George, if I were you I might adjust the Empulse handlebars higher up and a bit more backwards, or I would replace the handlebars for more upright seating. With sports bikes low bars you will find three things that are a concern for people more used to an upright seating position.
1. This is a biggie: you will be riding with lots of pressure and weight on your wrists. Ok for short rides or if you are a teenager or if you are used to that style. But if you are used to cruiser riding, scooter riding or touring riding, well that weight on wrists riding gets old fast. You can work through that if you really want to crouch while riding, but you have to work at it.
2. Second biggie: neck position. Sitting more upright gives a larger field of view with less neck motion. So you will have to adjust how you scan your surroundings. And you will have more neck strain. Again, not a big deal if you learned to ride this way, if you are very young or doing short rides. But will take a bit of work and muscle adapting if you are new to riding this way. If you are doing a lot of long distant rides I wouldnt recommend a sports bike, but neither the Enertia nor the Empulse are doing long distance touring at this time
3. Less important is balance and some muscle use. You, as an experienced rider will likely adapt to these changes quickly. Leaning forward you do feel more in touch with your bike...your balance is more forward, you will be using more muscles as you move more with your bike instead of riding it as a passenger (if that makes sense).
I ride 365 days a year, in snow and ice and rain and whatnot. So my ride is mostly a transportation...dont get me wrong, I have hella fun on my bikes and I do lots of non commute, non errand rides (heading for 100 mile trip right after this post to get a beer and buffalo burger at a tavern up off the turquoise trail half way to Santa Fe...beautiful ride)...and I will go visit my daughter 500 miles away from time to time on my bike...so that is usually a 1000 miles over a 3 day weekend...so comfort trumps crouching for me.** Plus I go scooter camping...hard to carry a tent, sleeping bag and 3 days of supplies on a sports bike (hard on a scooter too, but doable).
But I have friends with sports bikes and I do see the allure if you aren't riding far or in weather...they are fun and fast.
I say go for the Empulse...ride it and have fun...and maybe just adjust the handlebars if you need or want to.
Gavin
**comfort trumps crouching for me, but not enough to go goldwing...I admire those people for being out riding...but I think they are too heavy and big and cushy...the bikes too
. I like to feel the road, the bumps, the twists...maybe in 20 years when I hit 70 I'll think about getting an electric goldwing style bike.
