Not the most exciting report, but this is the first week riding the bike to and from work every day so thought it might offer an bit of an insight for people wondering how versatile the bike really is.
For the record, I have a Tricolore and also have the comfort seat.
My daily commute is 35km's each way, through hills, straights and then inner city backstreets in Brisbane. This gives me plenty of opportunity to exercise the bike and the box. It also allows me to use plenty of engine breaking on run it.
My first day was just wow. This thing is loud for a stock bike. My girlfriend likened it to a clap of thunder followed by a purr. That will do nicely...
I have come from a history of Japanese bikes most recently a '10 ZX10R. The riding position is actually quite neutral and I'm not finding any wrist discomfort or any thing else uncomfortable for my 6ft 3" 100kg frame. The one thing making this fun is the weight. It is such a well balanced light bike and it makes it very easy to maneuver through the slow speed tight stuff.
The throttle response so far feels quite good, although ever so slightly disconnected as I found the amount I turn doesn't necessarily match the output. It might just be the engine running in and a slight hesitation so I'm not worried. The quickshifter is excellent. Not quite as smooth as units I've had in the past on trackbikes but quite good nonetheless. I've had to get used to it again and have had a couple of phantom shifts which are become less and less.
On the ride, when in slow speed traffic, I do find that I need to pull the clutch in a fair bit to stop the surging, but really, this only happens around 20kph and less so again, not really worried, just want to report it.
The heat. Stopped, in traffic, yes it is hot under the butt. The hottest the bike got was 105degC and it definitely was roasting my arse but as soon as you move, it's fine. The other alternative, turn the key off. Works well.
Brakes are awesome. Very powerful, more than enough for the street and for people that for some reason can't see a big red and white bike and wonder where all that thunder noise is coming from? I haven't had to use the ABS yet or ride in the wet so I cannot comment.
Now the interesting part. I have followed another members trek across the US (AntiHero) and read in depth about his 'connection' with this bike, and I can understand more what it means. Every day that I spend with it the connection grows. You move with the bike and it responds. It might sound a bit wanky, but I know it is there and I can't describe it any other way. Already it has developed some attitude.
So, it is designed as a commuter. Hell no. Can it be used as one? Hell yes. Every day I ride it to work I'm in my own zone. I live on the bike and enjoy every minute of it, even the slow annoying parts, because the passion is for riding and the enjoying the machine. This bike is not a blunt tool that you blindly swing around in the hopes of landing a blow. It's a fine brush on an artwork. You can draw any kind of line you want but you direct what comes out on the canvas.
Hopefully this has helped some people wondering how easy it is to use every day. Riding it gets better every day so can't wait to get it run in.
cheers,
MoZ
For the record, I have a Tricolore and also have the comfort seat.
My daily commute is 35km's each way, through hills, straights and then inner city backstreets in Brisbane. This gives me plenty of opportunity to exercise the bike and the box. It also allows me to use plenty of engine breaking on run it.
My first day was just wow. This thing is loud for a stock bike. My girlfriend likened it to a clap of thunder followed by a purr. That will do nicely...
I have come from a history of Japanese bikes most recently a '10 ZX10R. The riding position is actually quite neutral and I'm not finding any wrist discomfort or any thing else uncomfortable for my 6ft 3" 100kg frame. The one thing making this fun is the weight. It is such a well balanced light bike and it makes it very easy to maneuver through the slow speed tight stuff.
The throttle response so far feels quite good, although ever so slightly disconnected as I found the amount I turn doesn't necessarily match the output. It might just be the engine running in and a slight hesitation so I'm not worried. The quickshifter is excellent. Not quite as smooth as units I've had in the past on trackbikes but quite good nonetheless. I've had to get used to it again and have had a couple of phantom shifts which are become less and less.
On the ride, when in slow speed traffic, I do find that I need to pull the clutch in a fair bit to stop the surging, but really, this only happens around 20kph and less so again, not really worried, just want to report it.
The heat. Stopped, in traffic, yes it is hot under the butt. The hottest the bike got was 105degC and it definitely was roasting my arse but as soon as you move, it's fine. The other alternative, turn the key off. Works well.
Brakes are awesome. Very powerful, more than enough for the street and for people that for some reason can't see a big red and white bike and wonder where all that thunder noise is coming from? I haven't had to use the ABS yet or ride in the wet so I cannot comment.
Now the interesting part. I have followed another members trek across the US (AntiHero) and read in depth about his 'connection' with this bike, and I can understand more what it means. Every day that I spend with it the connection grows. You move with the bike and it responds. It might sound a bit wanky, but I know it is there and I can't describe it any other way. Already it has developed some attitude.
So, it is designed as a commuter. Hell no. Can it be used as one? Hell yes. Every day I ride it to work I'm in my own zone. I live on the bike and enjoy every minute of it, even the slow annoying parts, because the passion is for riding and the enjoying the machine. This bike is not a blunt tool that you blindly swing around in the hopes of landing a blow. It's a fine brush on an artwork. You can draw any kind of line you want but you direct what comes out on the canvas.
Hopefully this has helped some people wondering how easy it is to use every day. Riding it gets better every day so can't wait to get it run in.
cheers,
MoZ
