Here's the skinny.
Just bought a C109RT (fully dressed) and paid 17 including all the various rapings you get from the dealers).
MSRP in Calgary is 17999.
Halford - I agree about the comments regarding confidence.
I moved to this bike from an 1100 Shadow and it's nearly twice the weight (787 lbs) firstly and it steers completely differently - countersteering and leaning rather than turning the handlebars. It is an amazing bike and there's nothing I'd put even close to it concerning comfort and power, but that power is a bit of a double edged sword.
It's good if you need it and if a rider is experienced enough to handle it. Alot of people die on sportbikes every year for that same reason. Too little experience and FAR too much power.
A curse as a result of the weight is that the C109 is very sluggish in slow maneuvering and doesn't have half the ability the smaller bikes do for quick turns, U turns and that. With some practice, it comes closer, but that was one of the few documented issues ALL of the cruiser mags noted with it.
I bought it because I needed to move up from the 1100 for touring the mountains because I ride 2 up all the time. the 1100 just didn't have the power to pull out and pass if I needed to while on a climb.
If I was riding solo all or most of the time, I'd have gone to a 90.
There's my 2cents
