denefoster
11th April 2010, 20:44
So, I thought I'd pick up something more impractical than an Italian dirt bike, RVF400 here I come !
Bear in mind, this is my first sprots machine, and mostly in comparison to the Husqvarna SM610
Fork me but this thing is small. Elbows on knees, turn lock about 1/4 of the Husqvarna's, boy.. couldn't have made a better choice for impractibility !
So riding it around town is no fun at all. Let's try this motorway business. Again, fork me, this thing scoots. Where the Husky is in 6th gear by 110, the RVF is barely getting out of second, all in about half the time. It's only after getting 128kms (completely pants really) to a tank that I found the other 4 gears. Straight line speed is all well and good, and at legal-ish numbers, a bike is a bike. So no big difference apart from looking like one o'them monkeys dancing for an organ grinder.
Ah, straight lines finally over, up to the Takas. Nice sunny day, this should be more the business. Fork me thrice over, while the Husky is a big sledge hammer smashing everything with mountains of torque and high speed instability, the RVF is a surgical instrument. Apart from looking like a right cock, hanging off it all Rossi-like (not by choice, it's just *that* small!), that is the best motorcycling money I think I could spend.
Even with a shot rear, and a road attack on the front (same as the Husky really) I couldn't upset it at all. Long sweepers which had the Husky fretting had me scared of losing my license. The marked 25 and 35 corners which had the Husky and it's 910mm seat feel like a giant skyscraper just flowed without having to do quick maths about lean angles. Over and back again with nary a clench. Back home using all 6 gears, and onto the motard made the seating position feel like I was riding standing up and the giant single 576cc despite being 16 years newer felt about 50 years cruder. Ah, but torque and turn lock. Such bliss in the city.
All in all.. what I paid for it seems a pittance really. Will probably have to wait till next year for a track day to see what she can really do. Highly recommended :)
Bear in mind, this is my first sprots machine, and mostly in comparison to the Husqvarna SM610
Fork me but this thing is small. Elbows on knees, turn lock about 1/4 of the Husqvarna's, boy.. couldn't have made a better choice for impractibility !
So riding it around town is no fun at all. Let's try this motorway business. Again, fork me, this thing scoots. Where the Husky is in 6th gear by 110, the RVF is barely getting out of second, all in about half the time. It's only after getting 128kms (completely pants really) to a tank that I found the other 4 gears. Straight line speed is all well and good, and at legal-ish numbers, a bike is a bike. So no big difference apart from looking like one o'them monkeys dancing for an organ grinder.
Ah, straight lines finally over, up to the Takas. Nice sunny day, this should be more the business. Fork me thrice over, while the Husky is a big sledge hammer smashing everything with mountains of torque and high speed instability, the RVF is a surgical instrument. Apart from looking like a right cock, hanging off it all Rossi-like (not by choice, it's just *that* small!), that is the best motorcycling money I think I could spend.
Even with a shot rear, and a road attack on the front (same as the Husky really) I couldn't upset it at all. Long sweepers which had the Husky fretting had me scared of losing my license. The marked 25 and 35 corners which had the Husky and it's 910mm seat feel like a giant skyscraper just flowed without having to do quick maths about lean angles. Over and back again with nary a clench. Back home using all 6 gears, and onto the motard made the seating position feel like I was riding standing up and the giant single 576cc despite being 16 years newer felt about 50 years cruder. Ah, but torque and turn lock. Such bliss in the city.
All in all.. what I paid for it seems a pittance really. Will probably have to wait till next year for a track day to see what she can really do. Highly recommended :)