Hitcher
31st January 2007, 14:41
Part 2…
Part 1 here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=43120
Ride 3: Harley Davidson FXD Dyna Superglide.
I like Harley Davidsons. I wouldn’t own one, for a whole bunch of reasons, but they are a legend for good reason. And I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to ride one. Particularly one with the new 96 cubic inch engine and six-speed gearbox combo.
The test bike was in metallic blue and looked stunning in a minimalist cruiser kind of way. The custom saddle was one of the most comfortable experiences my arse has had on a motorcycle. I loved it!
I wasn’t fussed by the bent-around grips on the handlebars. I thought I may get used to them but I didn’t, and the angle of these made working some of the HD switches a bit tricky.
Similarly the footpegs. The Dyna Superglide isn’t a peg-forward cruiser. It’s a cruiser in the Moto Guzzi style. I found that when lifting my foot up I tended to drag the peg up with it. The stock pegs aren’t spring mounted, so when folded up, stay up. Go figure. Once I figured out what was going on it was still really annoying.
The new Harley donk is a joy. I just loved what it did and the way it did it. The new six-speed gearbox is lovely too. Not too notchy, ratios just right for the engine, nice smooth clutch – it would be hard to complain about this marriage.
And the Dyna cornered magnificently with impressive lean angles. I didn’t set out to deliberately grind pegs and never got close.
Pillion comfort? Hard to tell without a pillion, but the custom saddle could have been comfy for short bursts. No grab rails fitted either.
Rider comfort? Pretty good, apart from the handlebar set-up. A screen of some sort would have made a positive difference for highway riding.
Points for:
- Engine and gearbox combination
- Overall fit and finish. Just lovely.
- The custom saddle. Whoar!
- Mirrors. Nicely placed and vibe-free.
- Cornering. Impressive.
Points against:
- The handlebars.
- The footpegs.
- The side-stand. It does have one, but it’s hard for a novice to find!
Overall ride rating: 7 out of 10.
Ride 4: Buell XB12X Ulysses.
For more information on the big Buell, see also http://www.davidcohen.co.nz/
I have long contemplated the Ulysses and even had one briefly on my watch-list prior to procuring my FJR1300. Today I got an opportunity to ride one.
Whew. I wouldn’t want to be any shorter. This is a tall person’s ride. I couldn’t get both feet down flat!
Like all Buells, the Ulysses is funky and unlike anything else. It has Japanese-style switch gear and a largely-easy-to-read instrument panel, although the clutch cable obscured the odometer. The ergonomics were outstanding and everything just kind of fitted.
The V-twin 1200 makes the whole bike come alive – the vibration at low revs was impressive, smoothing out with engine speed until everything but the tingling through the footpegs disappeared.
But the torque, wow. And the willingness of the engine to rev out to the rev limiter (red line at 6,500rpm with the limiter cutting in a bit before that) was impressive. These things can boogie and, in the hands of a competent pilot, would give sportsbikes something to think about on twisties. The Dunlop rubber impressed me, but all of my riding was in the dry on clean roads.
The handling was impressive to say the least. The big Buell was just as happy to be hurried through windy stuff as was the GSR600 earlier in the day.
I would have preferred a taller screen. At highway speeds I ended up wearing a lot of wind – the riding position means that the rider sits tall.
Mirrors were OK, but not great.
Pillion comfort looked excellent. The Ulysses has a rubber beavertail arrangement that can act as a rear parcel tray or pillion backrest. There is a sturdy and well-positioned grab rail and the pillion footpegs looked to be well positioned and functional.
Apart from a couple of engine cut-out issues (accompanied by a massive backfire on both occasions) over the last couple of km, the bike acquitted itself well. I was impressed.
Points for:
- Ergonomics for taller riders
- The engine and gearbox pairing
- Functionality and build quality, considering that this is an adventure bike
Points against:
- Short riders, beware!
- Ignition key location
- Vibration through the footpegs (good for circulation, I guess)
Overall ride rating: 7.5 out of 10. I must take one off tarmac some time!
And my pick of the day? The GSR600. In my opinion simply amazing functional fun and great value. Accessible to most riders and hard to fault.
Part 1 here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=43120
Ride 3: Harley Davidson FXD Dyna Superglide.
I like Harley Davidsons. I wouldn’t own one, for a whole bunch of reasons, but they are a legend for good reason. And I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to ride one. Particularly one with the new 96 cubic inch engine and six-speed gearbox combo.
The test bike was in metallic blue and looked stunning in a minimalist cruiser kind of way. The custom saddle was one of the most comfortable experiences my arse has had on a motorcycle. I loved it!
I wasn’t fussed by the bent-around grips on the handlebars. I thought I may get used to them but I didn’t, and the angle of these made working some of the HD switches a bit tricky.
Similarly the footpegs. The Dyna Superglide isn’t a peg-forward cruiser. It’s a cruiser in the Moto Guzzi style. I found that when lifting my foot up I tended to drag the peg up with it. The stock pegs aren’t spring mounted, so when folded up, stay up. Go figure. Once I figured out what was going on it was still really annoying.
The new Harley donk is a joy. I just loved what it did and the way it did it. The new six-speed gearbox is lovely too. Not too notchy, ratios just right for the engine, nice smooth clutch – it would be hard to complain about this marriage.
And the Dyna cornered magnificently with impressive lean angles. I didn’t set out to deliberately grind pegs and never got close.
Pillion comfort? Hard to tell without a pillion, but the custom saddle could have been comfy for short bursts. No grab rails fitted either.
Rider comfort? Pretty good, apart from the handlebar set-up. A screen of some sort would have made a positive difference for highway riding.
Points for:
- Engine and gearbox combination
- Overall fit and finish. Just lovely.
- The custom saddle. Whoar!
- Mirrors. Nicely placed and vibe-free.
- Cornering. Impressive.
Points against:
- The handlebars.
- The footpegs.
- The side-stand. It does have one, but it’s hard for a novice to find!
Overall ride rating: 7 out of 10.
Ride 4: Buell XB12X Ulysses.
For more information on the big Buell, see also http://www.davidcohen.co.nz/
I have long contemplated the Ulysses and even had one briefly on my watch-list prior to procuring my FJR1300. Today I got an opportunity to ride one.
Whew. I wouldn’t want to be any shorter. This is a tall person’s ride. I couldn’t get both feet down flat!
Like all Buells, the Ulysses is funky and unlike anything else. It has Japanese-style switch gear and a largely-easy-to-read instrument panel, although the clutch cable obscured the odometer. The ergonomics were outstanding and everything just kind of fitted.
The V-twin 1200 makes the whole bike come alive – the vibration at low revs was impressive, smoothing out with engine speed until everything but the tingling through the footpegs disappeared.
But the torque, wow. And the willingness of the engine to rev out to the rev limiter (red line at 6,500rpm with the limiter cutting in a bit before that) was impressive. These things can boogie and, in the hands of a competent pilot, would give sportsbikes something to think about on twisties. The Dunlop rubber impressed me, but all of my riding was in the dry on clean roads.
The handling was impressive to say the least. The big Buell was just as happy to be hurried through windy stuff as was the GSR600 earlier in the day.
I would have preferred a taller screen. At highway speeds I ended up wearing a lot of wind – the riding position means that the rider sits tall.
Mirrors were OK, but not great.
Pillion comfort looked excellent. The Ulysses has a rubber beavertail arrangement that can act as a rear parcel tray or pillion backrest. There is a sturdy and well-positioned grab rail and the pillion footpegs looked to be well positioned and functional.
Apart from a couple of engine cut-out issues (accompanied by a massive backfire on both occasions) over the last couple of km, the bike acquitted itself well. I was impressed.
Points for:
- Ergonomics for taller riders
- The engine and gearbox pairing
- Functionality and build quality, considering that this is an adventure bike
Points against:
- Short riders, beware!
- Ignition key location
- Vibration through the footpegs (good for circulation, I guess)
Overall ride rating: 7.5 out of 10. I must take one off tarmac some time!
And my pick of the day? The GSR600. In my opinion simply amazing functional fun and great value. Accessible to most riders and hard to fault.