7 years ago Mrs Chalk had a Yamaha Fazer 600 (foxeye) and I had the Fazer 1000. I also had a Gen 1 and Gen 2 Tuono, CB1300S, FJR1300, KTM 950 SM in short order and putting 1000's of miles on them. I thought I missed that power.

5 years ago I wrote off her bike, unfairly using it as a winter hack ...(taken out by a cop ?!?). She had loved it and missed it. I felt bad about her losing her bike.

4 years ago I bought a 2009 660 Tenere just as we were emigrating.

For the last 4 years, overseas, I've been faithful and only ridden this 40+bhp baby and bonded with it because I've learnt to relax and enjoy the view at a gentlemanly pace of life. Mrs Chalk often remarked about 'one-day, riding again'

Today, I picked up Mrs Chalk's 40th, surprise, birthday prezzie.....another Fazer in pippy mint, original condition and rode it the 60 miles to a storage unit for the big day reveal in October.

Oh dear, oh dear.....It's only 90+ bhp, in a 6 speed box but it has truly re-awakened the dragon after 4 years of pottering about on a single.

I'm now selfishly looking at the market / trading in for my own old school carbs ride ZRX1200 / Fazer 1000 ....and which of course can't appear in the garage before her own birthday reveal in October, just out of politeness.......Or can it?

Forgive me Father for I have sinned!

__________________
I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort.

Are you considering getting rid of the Z or adding something to the stable?

Having such amazing roads on your doorstep I can understand the need for Speed! ....I recently took out a Kawasaki Z900RS and a Triumph Street Scrambler for extended test rides. It was a blast and like you say woke up the devil in me on the Z900RS. BUT....I was instantly doing licence busting/bone breaking speeds. Where I would be 'blasting !' along on the Tenere at 70-80 mph I was doing well over 100 mph. My love of the Ten won the day!
I'm not being a goody goody or a kill joy....if I were rich I would have many bikes!, one of them being the Supercharged H2 Kawasaki. The Fazer is a great bike. ...I think you will get maximum points from Mrs. Chalk Two.

PS. I'm a total hypocrit by the way. ...I'm quite happy with my Tenere and it's speed/handling etc, but when an R1 blasted past me the other day at warp factor speed I had goosebumps and thought that used to be me!! Cheers Steve

just remember, you're not used to this kind of speeds anymore,as before.
risk factor is more then double.
sort of ask yourself : on wich bike do you see yourself ride the longest (without getting injured,or loose your licence).
i also have the Z and think about trading in for a twin (-allroad), but the only advantage is riding faster and maybe just a tad smoother engine.
so where's the win on a faster bike?
an idea is to rent a faster bike from time to time and keep "the good one"?

think hard before you abandon ship ;-)

I guess my problem is I love the Z but have always wanted, at least another, 25 bhp.

I'm really going to have to wait until after the wife's birthday so not to deflate the event of her getting a new (ish) bike after so long.

__________________
I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort.