Hey Boots,
   I can't fully describe how I feel about things, but the Vision, at this point will not be traded in on anything.  The only way that would happen is that I have to move and I sell it for scrap because I couldn't carry it.  In fact, I'd ask a friend to stick it in one of his old barns and let it be a barn find one day. I've never lost confidence in the Vision, and I blame the rear shock on me entirely.  I should have replaced it about 20,000 miles ago or more, I'm just holding out.  There was no damage to non-replaceable parts, so there is no concern there.  I did screw up my bags, but nothing some jb weld or epoxy can't take care of.   I know many will cringe over my maintenance methods, or the lack thereof, but I get many miles out of my vehicles where others who "maintain" there stuff don't.  I think it has a lot to do with the fact that polaris uses simplicity, but durable material in building their stuff and that adds to the longevity.  Also, using equipment will help it last longer too.  Being in the Army, it was easy to see the equipment we rarely used was in the shop the most when we did use it. 

My first draw to the Vision was the pilot position, floorboards and narrow profile.  When I read that I said to myself, "that'smy bike".  I then began to read up on Polaris and Victory and found them to be a strong company with a good product.  The other thing I had to get past is thinking what a motorcycle should look like.  Seeing the poster with the guy looking over the gulley with the bridge in the background sitting on a Vision sold me though. 

I've got the mileage, and the dedication for riding that it would be justifiable to get a new "car" at this juncture.  Of course the new "car" would be a bike, and with the introduction of the new Indians I was trying to make the justification.  I did the whole nine yards with the bankand have a blank check to get what I want.  I almost did until I test rode the new Indian.  I'm not disappointed, but I had to ask myself, "do I want to give up the comfort and agility of the Vision just for nostalga?"  While the Indian is comfortable and a nice looking bike I didn't immediately pull the trigger.  Then having read some nuances with the new model and the fact I'd be wearing the wheels off it to, I backed off.  I went to look at the new Vision, a good price for a 2013 and I walked out asking myself why.  I'm not "upgrading", I'm staying the same with less miles and new payments.  So I decided that I will stay with the Bentley until she blows, whenever that will be.  Unless something on the cast frame gets trashed, pretty much everything is easily replaceable.  There are scrap Visions out there that I can get things from.  The electronics are really by biggest concern, but all is well for the moment. 

On the heated grips, it stands to reason when you keep twisting a wire back and forth, it will eventually give, and that is what happened.  It was the throttle grip that went, at the stress point.  I work the throttle and that happened about 2 years ago.  While the grips are nice, I rarely used them, even when it got really cold.  I don't even miss them  Most of the time it didn't help anyways because of the way I move.  If I got too cold, I stopped, moved around and I was good for another hour.  Of course, the temps were in the 20 or below.  The seat, vinyl just stinks on a motorcycle, but I've not got my leather one done yet.  The 08 foam was too soft, allowing the vinyl to stress under my heavy carcass.  No surprise, just disapponted. 

I'm having issues with dryrotting vacuum rubber, but I've got a temporary fix that I'm going to make permanent.  I'm getting a lot of popping from it, so I'm about done with that.

All the GM products I've owned I've not had much fun with, except maybe my 65 olds.  It's either Ford or Jeep, or other chrysler product.  My dad loved Chevys but he finally got him a good truck, a Ford.  But he had problems with all of his Chevys so I never understood why he liked them so much.

As I sit right now I believe 175,000 will be a piece of cake, just don't know after that.  I do see getting to the 200,000 mile mark, but that is at least two years from now.  If the Bentley would die right now, my next bike would be....