If you remember my last Honda Gold Wing Long Term Update, I had a jammed side trunk, a clean bike, and a desire to put more miles on my Titanium-colored 'Wing.

After finding the release latch (thanks to the knowledgeable folks in our Motorcycles Forum) and visiting my local Honda dealership, I was ready to take the 'Wing on the road and see what kind of fuel economy I could pull.

How did it go? Read my Honda Gold Wing Update #5 to find out (there's a not-so-subtle hint in this blog headline), and check out these previous long term updates:

• Honda Gold Wing Update #4: Washing the 'Wing
• Honda Gold Wing Update #3: Riding the 'Wing Like a Sportbike
• Honda Gold Wing Update #2: Jason's First Impressions
• Honda Gold Wing Update #1: Welcome the 'Wing!

Photo © Basem Wasef
Click for Long Term Update #5

I was riding the new MV Agusta F4 RR 312 1078-- a sort of poor man's version of the $120,000 F4CC-- down particularly tasty stretch of Sunset Boulevard when an oncoming car-- a red Ferrari F430, to be exact-- flashed its lights at me. Was this a friendly gesture from one Italian exotic to another, or a signal that law enforcement was lurking around the bend? A quick tap of the brakes made me grateful for my caution, because sure enough one of L.A.'s finest was at the bottom of the hill pointing a LIDAR gun at my two-tone MV Agusta.

It may have been tempting to ride the 1078 fast, but living with the bike proved a bit more challenging than I expected. Find out why Harley-Davidson, MV's new owners, have their work cut out for them in my 2009 MV Agusta F4 RR 312 1078 Review. And also check out these related pieces:

• 2009 MV Agusta F4 RR 312 1078 Photo Gallery
• 2007 MV Agusta F4CC Full Review
• 2007 MV Agusta F4CC Photo Gallery

Photo © Basem Wasef