I had a 350, then a 250, then a 750, then a 500 while a young man, and more recently a 98 Valk. I was then enticed into European bikes, first BMW and then Triumph. While I loved the way the Thunderbird rode I was very disappointed in build quality (ended up with a new engine!). Persistent mechanical problems will drive one back to Honda, not to mention the incentives on the 14's. Picked up an ABS model this morning and did a quick 40 miles in the countryside. Very, very sweet.