Interesting, Nigel, my ST2 looked gorgeous, showroom in fact, but despite a low 16k miles had been left parked in an underground car park for a year. I bought it for £550 if I recall correctly. £1000 pounds later: belts (easy and cheap), new clutch (£400 and that was a cash deal) fitting which broke the engine locking tool as the clutch centre was done up far too tight. 3' extension bar in the end. Lots of other stuff. The killer for me was, after yet another rebuild of the sprag clutch, that I stopped one evening to find the starter was still turning with the bike turned off. Turned out that the hole in the solenoid for the iron bar to move through thus completing the circuit was a fraction too small. As the engine warned up so did the iron bar and became jammed thus rendering the solenoid and starter permanently engaged. I'm sure there was a lot more. I liked riding it but I never trusted it.

And, a standard Bullet is indeed one of my thoughts. I loved the Woodsman bar that high pipe position and noise. The rearset footpegs were excellent and I lowered them an inch to achieve riding position perfection. What a wonderful bike it was in almost all respects. I'm not convinced you can do the same to standard pegs but I'm certainly willing to have a go. And you are right: boxers, 50s singles, Italian exoticary I do think I have exhausted. I was enjoying a lovely country walk this morning and thinking that such peaceful pursuits and bicycles were the way ahead. Obviously, the Stelvio will last five minutes, we all know that even if it isn't obvious to me yet. Funny you should have anticipated the way my thoughts have been going!! Cheers Simon