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Finally broke down and chose a new 2007 Shadow Aero to replace my Rebel.
Picked it up to today and on a flat road, it is awesome. Had my first half drop though on our unbelievable steep driveway. Gonna take awhile to get used to the clutch on a hill, stalled about three quarters of the way up when Mr. Squirrel decided to run back and forth in front of me. I haven't dropped a motorcycle since the MSF course 4 years ago, fortunately I caught it half way down and held it till my husband came to my assistance. Rebel was a piece of cake on the steep terrain around here, this will be much more of a challenge!
Can't imagine having a heavy first bike, hopefully I can learn new tricks.

Anyone could make that sort of mistake with a brand new bike when you are not accustomed to the friction zone of the new machine. Plus, since it is brand new, I'm sure you were extra-nervous about making a mistake, and that probably contributed to you psyching yourself out too.

You'll get used to it in no time, I'm sure.

Thanks Dragonhawk! I appreciate the vote of confidence and plan on going out again today. Wished I lived in Florida though or some place flat as a pancake.

3bears wrote:Thanks Dragonhawk! I appreciate the vote of confidence and plan on going out again today. Wished I lived in Florida though or some place flat as a pancake.

You're welcome. I can relate. I rode a Ninja 250 for about 16,000 miles before I got my SV650. You have to rev the Ninja so high to get ANY power out of it. By comparison, the SV has so much low-end torque that you hardly need to touch the throttle and you're hauling butt.

I remember being terrified when I rode the SV650 home. I was used to being in 6th gear at 10,000RPM on the highway with the Ninja to hit 60MPH. Now I was at 5,000RPM doing the same speed!

It took some getting used to, for certain.

You just made a similar jump - a Rebel to a Shadow Aero is quite a leap. It's just gonna take a little time. But you'll adjust quickly.

3bears wrote:Thanks Dragonhawk! I appreciate the vote of confidence and plan on going out again today. Wished I lived in Florida though or some place flat as a pancake.

Flat = grid line road = boring.

3bears wrote:I caught it half way down and held it till my husband came to my assistance.

That just impresses the heck out of me. I can hold a Rebel up, but I doubt I can even hold my SV up once it starts to tip over, and it's a lot lighter than an Aero.

You're gonna have 10 kinds of fun on that bike...be sure to keep your face shield down or the smile will let way too many bugs embed in your teeth