Hornet Swarm Night City

[gale_wolf]

I've got my left ankle bandaged up, no riding for me. But more importantly it's my daughter's 4th birthday today so I'm doing lots of dad stuff with my little treasure.

[TOTO]

same time, same place as every monday. catch ya there

[Gremlin]

Wanpo (with gf, and gf brought guest girlie that Toto carried), Toto, Me. They kindly waited for me, when I txted from Warkworth to say I was going to be there at 6.30pm (and I was a little late, stupid holiday traffic).

Down the Southern, through the back of Botany Downs, round the coast to Kaiaua for dinner (got there juuuuust before they closed, they were packing and cleaning while we ate). Lots of big slips north of Kaiaua on the coast, most of them blocking the northern lane (cliff), some even having to be negotiated carefully on the southern lane (sea side).

Wanpo's gf jumped on the back after Kaiaua, wanting to cheat on the Hyoslug with a BMW (and who would blame her), and off to Momotea for drinks.

Toto wasn't sure where guest girlie needed to be dropped off, so they all let me lead into the city... fools. Showed Toto a road or two he'd never used, got the girl home safe, then back home.

Over 400km doing two little rides and some errands. Eat that GiJoe

[TOTO]

bikes, girls, roads, food, shaved orange, cream. Good night eh

[wanpo]

shaved orange, cream.

A Momotea recommended combination, I still think you should have gone with the egg pudding.

[gijoe1313]

Eat that GiJoe

Obviously karma will deal to you!

[gale_wolf]

Well my ankle's good enough to ride today, so rode in to work only to find that Wanpo was feeling a bit down, muttered about being disappointed that the CBR600 he rode in the weekend didn't live up to his expectations. Also it seems everyone Wanpo knows has a new bike and now he's got himself a bad case of "bike envy".

He had to drop a flatmate off at Holeshot to pick up a shiny new Street Triple, so I said as long as he was going to be there anyway he should test ride something else for himself. So he called them and lined up a ride on a 2009 Triumph 675 Daytona, rather spiffy looking in red.

I had been eyeing up a 'Busa last week for a test ride, said I'd be in this week and today would've been perfect, but the cheeky buggers went and sold it before I could even ride it. Imagine that, selling it to some guy who had the money right away, the cheek of it!

Anyhoo, I rode with Wanpo, short ride up to Albany, Paremoremo, Coatesville, and back again. The end. (No doubt he'll be along soon with his impression of the bike).

[wanpo]

(No doubt he'll be along soon with his impression of the bike).

Meh.

Was a very weird feeling bike, sorta pulled in any gear (event when I thought I was in 1st, but was in second... which is impressive on my part because there's a gear indicator) and still had a bite when it hit a power band at around 8k rpm, odd dual note engine noise, sounded like an inline 4 noise coming from the front and a v-twin note from the exhaust.

What ruined it for me though was the seating position, saddle was really high off the ground which was fine for me, both legs were mostly straight when stationary (I'm probably 6'1" tall.) Which also led to Gale Wolf almost dropping it as he saddled it with his gammy leg. But the tank is quite short and the bars are really low, so you're either curled in the back if you sit up against the tank, or fully stretched out if you're pushed to the back of the seat.

Rob at Holeshot said he'd get me on a GSXR 750 later in the week, which I sat on in the store and felt more at home on.

As far as I'm concened, if I get back on my Hobag and give a relaxed "aaah" the bike probably isn't for me.

[Gremlin]

As far as I'm concened, if I get back on my Hobag and give a relaxed "aaah" the bike probably isn't for me.

I'd agree almost 100%. The only issue is that you've done a lot of time on the Hyosung, very little on the other bike (so not quite a fair test). You do need to get on a potential bike and like it tho. When I test rode a new bike, getting on mine sucked in most cases.

Once you've changed bikes a few times, you'll also get more particular about finding faults, issues and reasons to buy or not buy each bike.

If you're not certain what you want, or requirements you have, then test ride a heap of bikes, naked, faired, different capacities, and see what you like.

[steelphoenix]

So he called them and lined up a ride on a 2009 Triumph 675 Daytona, rather spiffy looking in red.

EPIC BIKE ENVY.

Owner-of-Bike is away Monday, so no ride for me. Trying to make it to SASS...

[gijoe1313]

All this talk about new bikes ... makes me ... er, wait Bad boy!

Good to see you back on your bike again Gale (wow, sounds ghay) ... know what ya mean, been off bikes for a week myself ... and now riding again (albeit on my luvverly lil'ol'hornet).

Mmm riding ....

And also ... where was the takoyaki!?

[wanpo]

And also ... where was the takoyaki!?

It's not the same without you.

Testing a GSXR750 tomorrow and the CBR1000 on friday. Hopefully one of them fits me.

[zeocen]

As a 6'1 person myself the gsxr750 and CBR600/1000 were the most comfortable sport bikes I rode. I didn't even both riding the Daytona, just sitting on it made it feel like a piece of shit.

I think you'll feel pretty at home on a CBR1000 or 600, I found the 600 to be the most comfortable of them all - you could also maybe hold out for the new CBR600F that has clipons above the triple tree rather than back-breakingly below.

I almost signed on the dotted line after riding an 06 GSXR750 though, but in the end my sanity got the better of me - it was comfortable, but in the wide spectrum of other motorcycles out there, it wasn't THAT comfortable.

[gale_wolf]

Good to see you back on your bike again Gale (wow, sounds ghay)

Huh, yeah that nick's from a fave anime character... stick with GW then

... know what ya mean, been off bikes for a week myself ... and now riding again (albeit on my luvverly lil'ol'hornet).

Eh, where's the Predator?

And also ... where was the takoyaki!?

Doh, now I'm hungry!

Testing a GSXR750 tomorrow and the CBR1000 on friday. Hopefully one of them fits me.

I just got back from riding with Wanpo testing the GSXR750 on the same route. He's dropping it back to Holeshot now. The bike 'fits' him better than the Triple did, but I'm not sure it gave him that wow, I must own this feeling.

EPIC BIKE ENVY.

Patience grasshopper!

...If you're not certain what you want, or requirements you have, then test ride a heap of bikes, naked, faired, different capacities, and see what you like.

All good advice from Gremlin. Wanpo's pretty much determined to get another sports bike, it's a case of testing lots of them to find the right one.

As a 6'1 person myself the gsxr750 and CBR600/1000 were the most comfortable sport bikes I rode.

How'd you rate them compared to my 06 GSXR1000? Or have you forgotten what it was like, may I direct you to your review of it?

I almost signed on the dotted line after riding an 06 GSXR750 though, but in the end my sanity got the better of me - it was comfortable, but in the wide spectrum of other motorcycles out there, it wasn't THAT comfortable.

Well it is a sports bike after all, comfort is relative, I'm sure scooters are comfy but he doesn't want one.

[wanpo]

Fark, was super tempted to sign away my earnings for the next x-years on a brand new GSX-R750. All my problems with it were minor and can be accounted for by changing how I ride slightly. (When standing at the lights, my right leg was resting against the engine casing)

Although that right peg gets DAMN hot, could almost feel it melting the sole of my boot. It wasn't even a hard ride...

Liked how effortless the power was, real smooth curve. Didn't smack you in the face with a power band like the 600s I've ridden. Has adjustable power settings, but why would I want anything but "The most power and response"

Suspension didn't transfer any little bump directly into my crotch like the daytona did.

I'm gonna call my test riding finished after I try the CBR1000 tomorrow. Will the GSXR750 be the runner up, or the winner?