Easy fix. leave her ass at home.
Rachelle really likes riding with me, I don't mind taking her with me but I prefer riding solo. If she were to ever bitch about it I'd just leave her behind and take her out later with the car.
If you're worried about your front tire, stop riding on it ASAP. It's not so much a grip thing, but rather a blow out. Besides, chances are you have lots of grip left, it's just on the sides.
Celerity I still can't figure out why you like the highways even more so on the 250 lol. it just doesn't add up! having a 1000 on the highways is fun in a bad bad bad way but outside of that highways on a bike is like buying a lotus exige, leaving it in 3rd gear and driving down a straight road at 65mph.... get a harley... =)
Only thing I can figure is the "new" riding feeling has yet to wear off =)