M109R - I think I get it.
Well, well, well…! Can you really fall in love with an engine!!!!??? And front brakes??? And handling???
I took my much loved C50T into Bikesport in Helensville for its 6,000km service yesterday arvo having arranged with Matthew for a loaner bike to come home on.
The trip out was quick and easy, the Boulevard is running as sweet as a nut! I was in my element – swinging through the bends, squirting past slower traffic, relaxed and happy! Tooted at a couple of bikes on the side of the road nearing Hellensville, a V-Rod and a sprots bike, and arrived at Bikesport feeling on top of the world.
As I filled in the service sheet, I was wondering which bike Matthew might have for me, in my dreams I would have liked a Busa, but figured he probably had some old shop hack out the back… Anyway, he stepped around the counter and said, “I’ll get your bike out for you… You can take the 109”. I nearly dropped the pen!
Sure enough, he walked over to the white M109R in the window and wheeled it outside parking it beside the C50T.
I handed him the key to my bike and stood beside the white beast while putting on my helmet and gloves. With a slightly nervous movement I swung my leg over the seat and sat down as I pulled the bike up off the sidestand.
Two things became immediately apparent – the 109 was light to pick up, well balanced, as easy as the C50T. Second impression was the height and width of the seat. I got instant cramp in my groin as my legs were forced wider than was comfortable. As I sat down the hardness of the seat was noted, too. So mixed feelings and not all good. Next, I reached for the bars to check it was in neutral and found it was a longer stretch than my bike. I reached down for the key and fired the beast up. It started instantly and settled into a low throbbing idle.
The gearbox was a bit recalcitrant and baulky, another poor first impression, but finally after a bit of rocking back and forth it engaged and I let out the clutch easing away from the curb. This is where it started to make amends for the first impressions. With just a whiff of throttle I was already at the speed limit having changed up to second within a few metres. I snicked, okay, clunked, the box into third and idled up the hill to the rail overbridge. I’d already decided the best route for this bike, so turned right up the street to take me up onto Peake Road. I hadn’t gone over 2000rpm yet and the engine was like a locomotive, the merest whiff of throttle and the 109 surged forward like an unstoppable, powerful beast, hinting at the latent power and performance waiting to be unleashed.
The poor impressions continued though, the suspension was hard, the seat was hard and the long reach, (for me, anyway), to the bars was catching me between the shoulders the same as my old GSX-F600 did. The gearbox needed a “positive action”, it wasn’t as light and easy as my bike. (I didn’t even notice the clutch action which means it was light, easy and engaged smoothly, a nice clutch!) The bike tramlined along the road patches which took me by surprise at first, thinking I had a flat tyre.
I turned off Peake Road onto Taylor Rd. and proceeded to get lost, winding up, somehow, in Waimauku! Disappointed of course that I now had to take the long way home… The fuel light started flashing as I left Waimauku so I had to stop in Kumeu at the Shell station and stuck $10 in. But I get ahead of myself.
On Taylor Road, I adjusted my position on the seat, which while at first seeming hard, wasn’t becoming uncomfortable, and the more aggressive ride position meant I was getting more “assertive” in my approach to the corners. The bike was starting to “come together” and I found the handling and steering accurate and the front brakes absolutely outstanding! Feel and power, smooth and confidence inspiring! And that engine!!!! Awesome torque from any revs, any gear, any speed!!! I was beginning to understand this beast!
Leaving Kumeu I turned onto the Riverhead road and started to increase the revs and throttle to around 4,000rpm having barely broken 3k to now. A brief squirt to 6,000rpm and “Rocket City! Look out!!!” “Weehahhh!!!”
I got behind a Subaru wagon in a hurry on the Riverhead / Coatesville Road so decided to just follow him at a good pace. Figured if the HP were around he’d be my shield and hung back just enough. We weren’t going too fast, so doubt any patrol would have been too worried anyway. But the 109 was beginning to win me over. The power, the handling, the power, the brakes, the power…Did I mention the power…? At any revs, in any gear, I could just wind on the throttle and the big white “tank” would shake as the big 900cc pistons dug deep and the vibes increased briefly as the beast did its best to stretch my arms and thrust me towards the next corner like a Saturn rocket booster! At cruising speed the engine was smoother than the C50T and I didn’t even mind the lack of a fairing after a while. No helmet buffeting but I would need to wear earplugs again due to wind noise, which is of course negligible behind my bike’s screen.
I took a few pics along the way and when I got home. It kinda looks good in my gargre, eh? Bit heavy to foot around compared to my bike and I was sweating by the time I’d parked it.
So! Would I own one? After a lot of head scratching… Yes, dammit, I would! Would I have it in white? Yes, I would. Would I change anything on it? With the pillion seat this one has, maybe a back rest, otherwise no. Still not sure about longer trips compared to my C50T as my bike is great two up and on long trips, light and easy to ride and comfy. The M109R is a very different animal altogether, for a different purpose. It’s a genuine hotrod, all about style and power, with great brakes and good handling. I now “get” this bike and understand owners’ ravings. Shame, as my dear wife pointed out, that we cannot afford one at present! I believe she said something like, “No, you can’t have one!”
You don't get to be an old dog without learning a few tricks.
Shorai Powersports batteries are very trick!
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Originally Posted by Drew
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