Comparison

[dpex]

I ride a YZF 600. At least now I do, having come up from a Suzuki 150. The only diff between the two...apart from the rather greater power of the Yami...is, the Yami is a lot heavier, but seems equally light in the corners.

Tonight I had a crack on a Yami MT-01, 1100, a low-revving, high-torque, Harley look-a-like.

My bike takes off in first, to about 4.5k rpm. In 2 it seems max power is around 5.9k rpm. And so on.

This MT took off like a slug, till about 2.2k rpm, then went ballistic! Jesus H Christ!

Then I came to the first corner. Quite mild. Rolled left, pushed in some reverse. Bike went straight ahead.

Suddenly remembered new trick (push on outer side with knee. Bike went straight.

However, got it through the first corner and into a winding road.

What a pig of a bike compared to the elegance of my 600. On her I touch, she goes. On this thing I felt like I needed a front-end loader to help push through corners.

Obviously, lack of experience was a factor but.....

When we got back...he rode my bike...he said, 'My God, this thing is so light.'

Question of the experts. Why is a bike like the MT so stiff and ugly in corners?

[James Deuce]

Because it's setup horribly. Has he changed the stock suspension settings? I spent an hour with one once and it went from actively trying to kill me to being a total sweetheart. It is heavy, but it can be made to steer. The stock settings are quite plush.

Btw, an MT-01 looks nothing like any HD ever built.

Edit: You're not talking about a Virago 1100 are you?

Double edit: That shafty is thinking the same thing I am.

[shafty]

Just to clarify which bike you are talking about..................was it an MT 01, as in 1670cc naked bike (see) http://mt-world.yme.com/emc.asp?pageId=1732&isModel=1 or.......................?

[dpex]

Yup, that's the beast. The owner told me it was 1100.

[James Deuce]

I think he should sell it and buy a nice safe car.