2015 CBR300r

[GoldOxide_imp]

Conversely, I virtually never rev the CB1100 upon standing take-off and the torque nicely pours in. By no means a large V-twin feelin', but it doesn't matter as power kicks in very soon after and you are off.

[Stichill_imp]

The tires are officially scrubbed in, as in, they took a beating today. Did 175 miles today, the bulk of which in the southern Virginia mountains. The wee beastie performed very well.

I rode with my buddy on his 14 Valkyrie (best rider I have ever seen. Frequently dusts off high end liter sport bikes on that rolling couch.) and a new friend on a Speed Triple. We headed up to HWY 66 just above Hanging Rock State Park. This little road is 3-4 miles of tight tight technical stuff on a narrow, chip and shoot surface. Always one of my destinations when out for a twisty ride. The little 300 easily kept pace with the other 2 bikes. Now, to do so required wringing her neck like there was no tomorrow. I just kept the tach above 7k (7500 max torque I think) and that usually meant no more room to twist the go go handle. The lean angle is much greater than either of my other 2 bikes which helps a lot.

We then headed on into VA where the road surfaces are better and the turns are spread out a little more than 66. The 'lil girl had a much more difficult time keeping up when there are 100 yard spaces between the turns. She just doesn't have the torque out of the turns. By the end of the day I had it dialed in pretty good and could keep momentum up to slingshot out.

I quickly found her limitations. The forks. They will need stiffer springs to take this sort of a thrashing. Several times they bottomed out while leaned over in the corners. Not very confidence inspiring. I will also set the preload on the back spring to the next stiffer setting on the next time in the mountains. Also the narrow wheels skip around on loose impediments quite a bit more which took some getting used to. The Dunlop's did a superb job all day. I will gladly keep these on the bike as it has no need for stickier tires. The brakes were also more than adequate. I noticed no fade but I don't use them much except for entering the hairiest of corners at a good clip.

All in all great first outing on the new addition. I've been wanting to pull the trigger on a lightweight to abuse in the mountains and she didn't disappoint. Fork springs changed, work out my clutch hand (lots more shifting), and check out a new seat and I'll be happy as a clam.

There's some usable torque 5,500 & up on my 250. It runs out of steam around 9,000 so I'll often shift to get back onto the torque.

The tires are officially scrubbed in, as in, they took a beating today. Did 175 miles today, the bulk of which in the southern Virginia mountains. The wee beastie performed very well.

I rode with my buddy on his 14 Valkyrie (best rider I have ever seen. Frequently dusts off high end liter sport bikes on that rolling couch.) and a new friend on a Speed Triple. We headed up to HWY 66 just above Hanging Rock State Park. This little road is 3-4 miles of tight tight technical stuff on a narrow, chip and shoot surface. Always one of my destinations when out for a twisty ride. The little 300 easily kept pace with the other 2 bikes. Now, to do so required wringing her neck like there was no tomorrow. I just kept the tach above 7k (7500 max torque I think) and that usually meant no more room to twist the go go handle. The lean angle is much greater than either of my other 2 bikes which helps a lot.

We then headed on into VA where the road surfaces are better and the turns are spread out a little more than 66. The 'lil girl had a much more difficult time keeping up when there are 100 yard spaces between the turns. She just doesn't have the torque out of the turns. By the end of the day I had it dialed in pretty good and could keep momentum up to slingshot out.

I quickly found her limitations. The forks. They will need stiffer springs to take this sort of a thrashing. Several times they bottomed out while leaned over in the corners. Not very confidence inspiring. I will also set the preload on the back spring to the next stiffer setting on the next time in the mountains. Also the narrow wheels skip around on loose impediments quite a bit more which took some getting used to. The Dunlop's did a superb job all day. I will gladly keep these on the bike as it has no need for stickier tires. The brakes were also more than adequate. I noticed no fade but I don't use them much except for entering the hairiest of corners at a good clip.

All in all great first outing on the new addition. I've been wanting to pull the trigger on a lightweight to abuse in the mountains and she didn't disappoint. Fork springs changed, work out my clutch hand (lots more shifting), and check out a new seat and I'll be happy as a clam.

Yep, it's not about slowing down and digging out. It's about carrying controlled speed going in and getting back on the throttle as early as you please...there's not enough torque to make the rear step out.

The tires are officially scrubbed in, as in, they took a beating today. Did 175 miles today, the bulk of which in the southern Virginia mountains. The wee beastie performed very well.

I rode with my buddy on his 14 Valkyrie (best rider I have ever seen. Frequently dusts off high end liter sport bikes on that rolling couch.) and a new friend on a Speed Triple. We headed up to HWY 66 just above Hanging Rock State Park. This little road is 3-4 miles of tight tight technical stuff on a narrow, chip and shoot surface. Always one of my destinations when out for a twisty ride. The little 300 easily kept pace with the other 2 bikes. Now, to do so required wringing her neck like there was no tomorrow. I just kept the tach above 7k (7500 max torque I think) and that usually meant no more room to twist the go go handle. The lean angle is much greater than either of my other 2 bikes which helps a lot.

We then headed on into VA where the road surfaces are better and the turns are spread out a little more than 66. The 'lil girl had a much more difficult time keeping up when there are 100 yard spaces between the turns. She just doesn't have the torque out of the turns. By the end of the day I had it dialed in pretty good and could keep momentum up to slingshot out.

I quickly found her limitations. The forks. They will need stiffer springs to take this sort of a thrashing. Several times they bottomed out while leaned over in the corners. Not very confidence inspiring. I will also set the preload on the back spring to the next stiffer setting on the next time in the mountains. Also the narrow wheels skip around on loose impediments quite a bit more which took some getting used to. The Dunlop's did a superb job all day. I will gladly keep these on the bike as it has no need for stickier tires. The brakes were also more than adequate. I noticed no fade but I don't use them much except for entering the hairiest of corners at a good clip.

All in all great first outing on the new addition. I've been wanting to pull the trigger on a lightweight to abuse in the mountains and she didn't disappoint. Fork springs changed, work out my clutch hand (lots more shifting), and check out a new seat and I'll be happy as a clam.

I haven't found that to be a problem. I'm 195 lbs. I wonder if the previous owner put in lighter weight fork oil?

[Bheezy27403_imp]

I don't know what, if anything, the PO did to the springs but from what I've read, most agree they are soft. I don't care what others agree on, they are soft (especially for what she was purchased for). I have been in touch with Racetech tonight to order a goody bag. The stock spring is listed at .49kg/mm. I will be putting in .80kg, gold valve cartridge emulators, and 15 weight fork oil per their tech's recommendation for my weight.

You're right about the rear stepping out. It took me a good hour into the session to convince myself to give her the beans waaay earlier than I would with my other bikes. It's just doesn't have the grunt to break it loose. Which, I found, was pretty useful.

[the Ferret]

LOl that's how I feel about my nephews CB 500X that resides in my garage

[MK212MX_imp]

You should try an 1987-1990 FZR 400. They redline at 14,000, and put out a little over 60 bhp. Talk about nimble! Fun bike but really small in stature.

Quick update. First fill up was before the mountain session and refilled today. 65 MPG! And that is wringing her neck with zero regard for mechanical life. Gotta say I'm pretty impressed with that.

Another comment, she does well on the hwy despite the reports I have read. Sure she's a little busy but she loves 73 mph. Spins @ 8500 doing 80 mph. Never did I feel I was going to be run over or did any sort of mechanical empathy kick in. I wouldn't hesitate taking her down the hwy for a couple hour trip. Of course I have her big (BIG) sister for that kind of slabbing.

LOL... I could not run anything at 8,500 rpms for any length of time. Heck neither my FJR, either of my two CB1100's, my ST 1300, my Triumph Bonneville, either of my two FZ-01s, or my 750 Nighthawk (well over 300,000 miles on those 8 bikes) none saw over 6,000 rpms and only over 5,000 rpms a couple of times between them. Just not a revver kinda guy.

LOL... I could not run anything at 8,500 rpms for any length of time. Heck neither my FJR, either of my two CB1100's, my ST 1300, my Triumph Bonneville, either of my two FZ-01s, or my 750 Nighthawk (well over 300,000 miles on those 8 bikes) none saw over 6,000 rpms and only over 5,000 rpms a couple of times between them. Just not a revver kinda guy.