Going for a test ride tomorrow

[Old Steve]

Since I've now got my 6F license, I'm planning on taking out a 700 cc Hyosung ST-7 for a test ride tomorrow morning. When I popped in to Bay City Motorcycles 3 weeks ago to tell Dave and Trish that I'd passed my 6F test they both said, "You'd better take the 700 for a ride then." I told them I wouldn't be buying a bigger bike but they insisted, so tomorrow morning is Kaimai time.

So starts my life as a test ride whore! Now if I could work my way through the mid-size cruisers, the Honda Shadow 750, the Kawasaki Vulcan 600 and 900, the Suzuki C50 or M50, and the Yamaha V-Star 900 .....

[Fatt Max]

The ST-7 is a nice cruiser. Had a good look at one just before Chrostmas. I'm on a GV250 at the mo and once I pull my lazy wobbly arse out of the chair and get my 6F, well, I am certainly going to look at one of those.

I did hear they are quite lively on the brakes for such a heavy bike but otherwise it looks a real nice ride.

Put it this way. I ride my Hyosung every day, its fat bastard friendly and I have never had any trouble with her apart from a dodgy chiain. Enjoy bro

[DR650gary]

Bought a bike this week from Dallas at Bayride. Can't speak highly enough of them. See what they can offer you to play with.

Have fun and remember........Insurance Excess

[hellokitty]

Since I've now got my 6F license, I'm planning on taking out a 700 cc Hyosung ST-7 for a test ride tomorrow morning. When I popped in to Bay City Motorcycles 3 weeks ago to tell Dave and Trish that I'd passed my 6F test they both said, "You'd better take the 700 for a ride then." I told them I wouldn't be buying a bigger bike but they insisted, so tomorrow morning is Kaimai time.

So starts my life as a test ride whore! Now if I could work my way through the mid-size cruisers, the Honda Shadow 750, the Kawasaki Vulcan 600 and 900, the Suzuki C50 or M50, and the Yamaha V-Star 900 .....

If you are looking at the Honda Shadow 750, have a look at the Honda VT750C2 Shadow Spirit which is what I have - has the lighter front end and the smaller guards. You may have seen it at the Westpac ride when you were talking to me? I love this bike and I can chuck it around the corners really well compared to the bigger cruisers.

[Maha]

Kaimai time....love it!
The more you test ride the easier it will be to sign up.
We are off to Colmans this morning to purchase a Suzuki...

[Old Steve]

WOW. Up the Kaimais in 5th gear, pulled out at 100 km/hr in the passing lanes and pulled away from a slower car, left it for dead. Had trouble staying below 120 km/hr once over the Waikato side, found myself pulling out of the sweeping curves between the bottom of the Kaimais and the Okoroire Pub at 130 km/hr. Nice low sitting position, pegs nicely forward, handle bars appear wide, but comfortable to reach and to control the bike low c of g so easy to lean over. Found the round mirrors were small, I'd put oblong GV250 mirrors on it if I bought one, but they don't vibrate so your rear vision is always clear if a little restricted.

Fatt Max, I just love my GLORIA. Though she did seem a little small and needed to be stirred when I got back on her later. The brakes on the ST-7 were set up quite firmly, slightest touch on the hand lever brought instant braking - though only a single disc on the front it seems to work - I tried not to brake during my ride, suppose that'll be an area I should have covered. Pulling up, I just used the foot brake - disc on the rear wheel - though that was set up without any play in it as well.

Maha and DR650gary, congratulations. Any bike purchase on my behalf depends on the six numbers and the Powerball tonight. I've lusted after the Suzuki C50C, prefer the alloy wheels over spokes. Colemans show a couple of second hand ones on Trademe, reasonably priced.

Hellokitty, Yeah, saw your bike at the Westpac ride. They're a nice low seated cruiser aren't they. Though I have crunched the numbers on a number of cruisers in the 600 to 900 cc range, and the Honda Shadow 750 has the same power-to-weight ratio as GLORIA. Once my 95 kg is added to the equation, the Shadow has just 7 Watts per kilogram advantage (thats 0.007 kW/kg). I'll try to get one for a test ride, but I now do have some pre-formed opinions about the Shadow.

Going to write a ride review for the Ulyssian Magazine on my ride today. Then I'll work my way through as many other mid-size cruisers as I can get my hands on.