James Deuce
25th March 2007, 09:19
All you should look for in a bike you'd want to own is some sort of connection at an emotional level, a sense of potential, of sights unseen, and roads left untraveled. Well that's what I reckon. Some of you want to pull chicks, but that ruins the power to weight ratio.
17.4kms and now I have to buy some new StylMartin City boots. I like short boots for riding around town, because I can wear them as shoes on casual Friday's and I'm not clonking and squeaking around the place like I do in my Oxtar's. Don't get me wrong, the Oxtars are fantastic, but the City boots are much more "fit for purpose". A bit like a partner who leaves the vocal complaints for home, rather than demanding to know why you're not wearing underwear, in the middle of the Supermarket, in a Force 13 bellow.
Nathaniel at TSS was absolutely insistent that I christen the Pegaso (post assembly kms on the clock only! Crikey!), and went to great lengths to show me the computer (complex at face value but easy to navigate thanks to bar mounted controls), the storage compartment on the tank with bar mounted release control (I couldn't find it!), and the cool Aprilia "bits & pieces" that go into making any Aprilia readily identifiable, even if you removed all the decals. Things like clear indicators and milled alloy here and there.
Rolling out of the forecourt was a piece of cake. Firm but comfy seat, feet straight up onto the pegs and instantly comfortable trickling at a walking pace into dense traffic. Wow! I can see over everything except buses! I'm not used to trail bikes, my experience being limited to lots of crashing as a teenager, so the "floppy" steering 19" front was a bit disconcerting at first. Standing up in the seat was instantly comfy too, with the tank right between your knees (though the ledge around the tank inserts for your knees might give those knees a bit of a bashing in rough going), back straight, bars comfortably in the right place too.
Once I'd dialed out the steering issue (entirely mental on my part I might add) it became VERY easy to chuck the Pegaso around. The brakes were phenomenal, and rocking up to a stop sign provided a graphic demonstration of just how quickly you become accustomed to the good points of a bike that feels "right". Up to the inersection, stop, check both ways, vroooom - hang on! I never put my feet on the ground! Cool!
I didn't want to take a bike being run in onto the motorway so I tore up into the Western Hutt hills, with it's tight narrow roads, bumpy surface, and the odd switchback. Within metres of the first corner I was convinced I was a Super Motard ace. The first time I plonked my foot on the ground on the inside of a corner I got a bit of a surprise at just how grippy both the sole of my boot and road surface were, but man what a laugh! Stay upright, push the bike down and slide your foot round the bend. I ripped chunks out of the sole of my left boot, ground the heel down on both boots and beveled the soles off smooth. No more tread on these puppies (see photos below)
I went up through Normandale, across to Belmont, back from Belmont to Normandale and Maungaraki and back to to TSS. I don't think I've ever had more fun on those roads. Light bike, torquey engine, even in reduced revs run-in mode, superbly controlled suspension that will probably get more compliant with a few kilometers, and the choice of sitting forward and throwing the Pegaso around like a 125GP bike, or wrestling it around like a motard. Yeah Baby!
Then I saw it: A dirt trail. I was tempted *GASP* to head for the dirt on a brand new bike, that I was christening, and another member of staff at TSS was already a tad miffed that I was christening a bike that he was supposed to be running in.
Tough. My fun is paramount over other people's whinging I'm afraid. Speaking of fun, the tyres (Pirelli Scorpions - look like trail tryres, stick like hot poop sports touring kit - not enough tread block for serious off road riding though) are scrubbed in too, only 4 or 5mm of untouched tread left front and rear. Obviously one of those Rimutaka stealth bombers that look like a trail bike, but leave squids wondering how it is possible for a trail bike to ride around the outside when they've got their squidly knee on the deck, trail bike rider sitting upright, boot buckles glinting in the sun, and a fragrant trail of pipe smoke emerging from a battered open face helmet.
I've been thinking about getting another bike that was a bit more adventurous for some time. I don't want to give up my road bike though, but something that can handle road and dirt for a second bike, something both classy and utilitarian would be the go I reckon. Something a bit, no, a LOT like an Aprilia Pegaso 650 trail.
TSS are going to HAVE to stop doing this, because one day my guard will drop and I'll buy something! Gaaah!
But thanks anyway guys. :Punk:
17.4kms and now I have to buy some new StylMartin City boots. I like short boots for riding around town, because I can wear them as shoes on casual Friday's and I'm not clonking and squeaking around the place like I do in my Oxtar's. Don't get me wrong, the Oxtars are fantastic, but the City boots are much more "fit for purpose". A bit like a partner who leaves the vocal complaints for home, rather than demanding to know why you're not wearing underwear, in the middle of the Supermarket, in a Force 13 bellow.
Nathaniel at TSS was absolutely insistent that I christen the Pegaso (post assembly kms on the clock only! Crikey!), and went to great lengths to show me the computer (complex at face value but easy to navigate thanks to bar mounted controls), the storage compartment on the tank with bar mounted release control (I couldn't find it!), and the cool Aprilia "bits & pieces" that go into making any Aprilia readily identifiable, even if you removed all the decals. Things like clear indicators and milled alloy here and there.
Rolling out of the forecourt was a piece of cake. Firm but comfy seat, feet straight up onto the pegs and instantly comfortable trickling at a walking pace into dense traffic. Wow! I can see over everything except buses! I'm not used to trail bikes, my experience being limited to lots of crashing as a teenager, so the "floppy" steering 19" front was a bit disconcerting at first. Standing up in the seat was instantly comfy too, with the tank right between your knees (though the ledge around the tank inserts for your knees might give those knees a bit of a bashing in rough going), back straight, bars comfortably in the right place too.
Once I'd dialed out the steering issue (entirely mental on my part I might add) it became VERY easy to chuck the Pegaso around. The brakes were phenomenal, and rocking up to a stop sign provided a graphic demonstration of just how quickly you become accustomed to the good points of a bike that feels "right". Up to the inersection, stop, check both ways, vroooom - hang on! I never put my feet on the ground! Cool!
I didn't want to take a bike being run in onto the motorway so I tore up into the Western Hutt hills, with it's tight narrow roads, bumpy surface, and the odd switchback. Within metres of the first corner I was convinced I was a Super Motard ace. The first time I plonked my foot on the ground on the inside of a corner I got a bit of a surprise at just how grippy both the sole of my boot and road surface were, but man what a laugh! Stay upright, push the bike down and slide your foot round the bend. I ripped chunks out of the sole of my left boot, ground the heel down on both boots and beveled the soles off smooth. No more tread on these puppies (see photos below)
I went up through Normandale, across to Belmont, back from Belmont to Normandale and Maungaraki and back to to TSS. I don't think I've ever had more fun on those roads. Light bike, torquey engine, even in reduced revs run-in mode, superbly controlled suspension that will probably get more compliant with a few kilometers, and the choice of sitting forward and throwing the Pegaso around like a 125GP bike, or wrestling it around like a motard. Yeah Baby!
Then I saw it: A dirt trail. I was tempted *GASP* to head for the dirt on a brand new bike, that I was christening, and another member of staff at TSS was already a tad miffed that I was christening a bike that he was supposed to be running in.
Tough. My fun is paramount over other people's whinging I'm afraid. Speaking of fun, the tyres (Pirelli Scorpions - look like trail tryres, stick like hot poop sports touring kit - not enough tread block for serious off road riding though) are scrubbed in too, only 4 or 5mm of untouched tread left front and rear. Obviously one of those Rimutaka stealth bombers that look like a trail bike, but leave squids wondering how it is possible for a trail bike to ride around the outside when they've got their squidly knee on the deck, trail bike rider sitting upright, boot buckles glinting in the sun, and a fragrant trail of pipe smoke emerging from a battered open face helmet.
I've been thinking about getting another bike that was a bit more adventurous for some time. I don't want to give up my road bike though, but something that can handle road and dirt for a second bike, something both classy and utilitarian would be the go I reckon. Something a bit, no, a LOT like an Aprilia Pegaso 650 trail.
TSS are going to HAVE to stop doing this, because one day my guard will drop and I'll buy something! Gaaah!
But thanks anyway guys. :Punk: