Well, my friends, I took a small rock into my radiator on the NT last week at 38,500 miles on the clock. With the Yellowknife run rapidly approaching and the radiator replacement one or two weeks out depending on dealer I went through, I elected to simply buy another (my third, not concurrently owned) Wee Strom. The 2012 model felt like putting on my favorite old hiking boots when I settled into the saddle and rode away from the dealer. We'll see what the future brings with the Wee, but at 60 years old I ain't waiting on nothing if it means sacrificing a ride to some new fishing hole.
I made a commitment to simplifying my life a few years ago so I no longer have multiple bikes to work on or with. I struggled with that commitment, but let go of the NT yesterday. I'll never have a bad word to say about NT. It was about as perfect as I could find on the market for my Iron Butt runs, just as I knew it would be when I saw it in Europe.
Now I think I'll pursue the "Ends of Roads" and those hidden fishing holes I tend to find there.
Yeah, like I told my son last night, every time I have to squirt the chain I'll cuss my choice, briefly. I loved that NT shaft-drive. But the trade-off is that I don't have to work with a Tupperware puzzle checking the details before I ride out to Never-Never Land for the next adventure.
Ride well, in all meanings. I'll see you out there.
Papa Lou signing off.