Motorcycle testers have a tough job. No, really. Imagine how hard it must be to put aside one's prejudices, preconceptions and personal opinions, and review a manufacturer's product without forgetting the spirit and intent of the motorcycle and the consumer for which it is targeted. It is so easy to get hung up on spec numbers and track performance as indicators of a model's desirability, and essentially ignore the most basic of all questions; that is, how much fun was it to ride? My daughter, Gail, had just obtained her M1 ( Ontario graduated motorcycle license), and was pondering which "beginner" motorcycle would be ideal for her. Ottawa HD conveniently would be having a Buell Demo Day that very same week, and so we marked our calendar to attend and test their entry level bike: the Buell Blast.
Be at least 19, have an M2 and wear a full coverage helmet, Before that day came, I had the opportunity to talk to Keith of Ottawa HD about testing the Blast with my daughter riding as a passenger, perhaps even taking the bike out separately on our own. He wasn't sure what Buell would say about that, but he did remind me that full coverage helmets would definitely be required. Someone had died during a Harley demo ride a year or two back in the states, and as a result insurance companies have responded with greater demands in return for their coverage. It sounded to me like Buell had little flexibility in its demo program, but still I hoped that my daughter would somehow be accommodated.
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