demo new bike ???

[TerminalAddict]

well day 2
It been raining all day, and I had a night of movies .. my kids are away so I caught up on all the scary movies that I can't watch coz they bitch and moan that they can't watch them.
The result is I feel like I'd been on the booze all night, when infact I had only been on the booze until about 3am ... so this morning looking at the weather, and feeling like a sack full of hammers was bouncing round in head, I decide to skip the 1st day of ownership ride

After rubbing my gear down with dubin (after getting hell wet riding home from the shop yesterday) and after a wee afternoon kip (a nana nap ) the weather seemed to look like it was clearing.

Quick gear up, and I'm off .. headed to hamilton (about 15-20 kms away)

First impressions:
I really need to work on my "first gear" handling skills.
The XV doesn't feel as stable at 100 as the sprots bike I've ridden. it feels a bit exposed to the wind, and I feel a bit of sideways movement occassionly at 100.
No rev counter means I'm still riding in my head (trying figure out whens a good time to change) instead of riding through my arse, and ignoring the gauges.
Also without all those revs of an inline 4, I kinda felt a bit chunky changing up.
The gear lever is slightly difficult to change up. It maybe that I have new boots that need breaking in, but I have to make a conscience effort to hook my toe under the gear lever. I noticed this yesterday when I was riding home from the shop wearing steel toes, and made a mental note not to wear my steelies until I'm a little more comfortable, but perhaps I just need to learn to ride some more
I can feel the arse slipping around on the gravel at30kms, but I felt totally cool about it, and not the slightest bit nervous .. that's cool (I live on a gravel road that's 1.5 kms long)
Countersteering is still a decision rather than second nature.

That's about it.
The shop guy told to go "real easy" on the new tyres, especially in the wet. That made me a bit nervous, and I don't think I went over 80kms on any corner. I think a day in the sun might do me the world of good when it comes to trust in my rubber

All in all bloody fantastic ... can't wait for the next oportunity hope like hell it not raining next weekend.

T.A.

[Magua]

Sounds like fun.
Get in some practice then come join some Kiwibiker rides.

[Waylander]

So when you bringing it to town so I can squiz a look see?

[TerminalAddict]

so when you back in town then .. still away workin in dorkland I'm guessing

[Waylander]

Nah that didnt happen. They filled all the spots before I was certain to have a place to stay for the whole project.

[crashe]

You can get the gear lever adjusted to suit you.
But you will get used to it.. as it is set out different from a sportsbike.

REMEMBER to NOT take the corners like a sportbike...
DON'T lean into the corner. Let the bike take you around it.
Just look ahead of you and the bike does the work.

Maybe when the weather fines up maybe we could get all the Virago riders together for a ride.. as there are a few up here in Auckland /Orewa and also in down in Hamilton.

[Monsterbishi]

The shop guy told to go "real easy" on the new tyres, especially in the wet. That made me a bit nervous, and I don't think I went over 80kms on any corner. I think a day in the sun might do me the world of good when it comes to trust in my rubber

Fortunately for you, your 1.5km of gravel will scrub the tyres in double quick time, meaning it's gonna be half as long as normal before you can go nuts on them :-)