Had to take my bike in for the first maintenance (600 miles). What do they do? Basically not too much. But, since I already bought the maintenance package, it's good to go out there and feel what it's like to ride to the dealer, and wait for your bike to come back to you. An experience nonetheless.

I had to go out there anyway. I had picked up a wood screw in my rear tire (Dunlop D207) at around 470 miles. &%$#@! I plugged it and made the service appointment. I then rode another 100+ miles and brought it to the dealer at 594 miles. They did the maintenance and put on a new Qualifier for me. The bad thing about this is (aside from the money spent for the new tire) is that this tire now has to be broken in.

I took the long way home, which, has some nice curves. After I got to my neighborhood though, I thought, well, since it needs breaking in, now is as good a time as any to try out the expressway! Smile! Followed by ...Fear! Followed by ...Resolve!

Let's boogie!

I headed back out to the intersection for I-75. I'm choosing the southbound leg 'cause it's usually a lot less traffic, and it's actually more scenic. Here I am, stopped at the on ramp, contemplating at the last minute whether to go on the expressway or not (this is my first time - "...but Morpheus, you told us to go on the expressway was suicide!"). Time's up!

The light changes to green and I'm off. Following the same rules taught to me in the MSF course, the same skills I use on local streets, and plain old common sense, I'm over in the left-most lane doing 90 mph before you can say choose the red pill or the blue pill. I don't care anymore 'cause I'm concentrating on the road.

First impressions: When riding over 70 mph, if you sit up on the bike your body gets blown all over the place. Note to self. Lay down on bike when going fast. The other thing is, the bike is really, really stable. And, last but not least. The acceleration is awesome. Kick it down to 5th (or not) and you can easily pass anything within a second.

I went down the expressway to the next exit (about 6 miles) that was enough for me. Made a U-Turn right back onto the expressway and headed back home. It's amazing how many people fall asleep while driving. Anyway. I'm in the far left again so I switch to the right, then back to the left. Looking at the speedometer it reads 95 while I'm traveling beside the minivan in the middle lane. Hmm,.. I don't think that's correct. I really don't think the minivan is doing 95 mph. I'm not hanging out beside him anyway, so I turn on the throttle and the speedo says 120+.

What else can I say. I kept my head down, and I'm back at my exit within the next minute.

Exit, Off-Ramp, Merge, on the local road again.

Just another day.

PS: I changed the oil again as soon as I got it back from the dealer (that's just me). Replaced their filter with the bigger Purolator filter, replaced their oil with the heavier oil (it's HOT out there man). Boy, did they slap the grease on the chain. It splattered all over the place. Took me about an hour to get it off the rim. And,... they put way too much oil in the engine! I couldn't even see the level through the sight glass. And,... to top it all off the rear tire was under inflated (33 psi when they said they put in 42 psi, manufacturer spec is 41 psi). What the &%$#@!