Me and my V-Strom.

Inertia can be a powerful thing.

You know how I’ve been looking hard at buying a Yamaha Tracer. Back in July I wrote about how I definitely wanted a bigger bike than my 650cc V-Strom. I’ve been looking at the Tracer for two years now and I’m very interested.

So why haven’t I bought one?

Just for reference, I bought my 1999 Kawasaki Concours after waffling on that for three years. I worked a block down from Vickery Motorsports and I frequently would walk over there on my lunch break and look at whatever Concours they had on the floor. I wanted that bike but actually buying it was not an easy decision to reach. Finally, on my birthday that year, I went in and pulled the trigger. A birthday present for myself. Then I rode that bike for 25 years.

This time around is no easier. I concluded I definitely wanted a bigger bike after doing a five-day Utah trip with the RMMRC where the guys in front routinely went extremely fast. I could keep up but my little 650 was working hard. The Tracer is 900cc. That extra 250cc would make a lot of difference.

Since then, however, I’ve been riding the V a lot and really enjoying it. The big thing is that I don’t generally go those speeds. At slower speeds I find myself remarking that I don’t need anything more than what this little bike can give. So how often do I do these group rides where we really blast? Do I really need another bike? I like my V-Strom.

This kind of thinking does not motivate you to go out and spend umpty-thousand dollars. I know plenty of guys who move from bike to bike about as fast as I go through a pair of jeans. I am not one of them. I had my first bike, my 1980 Honda CB750 Custom, for 35 years. I had the Concours for 25. I have had the V-Strom now for 13 years.

At first I figured I would at least wait until fall when any shop that still had a 2026 Tracer on hand would be more than ready to make me a good deal. Well, it’s November. I’m still on the dime.

What’s it going to be, Ken? Heck, I sure don’t know.

Biker Quote for Today

Good vibes and motorcycles will get you anywhere.