Mileage and Spurious Maths

Today I racked up 3000 miles on the Goldwing – I have had it now for 59 days and allowing for the 8 days when I couldn”t ride it (waiting for the 600 mile service) that equates to 3000*365/51 = 21,471 miles in a year if I ride at the present rate. Putting aside all that”s wrong about this sum, it is still more than I have ever put on a bike in a similar period (that is when not on a continuous tour etc.). I think it says something about how much I enjoy riding this machine. In many ways, it is a wolf in sheep’s clothing – it handles like a sports bike in some circumstances (like flicking it through small roundabouts and in pure acceleration) but it also lets me relax and take in the countryside or listen to some music just as easily. As I get more familiar with it, I am learning to handle the weight better in tight slow speed turns although I also confess to dropping both feet at times when I have to make a sharp turn on a bad surface – worries about scratching all that Tupperware put me off countersteering and sliding the back wheel around…