Wondered to myself ' What the hell's this bloke waving at ?' sorry JB didn't realise it was you.
Arrived Thirsk just after 9 this morning, quick look around the bike and then I was off. Tank full of fuel, which was nice, and asked if I could be back around 12. First impressions, love the look of the bike, everything looks quality, only thing that really stood out was how exposed the front of the engine is and the fact it has tubed tyres.
Getting on the bike it felt quite tall and I was on my tiptoes, but I've only got short (29") legs. Not to much of a problem as it also felt very light, despite it being quite heavy. There are three seat options, but the option of higher or lower seat is an extra cost. All switches are very intuitive and easy to use, the exception is the riding mode control which is altered using the start button. TFT display is only small but all the info is clear and easy to read. So, off we go. I set out toward Sutton Bank and immediately got caught up behind some old codger dithering about in a Black Toyota van, drove it like he was used to riding one of those old GS motorbikes.
Soon dispatched of him and spent the next few miles getting used to the bike.
Clutch is very light needing only the slightest of tweeks for either up or down changes. Gearchange is that good that it's often difficult to know whether or not it's actually changed gear but soon got used to the feel of it. Turned off the A170 and down toward Ampleforth which is a narrow B road. Dear me I didn't stop grinning until I got to Helmsley. I think this is where the bike really comes into it's own, it's just so flickable and has more than enough grunt for these roads even keeping it at the running in revs. There are a series of running in lights which flash amber then red, not that I ever saw the red lights
. Through Helmsley and out onto the Helmsley to Stokesley road. (Locally know as the Helmsley TT) I thought the bike was good on the back roads, it was flipping awesome along the road. It inspired confidence and literally handled as though on rails, look where you want to go and it just goes, got caught out a couple of times with an over enthusiastic approach, the bike has no qualms about changing direction mid corner and no matter how I tried I couldn't upset the handling, it was just rock solid.
Turned off toward Westerdale, which is around 5 miles of fairly gnarly road and it did start to get a little upset bucking around a bit at speed. Stopped the bike and had a look at the rear suspension which had been set fairly stiff, knocked it down a couple a notches and the sublime handling was returned. My god it was fun to ride on these roads. Crossed over Blakey Ridge down toward Rosedale, a road I have ridden hundreds of times, lovely surface, tight turns, and a near perfect view of the road ahead. I left the suspension as it was. Now I'm no Valentino Rossi but I can get a shift on at times, I did that road 3 times, there back and there, and there was no way I could get the pegs down. Feet on the edge of the pegs and I could ground my boots, but a fair way from getting the pegs down. Suspension and handling still felt great after soften it off a bit on the previous road.
I spent well over two hours playing on this bike in and around The North York Moors, and didn't want to take it back despite the fact I was Nithered (very cold). The short screen afford a good level of protection, but sends a blast of cold air directly at your upper chest, absolutely no buffeting though.
I did take it for a short blast upto 90mph on a private road
and didn't feel any undue vibration. However I do ride on the balls of my feet and when my heels touched the passenger pegs I did feel a lot of vibration through said heels.
Engine was really rather nice. I did wonder if 80 bhp was going to be enough, but for this type of riding it was just right. Not much happening below 2.5k rpm but after that it starts to pick up and at 3.5k rpm really comes to life. Due to not wanting to abuse it, I wasn't really able to say when it ran out of puff...……... TBC very shortly
