Shiver in Ngaio

**Sully60** · 9th January 2009, 17:06

Very nice Hitcher, on the face of it the ideal machine for our little country, maybe?
I'm not normally one to get jealous but the chorus says it all.

**Hitcher** · 9th January 2009, 20:36

I've just emptied the camera from last night.

**mashman** · 9th January 2009, 21:50

Originally Posted by Hitcher

I've just emptied the camera from last night.

Vnice Hitcher... glad to read that you're enjoying the Ape... can't wait to read how you feel when the rev-limiter gets a spankin...

**nudemetalz** · 9th January 2009, 23:22

"Shiver is in the blood !!"

**Charlie41** · 9th January 2009, 23:32

CONGRATS!!!!
Very very nice!!! Love the colour
Would love to see it in the flesh

**Hitcher** · 11th January 2009, 18:18

Shiver got its first wash and polish this evening. A trip to Martinborough and back in the rain got it all icky.

It's nice not getting rain on the inside of my visor any more!

**tri boy** · 11th January 2009, 18:34

Damn, Hitcher is smitten!
He's using words like 'icky".

I never knew a motorcycle could affect one's vocabulary so much.
Next he will admit to having Britney Spears designer collection of story books.

**James Deuce** · 11th January 2009, 18:43

He hasn't noticed yet, but I'm not talking to him.

**Pwalo** · 12th January 2009, 06:50

Very nice bike Mr H. Congrats, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the L twin experience.

**Hitcher** · 14th January 2009, 12:34

1,007km clocked. First service Friday.

Thanks to the most excellent support afforded by the inimitable James Deuce, I successfully knocked off the remaining 400km required to reach this first (of many) milestone last evening.

Around the block we sallied, departing SH2 south of Carterton and heading east, past Stonehenge to Gladstone, watertower hill via Wainuioru to a gas and rehydration stop at Masterton. It was murky/spitty on the Takas and blowing a stout southerly in the Wairarapa.

Then it was back to Alfredton and back out to "civilisation" at Pahiatua. All joking aside about the twanging of banjoes, that six-fingered chef at the Black Stump Cafe can really cook!

The Alfredton road was festooned with offerings from recently mustered and herded sheep and cattle, and its surface and sequences of corners taught me much about the handling differences between the Shiver and the FJR, particularly the reliance I have placed on torque surfing as a cornering technique over the past four or so years. And the less said about lard-arse cornering lines the better.

After a most efficacious and excellent repast at said hostelry, it was on over the Pahiatua track and home via Shannon and Grays Road. I love riding at night and, despite a still-brisk southerly all the way to Otaki, last night was no exception. Marvellous.

The Cute Little Italian continues to impress. Once I gain access to the top half of her rev range, I may be able to better compete with Mr Deuce's impressive ascent of the Watertower Hill...

**DarkLord** · 14th January 2009, 13:04

Flaaaaaaaaash....

**davebullet** · 14th January 2009, 13:04

Hitcher,

What are the stock tyres and what do you think of them?

What made you choose the Shiver over other similar bikes - such as the Street Triple?

**Hitcher** · 14th January 2009, 13:58

Originally Posted by davebullet

Hitcher,

What are the stock tyres and what do you think of them?

What made you choose the Shiver over other similar bikes - such as the Street Triple?

Stock tyres are Dunlop Qualifiers. After 1,000km, they seem to do what's asked of them, from edge to edge. They're a bit skitterish on melted tar, but what tyre wouldn't be?

And the Shiver choice? Have you seen one in the flesh? Whoar. I found it a better fit than a Striple, not that I found a demo one of those to take for a fang. Don't forget I wasn't in the market for a bike prior to riding the Shiver.

**Hitcher** · 18th January 2009, 20:34

Shiver has now completed 1,640km, with the first service completed at 1,027km on Friday.

I now have three engine maps from which to choose: sport, touring and rain, selected by pushing the starter button whilst the Shiver is idling in neutral. Each mode is discernibly different, with the most noticeable change being the rain mode -- there would be little chance of getting the bike loose in the wet on this setting. Fuel consumption is largely similar between sport and touring, so with the better low-end punch that sport affords, I think I'll stay in that one, thank you Mr Aprilia.

Also on at service the first went a Ventura packrack (as illustrated below). The kit appears to include deflectors to stop the underseat exhaust melting luggage on the rack.

An Aprilia screen departed the UK in this direction on Thursday.

Heated handgrips and a Garmin zumo (once the FJR sells) will complete the Hitcher riding essentials.

So what have I recently learned about the Shiver experience?

It is remarkably competent at moderately spirited pootling.

It has retaught me the Art of Cornering.

It is remarkably poised and unflustered by wicked winds on the Rimutakas.

It requires a bit more gearshifting than does an FJR1300 with its gazillion meganewtons of macadam-rendering torque.

I suspect that it may like to wheelie.