In short:
Engine: OMG
Gearbox: OMG
Handling: OMG
Brakes: OMG
In all: OMG WTF!!!
With a little more verbosity:
I was pretty nervous when I got on this thing. It wasn't mine, it was very new, it was shiny, and it makes a pretty mean growling sound.
The engine is fantastic, it pulls in any gear, harder and harder till.. Opps, is it time to change gear..? Do that in first, you've already broken the speed limit, so do it again through second and well, licence BE GONE!! I had a ever so slight problem with the transition from shut throttle to just open, there is a tiny snatch. But I quickly learnt it wouldn't bite me. It was very small. I'll just have to get used to that, I remember the same problem going from my VTR250 to my RVF400 for awhile, I just couldn't quite finesse the throttle in the desired manner 100% of the time. I didn't feel any flat spots in the fueling, it's just totally magic. But it is not berserk either, I pinned the throttle (Yes, even in first, once (I think..)) a few times and knew it wasn't going to hurt me. Very confidence inspiring, and it had to be, because half the corners I went around today were wet. If the engine had been crazy, I would have been nervous. Respect this engine and you can trust this engine not to hurt you. Go silly with it, I imagine the sound of scraping bike (Or breaking bones ) is coming soon afterwards.
Not much engine braking though, for highish speed corner I am in the habit of kicking down a gear or two and letting the engine drag me down, but here I found I needed to use the brakes. Perhaps I just need to kick it down another gear..? Wasn't quite up to experimenting with the capabilities of slipper clutch today though.
Oh yeah, it sounds cool too. From the massive induction roar to the gentle popping from that little exhaust pipe.
The gearbox is pretty damn good. Seldom needs the clutch, no problem finding neutral. It changes 'quickly' too, if you following my meaning. Lean on the lever and 'click' it is in the desired cog. I didn't have to learn the 'knack' of it, because there was none to learn! Brilliant. Less fuss than the RVF, which roughly bangs between gears if not done with the right touch. Having said that, 5th->4th required a whiff of clutch, but then this bike only had 1100km (1200 when I finished with it) on the clock, so maybe it will loosen up.
On the two back roads between Masterton and Martinbourghghgh there are enough corners to keep you happy. This bike corners quite bloody well, thank you. I did not have the balls to really see what it could do, but I am pretty confident that on the Gixxer I'd stand a chance keeping up with myself on the RVF through the corners in very little time. I am sorry to say but, when I rode Velox's CBR600RR, I was a little surprised to learn that it felt like turned slower than my RVF. You had to push it a little harder to get into the corner. CBR die-hards, bite your tongue and find a K6 GSXR600/750 and have a go yourself, I reckon this bike turns quicker. During cornering it feels solid as, but still sharp enough that if you had to change your line in a hurry you could. And I had to, because there sometimes were sneaky wet patches hiding on otherwise dry corners. The suspension of firm, but mostly not harsh. I did hit a bump or a rock somewhere that sent a shock up into my arms that did actually cause pain. Fine, whatever, I can live with it being firm because it does everything else correctly.
About those brakes. I never touched the back brake, so for all I know, it wasn't even there. But those front brakes, excuse the expletives; "FUCK FUCK FUCK". Absolutely amazing. They are pretty easy to use, but still will require some getting used to. I found myself going to slow into corners because I had simply used to them too much. I honestly did not know brakes could be that good. While the engine is something I could imagine, these brakes are not, truly awesome.
The riding position is raceyish. So this means pretty much what I am used to, elbows nearly touching knees and a bit of weight on ones wrists. My legs actually didn't go to sleep, so perhaps they are not folded up as much as I am used to. I wasn't sore after about 100km, so for me and my not-geriatric-yet body, this means I could take this sucker some serious distance. Sweet. The bars are close together, which makes it feel small. I can also attest to the.. ermm.. aerodynamics of the fairing. Suffice to say, duck down and you'll errm.. Go places quickly out of the wind. The clocks glow a cool red colour and there is a gear indicator that ahh.. tells you what gear you are in.
As you can tell from all those words, I am pretty much raving about this thing. It's totally amazing. I liked it so much; I have put down a depo on one. I didn't wake up today expecting to buy a bike. Crazy.
Oh yeah, Hi Jim2 and Hitcher + others going the other way on my southward leg. I hope you all had a laugh the glacial progress I was making. For a tourer, that Yam isn't an ugly fat pig.
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Originally Posted by Drew
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