I wouldn't say ahead of its time. It was totally of its time - and what a
good time it was! Nice touring bikes had really come into their own in the
early 80s - with long wheelbases, braze-ons for racks and fenders,
wide-range gearing. Many of the Japanese makers were building some sweet
not ahead of its time at all. We look back and like what we see better
than most riders. We take the best of the old and marry it to the best of
the new. I passed 6 road bikes today on my upright. Several of them were
downright offended, to the point of even chuckling at me and my bike.
