I know mine has. Didn't realize how much until I started commuting on my KLR this spring. While by no means a fast bike as far as bikes go, its damn near a rocket compared to the Paj. It got me thinkin' how my driving has changed since I got "the little diesel that could":

I usually drive under the speed limit on the big highways now. 107-110kph in a 110 zone. I "let" folks pass me, and wonder "why are they in such a hurry?".

I am usually looking in my mirror as I trundle up a big hill, watching to see how much black smoke I'm emitting...

I plan my passing way in advance, look from a long way back on a single lane hwy, and when ready I start to accelerate a long way back, and try to slingshot around. That's WHEN I pass, which is none too often anymore, unless its a combine, or a tractor... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Stop light drag races? Never. Unless its a semi/gravel truck. Fully laden. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And even then I might try and anticipate the light change a bit. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Driving the little diesel might take a little longer, but it lets you enjoy the ride a little more. Plus when I feel the need for some acceleration I can just take the bike, and get to the speed limit before the sun sets... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Yup what a difference from the pajero to my wifes car. In the paj I am much more relaxed. In the wifes car I have a habit of driving to fast and being very impatient.

That's exactly what's happened to me as well since I started driving mine. I use a GPS navigator - mostly for traffic reports commuting 30 miles into Ottawa every day- but in the Paj I set it to solve for "shortest distance" rather than "fastest time" - so get to explore a lot of neat secondary roads - plus since the PAJ goes anywhere, no worries about road issues (as opposed to my wife's car, a 2007 Focus with a suspension that bottoms out if it goes over anything bigger than a sideways corncob.

Ditto.

Much more relaxed driving. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

My lifted YJ started me down the slow and steady path. The Pajero lets me do it with more style and less spinal compression. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Of course, I have my sportbike for those times when speed calls.

Yup, pretty much everything Phil said. My wife's '97 Subaru Legacy is no racer, hell it's got the base 2.2 boxer, but I have fun revving the 5spd when I feel the need for speed. It feels like race car compared to the Pajero.
Strangely, I miss the V8 rumble and torque of my New Yorker, and I've decided to make acquiring a collector plated '84 (1 more year) police-package Diplomat or Grand Fury a goal for near the future. No sense paying full insurance for something that gets 14MPG.
It'll also help whenever I get my DR650 dualsport back together again. Even a thumper 650 feels like mach 1 compared to our diesels eh Phil?

back when I used to own my little 89 turbo dodge colt (I transplanted an Eagle Talon 2.0L turbo engine into it) I ALWAYS used to drive at least 20 over the speedlimit and I would get there in a hurry, I had a heavy foot in that thing...for a while I owned the pajero and colt at the same time, and what a contrast of driving habits between the 2. I never once tried to drive my pajero like my car though which is good. but if I woke up in the morning and was feeling aggresive, I would jump in the car and make it to work in record time.

Well, I used to drive a '89 Tercel, compared to the truck it's like an F1 :P

Now I drive around town at no more than 60km/h (used to drive ~80), plan way ahead for passing, and drive more relaxed overall. The gear stick is used a lot more too, as the ratio is so low, I get to 5th in no time.

I also look at the rear view mirror obsessively, watching for black smoke. I like having it in top form.

The Tercel was fun to drive, but the Galloper can take me anywhere.

Definitely have to agree with everything Phil said. For a while I was living in Vancouver while working in Alberta so every 2 weeks I would do the cross province trip to make it to work on time. Speed was definitely necessary and while driving my V6 Rodeo I went from never having a speeding ticket in nearly 10 years of driving (thats not to say I never sped though) to racking up 5 tickets in that 2 year span. during the summer I would average 140kph (Calgary to van in under 8). I would of certainly been considered aggresive by most and often saw the finger thrown my way while on the highway.

Since owning the Pajero I could probably count the number of times I have been more than 10kph over the speed limit on one hand probably even if I was missing a couple fingers. I am proud to say that during more than a year of driving the vehicle I have not had a single ticket. Having said that however, I have been pulled over by the police for things I never would have been before and been given warnings. Things like; a headlight burned out, failure to signal while changing lanes on an empty street late at night, no seatbelt. I can't figure out if the police in lowermainaland BC are picking on me because of the RHD or maybe it is just that they notice the vehicle more because it stands out and they have their eyes on it already.

The stress of driving has definitely disappeared with the speed. Although I may have to plan my trips with a little more time, I think for many reasons it has been completely worth it. My girlfriend thinks so too.