850cc top end???

[thrang]

I guess your fathers friend has never ridden an R65 because the comment about an hour is a load of balls. Any well looked after R65 is perfectly capeable of doing long trips at uk motorway speeds so long as you are look after her.

On both the Bimbo and now the RT I regularly make 300 or 400 mile trips, and a couple of times every summer for the last few of years mine does the 900 mile (each way) jaunts to my wifes fathers French summer home. The last time I went last summer I did the return trip in one hog at an average speed of 75mph (on the motorways via the channel tunnel).  I would not recomend anyone spend 16 hours on riding any bike but the RT did not mind in the slightest as it was not the bike that was the weak point but me!

[MrRiden]

Actually back in the day I found clip on bars to be acceptable on the highway. You just have to keep 'nuff speed so the wind pressure on your chest lifts you ever so lightly making a seemingly uncomfortable position really quite bearable. Go for it your not ready for the "Old Wing" yet.
rich

[drewboid]

Don't assume that 650cc is too small or too uncomfortable for long rides. My girlfriend with three years experience regularly does 200+ miles a day and wants to do a lot more. It depends upon what you see as your riding style. A windshield helps keep the wind off at cruising speeds and quiet mufflers make for less headaches. YMMV.  

Windshield and full saddle bags give a little instability when going 75+ mph. but that is above the legal limits here anyway. A bigger engine would not help there at all.

ps - do you have dual headlights or am I missing something in your photo?

[awaffa2003]

yea, i do have dual headlights! check out my operations spring break posts.