Mikkel
18th June 2008, 22:28
If so, go and have a ride on a motard! You will not regret it...
Today after work I met up with El Stevo who had, most graciously, offered me to have a ride on his DRZ (only a small amount of beer-assisted prodding required). With the 250 ccm restriction no longer being any concern I have been considering for a while what to replace my ZXR with.
So I have been giving the motards quite a serious thought - should be good for commuting, carving up the hills and exploring all of those nice gravel roads around Banks Peninsula. Seemed like a perfect idea to me...
...that said, I have only ridden two bikes in a way that matters. Both Kawasakis and both fully faired sportsbikes. As such I wouldn't have the first clue as what to expect from what is essentially a dirtbike. That fact doesn't change the fact that they look like fun - and there are no fairings to scratch up either. :niceone:
The bike is a Suzuki DRZ-400 Enduro with motard wheels, road tyres and larger brake discs. This also means that 1) it's running the 39 mm Mikuni Flatslide carb and 2) the suspension is set up for dirt riding.
First impression after having thrown my leg over is 'blimey, this thing is tall' followed shortly by 'crikey, these bars are wide'. I think the best way to describe the difference between sitting on the DRZ and the ZXR is that you feel much bigger - and like sitting on a throne - on the DRZ. A very comfortable throne mind you, the soft off-road suspension provides armchair-like comfort.
Click in first and clutch out - here we go. 2nd gear, and 'whoa' this thing pulls quite differently compared to the ZXR ! Pootle along the suburban street, wrong turn - golden opportunity for a U-turn, which clearly illustrates that the DRZ's steering geometry is also 'slightly' different.
Out on the main road with a 70 km/h speed limit I open it up a bit more. The low-end torque is magnificient - alas, the rev limiter kicks in all too quickly. Unlike the ZXR it's hard to get a feel for where the bike is in the rev range - probably a bit to do with the loud and obnoxious thumping sound being emitted just behind my right thigh. I get a distinct impression that dumping the clutch in just about any gear would see the rear squat down and the front head for the stars.
We hit the hill... A road with a lot of nice corners that I ride every day. About 20 seconds later the El Stevo's R1 has disappeared from the mirrors (ok, it felt like 20 seconds - but I wasn't really counting). Up and down the hills - tight lefts and rights - sweepers - the works. I am having a lot of fun! The bike is very accessible, flicks easily into the corners, sits planted over the rough stuff - doesn't feel like it's the first time I'm on the bike... :scratch:
A short hour and about 50 kms later we head home. :D
Getting back on the ZXR I feel I have my knees up under my chin and my hands folded in front of me...
The Good:
-Black, loud and obnoxious.
-Inspires a 'the devil may care'/'fuck the establishment' mindset.
-Good torque throughout the entire rev range.
-Sharp throttle response from the flatslides.
-Very fast and fun in the twisty bits - carving up the hills is the proper term :yes:.
-The soft suspension adds to the fun.
-No fancy, flashy bits to worry about if you park close to scooters or cars.
The Bad:
-Black, loud and obnoxious.
-Inspires a 'the devil may care'/'fuck the establishment' mindset.
-Lacks power - i.e. is slower than the 250 in a straight line (not off the line, but certainly from 50 km/h and upwards).
-Would get uncomfortable if ridden on the open roads for an extended time.
-Shortish range ~150 kms.
-The suspension is a bit too soft to be effective on the road - the nose dives under braking and rear squats under acceleration - and quite a bit too.
-It's not in my garage right now, if it was I wouldn't be writing about it here though.
Conclusion:
The grin factor is huge - this is hoonery incarnate. I'm definately getting a motard :yes:
Today after work I met up with El Stevo who had, most graciously, offered me to have a ride on his DRZ (only a small amount of beer-assisted prodding required). With the 250 ccm restriction no longer being any concern I have been considering for a while what to replace my ZXR with.
So I have been giving the motards quite a serious thought - should be good for commuting, carving up the hills and exploring all of those nice gravel roads around Banks Peninsula. Seemed like a perfect idea to me...
...that said, I have only ridden two bikes in a way that matters. Both Kawasakis and both fully faired sportsbikes. As such I wouldn't have the first clue as what to expect from what is essentially a dirtbike. That fact doesn't change the fact that they look like fun - and there are no fairings to scratch up either. :niceone:
The bike is a Suzuki DRZ-400 Enduro with motard wheels, road tyres and larger brake discs. This also means that 1) it's running the 39 mm Mikuni Flatslide carb and 2) the suspension is set up for dirt riding.
First impression after having thrown my leg over is 'blimey, this thing is tall' followed shortly by 'crikey, these bars are wide'. I think the best way to describe the difference between sitting on the DRZ and the ZXR is that you feel much bigger - and like sitting on a throne - on the DRZ. A very comfortable throne mind you, the soft off-road suspension provides armchair-like comfort.
Click in first and clutch out - here we go. 2nd gear, and 'whoa' this thing pulls quite differently compared to the ZXR ! Pootle along the suburban street, wrong turn - golden opportunity for a U-turn, which clearly illustrates that the DRZ's steering geometry is also 'slightly' different.
Out on the main road with a 70 km/h speed limit I open it up a bit more. The low-end torque is magnificient - alas, the rev limiter kicks in all too quickly. Unlike the ZXR it's hard to get a feel for where the bike is in the rev range - probably a bit to do with the loud and obnoxious thumping sound being emitted just behind my right thigh. I get a distinct impression that dumping the clutch in just about any gear would see the rear squat down and the front head for the stars.
We hit the hill... A road with a lot of nice corners that I ride every day. About 20 seconds later the El Stevo's R1 has disappeared from the mirrors (ok, it felt like 20 seconds - but I wasn't really counting). Up and down the hills - tight lefts and rights - sweepers - the works. I am having a lot of fun! The bike is very accessible, flicks easily into the corners, sits planted over the rough stuff - doesn't feel like it's the first time I'm on the bike... :scratch:
A short hour and about 50 kms later we head home. :D
Getting back on the ZXR I feel I have my knees up under my chin and my hands folded in front of me...
The Good:
-Black, loud and obnoxious.
-Inspires a 'the devil may care'/'fuck the establishment' mindset.
-Good torque throughout the entire rev range.
-Sharp throttle response from the flatslides.
-Very fast and fun in the twisty bits - carving up the hills is the proper term :yes:.
-The soft suspension adds to the fun.
-No fancy, flashy bits to worry about if you park close to scooters or cars.
The Bad:
-Black, loud and obnoxious.
-Inspires a 'the devil may care'/'fuck the establishment' mindset.
-Lacks power - i.e. is slower than the 250 in a straight line (not off the line, but certainly from 50 km/h and upwards).
-Would get uncomfortable if ridden on the open roads for an extended time.
-Shortish range ~150 kms.
-The suspension is a bit too soft to be effective on the road - the nose dives under braking and rear squats under acceleration - and quite a bit too.
-It's not in my garage right now, if it was I wouldn't be writing about it here though.
Conclusion:
The grin factor is huge - this is hoonery incarnate. I'm definately getting a motard :yes: