Well I am getting to know the little X-Country quite well now, we have clocked up quite a few wet miles up together, it always returns over 60 to the gallon and on the one occasion when I have really needed to test the ABS in the wet on a roundabout it performed admirably (Unlike me who let rip big time at the muppet that had just tried to drive over me) I find the seat a tad low for me as I am 6'3" however winding the rear preload up helped no end.
It is the sort of bike you can chuck into corners without a care in the world and the Tourances just hold on for grim death, on the few occasions I have had it moving around I really was trying very hard, normally the worst that I can provoke is the front end shaking and a reasonable weave at the back. Interestingly it will lift the front wheel when flat in third exiting roundabouts, that sudden flick from right to left gives a lovely twitchy bar slapping airy feeling just for a second, I have not tried it with SWMBO on the back as she has advised me she does not do mopeds and my view is the additional ballast may have a detrimental impact on my fun.
In a back to basics sort of way a month on one of these is quite an eye opener and has been packed with fun and I would certainly recommend one to both newcomers to motorbikes and urban commuters, this would make a great winter hack.
Would I have one?
NO, I WANT MY FECKIN HP2 BACK!!!
