Great story! It's cool how a sort of bond can be formed even with an inanimate object. ;) Speed Triples are on my short list of dream bikes, but something like a Virago is on the realistic list. I'm not a rider, but I'm definitely an appreciator of bikes. I'd love to try one someday, even if it was just a scooter at first. They look like a lot of fun and would be great for going to and from work.

As you mentioned elsewhere, I do have a scale model 999. I also have a CBR 929R and an Arlen Ness custom (this one), all 1:6 scale.

I also drew what is, as far as I can remember, a 1997 Softail Classic (based on a nice one in an old Dupont Registry mag I had) for my R. "Ripplin" Buckethead (no relation to the avatar guy) comic character to ride on:

I did think of having him on a sportier bike, but I sorta wanted his legs out like that anyway. Plus, I was on a deadline, which is why I didn't think through the color scheme properly (it's ok, but red is far from my favorite color) and the wheels are not what I wanted either. They were the last thing I did and were heavily compromised due to time restraints.