After 12 months of owning a GSX-R1000 I didn't get on with, I've bitten the bullet and sold it. It was purely for psychological reasons - I just never felt confident riding it. I guess it could relate to having owned a VTR1000 and being used to the twin.
I persevered with the gixxer and put Pilot Powers on it, set up the suspension, and put good brake pads on it. Even after this, I was still a bloody chicken and didn't enjoy riding. Talk about the most frustrating year of my life - I hated knowing that I can ride well but was choosing not to.
Cajun (hubby) got a bit sick of thismainly 'cause it stopped him riding his 600 so much. He had a theory: ride a twin and see how confident I feel on one.
He arranged for us to test ride a VTR1000 and the Aprilia RSVR. I rode the VTR the all of 1km before I thought "what a pile of shit! I can't believe I ever owned one of these". The suspension was excessively spongey, the gears were clunky, and the riding position is like being on a friggin' Goldwing!
When we arrived at Strada (Mt Maunganui) this sexy bike was parked outside. I tell ya, it was almost orgasmic...Anyway, I was keen to ride it until I realised they'd raised the seat height 2cm above stock (81cm). This basically meant I sat on the bike and dangled. I figured I only need one foot on the ground to stop so took it for a spin up and down the expressway a couple of times.
We told Strada we were keen on a second test ride - the nice guys there even offered to lower it so I could get both feet on the ground. On the second ride, we headed towards Whakatane then round the back of the lakes through to Rotorua. For the first time in 12 months I actually managed to keep up and had an AWESOME ride. The Ohlins suspension soaks up all the bumps and the bike is so stable on the road. You can tell it's got the quality componentry! I was more confident on the RSV in 10mins than what I'd been on my Gixxer in 12 months! The trip up the Kaimais was fantastic and I felt totally at home on the bike.
That ride made the decision for me - put the gixxer up for sale! The new owner collected it on Waitangi Day and the money has been burning a hole in my pocket ever sinceLucky for me, Strada was keen to sell the RSV and we managed to screw the Akrapovic pipes outta them for next to nothing. The white colourscheme really does it for me - it's far nicer than the red/grey version. I wasn't so keen on it at first sight, but it's really grown on me!
I picked it up this afternoon - shame the first ride was over the Tauranga harbour bridge at 5pmI've done about 300km on it including the test rides. Now I'm chomping at the bit to ride it again on Sunday. The only forseeable mod I'll do is put a Rider custom motorcycle seat on it. I'm thinking I might incorporate the lion's head from the fairings - just intitial thoughts so far... It already has a -1 front sprocket, DNA air filter, Akrapovic pipes and removed rear pegs.
Here's some pics... and YES Sensei, RSVs really are a girl's bike....
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Originally Posted by macmotortrimmer
I'll start frequenting their forums and annoy them like I do the KBers 
I might let him ride it one day
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