I took a nice ride Monday with my buddy Alan riding the 750 and me on the 1500. We rode about 180 miles round trip from Springfield MO to Lead Hill AR for lunch and back. This is down Hwy 125, which for us around here is kind of the Mother Road for bikes. Starting about 20 miles S of Springfield it's 60 miles of roller coaster riding through Mark Twain Nat'l forest and down into the White River Valley. At the Arkansas line it crosses Bull Shoals Lake on a ferry that almost always has more bikes on it than cars. From there it's about 20 more miles up out of the valley and into the Boston Mountains to our lunch stop/turnaround at Lead Hill. Of course from there you have endless miles of sweet twisty goodness in NW AR. If you've never come to the Ozarks to ride you really should, but I digress.

Getting around to the title of this post, AR has no helmet laws. I have ridden around Eureka Springs a few times without a helmet, but no significant distance. This time I decided to pack the helmet away while on the ferry (like almost every other rider on the ferry did) and ride lidless to Lead Hill. WooWee! Wind in my remaining hair, riding unencumbered, just a pair of shades and the sun. It was pretty great. Kind of how it was meant to be...if we only lived in a perfect world. Back once again at the ferry I came back down to reality, strapped on the helmet and headed back up into the hills for the ride home.

Sometime within the next few weeks we will find out if Missouri is changing our helmet laws to only require them for under 21 and on interstates. I kind of hope they do change them. I wouldn't ride around without one most of the time, but it would be nice to be free to choose. I know some of you will disagree. It isn't my intention to start a helmet law thread. Just commenting about the experience.

Also, this was the first time I've taken the 1500 out on the twistys. With the lower center of gravity and wider bars it was a dream on the curves. A few said it wouldn't be as nimble as the 750, and in a couple of situations, like a really tight decreasing radius downhill curve it did take a bit more effort to push it down into it, but with proper lane position and entry speed it ate those curves up! The gears are really tall on this bike. 2nd gear doesn't start straining til around 50, 3rd seems almost endless, and 4th will take you right on from 20 on up. It doesn't even want 5th til you get into the 70's. I typically used 3rd in the curves more because I like to have the engine braking and the throttle is a little more responsive. I'm loving this bike more every time I ride it.

I have decided to keep my 750 and let Alan ride it. He is turning 70 this month. I told him he can ride it as long as he wants to ride, then I'll take it back. His old 82 Silverwing 500 is too tall for him (and it's reliability is questionnable too) I couldn't bear to sell it so I'm keepin' it in the family! He's riding it to the Gathering with me this year. Woohoo!

Awesome! Sounds like you had a blast. And yeah, no complaints about how it handles!:smiley_th

Thanks for the great story. Sounds like a wonderful ride ~ wish you had pics!

I recently had a conversation about the 750 and 1500 with a sergeant from the Coffee County (TN) Sheriff's Department. He has the bigger bike but told me that the 750 is the best. You came up with a different conclusion. I would like to test them all out, but I've never ridden anything larger than a 750!

Good goin' RiverRat. Glad to hear the news about the 750. It'll be a nice change of pace for you once in a while. Every time you climb on, it will bring a smile to your face!

See you in a few weeks!

Yea, I usually let my better-half take the pics. Just picture a few of those yellow "Steep and Curvy for the Next 20 Miles" signs. I don't know if I would say one is better than the other. I love my 750 don't ever want to get rid of it. It is an easy bike to ride, lighter and easier to maneuver at low speeds. One-up for someone closer to 200 lbs instead of 300 I don't think it can be beat. My friend Alan can't stop raving about how much easier and nicer it is to ride than his old Silverwing, which if you haven't seen one is like a little mini-me Goldwing, not the auto-scooter-thingy they are now. The 1500 is definitely more comfortable to ride, especially two-up, better suspension, much better brakes, etc. At 2mph it is a bigger load to deal with. I had a couple of "a**-clenching" moments at really low speed early on, but nothing worse than when I went from the 250 to the 750.

My first street bike was an electra glide decked out Shriner style when I got it,.I loved that old bike . and now I am riding a 750 that is all I could ask for ,but i still want more ,you know how we are.

... This time I decided to pack the helmet away while on the ferry (like almost every other rider on the ferry did) and ride lidless to Lead Hill. WooWee! Wind in my remaining hair, riding unencumbered, just a pair of shades and the sun. It was pretty great. Kind of how it was meant to be...if we only lived in a perfect world.

... Sometime within the next few weeks we will find out if Missouri is changing our helmet laws to only require them for under 21 and on interstates. I kind of hope they do change them. I wouldn't ride around without one most of the time, but it would be nice to be free to choose. I know some of you will disagree. It isn't my intention to start a helmet law thread. Just commenting about the experience.

Know exactly how you feel. I chose to give up my helmet after riding over a year with a full face helmet on EVERY ride. Boy was that uncomfortable. Absolutely love the wind and freedom of riding lidless. I know I take my chances, but it's my choice. Florida just requires that you have PIP insurance if you ride lidless, which is certainly reasonable.

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Reported :hitanykey

Sounds like you had a blast!

Wind in my remaining hair....

I almost fell out of my chair laughing!

Also, this was the first time I've taken the 1500 out on the twistys. With the lower center of gravity and wider bars it was a dream on the curves. A few said it wouldn't be as nimble as the 750, and in a couple of situations, like a really tight decreasing radius downhill curve it did take a bit more effort to push it down into it, but with proper lane position and entry speed it ate those curves up!

That just goes to show that **generally speaking** the "limitations" on a bike are mostly rider limitations, not bike limitations. And I think most of us would have had a little push on a really tight decreasing radius downhill curve. Add in some off camber roadway and you have a pretty hairy hairball corner!

Hey I live in Springfield, Mo heh
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