it genuinely is extraordinary), the seat comfort (very good even for a tall
person), the classic ergonomics (winner all the way)…but I love this bike
because it is the perfect ride for all respectable human scenarios. You want to
commute? Buy the TU. You want to tour? Don’t even consider another steed! You
want to while away a lazy August Sunday for $5 in gas? You feel rightfully obliged to minimize you're environmental impact? You’re a beginner
needing a gentle ride to break you in? You’re a pro seeking the antidote to big
CC adrenaline insanity and police custody? The TU. Brilliant engine,
beautiful fit and finish, comfy seat, cute as a button, great icebreaker,
perfect speed and …damn, I should be getting paid by Suzuki, but this is the
best bike (or in the top 5) on the American market today, hands down. Buy it, ride it,
adore it. Never sell. Give it to your grandchild as an heirloom. America
doesn’t know what its missing (I haven’t seen another one on the road) but like
the Kawa W650 it will probably be dropped from the US lineup and then become
hugely collectible, so I say buy a dozen and make some cash, it will appreciate.
