I was but six years older, and in the same boat three years ago. Had taken the class, never rode before, and bought my Speedy. After lusting after a Honda VTX for several years before taking the class, one day I stumbled upon this Forum, and saw the light. As soon as I KNEW what bike it was going to be, I took the class.
Don't worry about the chain and EFI. Bikes have done well without it for all these years, and motorcycling still became popular as a mode of recreation and practical transportation. You will adapt, and learn to use and take care of what you have. There is nothing difficult about chain maintenance, and these carburetors certainly are not fickle. I have had no trouble at all with either. Add a ScottOiler when you can and the chain maintenance becomes automatic when you ride. I drilled my air filter and airbox, and though the bike performed well afterwards, I let the dealer shim the carb needles when he offered to, and it made a surprsing amount of difference in performance. Beyond that, stock pipes and jets, and though I eventually want to go to aftermarket pipes, I really like the way she runs now and would hate to have to start "tuning" if the opened up exhaust resulted in a need to change the jets. One day....but not a priority yet after 3 years and 32k miles.
It is a great beginner bike, but more importantly, one big enough you will not outgrow it. It can and will do anything you would ask of it. And it will get attention everywhere you go, unlike the look-like-a-Harley Vulcan. That is the COOL factor.
You won't understand this for a while, but the Triumph has SOUL, where I am afraid the Vulcan will mostly just be a lump. Never read anything bad about the Vulcan mind you, and I am sure it would be reliably trouble-free, but so has my Speedmaster been for me.
How much does that Vulcan weigh? The 500 lb. America is probably going to be more nimble and, if you ever DID drop it, a heck of a lot easier to pick up. Yes, I have dropped mine - 4 times. Twice while parked, and twice on the road, at virtually zero-speed. Stupid mistakes that COULD happen to anyone, and has happened to MOST, I'll bet. No damage or needed repairs suffered here, luckily, but the fact that I could right the bike alone means a lot to me. I will NEVER own a cruiser weighing over 500 lbs., even if I ever do get another. I can not ever imagine not having the Speedy, though. The GRIN factor never seems to go away.
Follow your heart. And "GO YOUR OWN WAY".
