06-30-2017, 01:25 PM
Honda recently had a "Come Ride with Us" sales event. I tried 3 bikes:
2017 Africa Twin: felt comfortable right from the get-go. Seat height was a bit tall, but ok. Plenty of power for highway speeds. Wind management was surprising good. Gear box was a bit clunky, and kind of felt like I was riding a big dirt bike, a bit shocked with the amount of nose dive under hard braking, but it was a good 30-min test ride. I liked it.
2017 Gold Wing: my god I couldn't get used to the weight. Was tense anytime we weren't on the highway. Didn't like the transmission downshifting into 2nd or 1st, reminded me of a transmission on a public bus. Tons of torque, and just a dream on the highway. Not for me though. Sport tourer may suit me better.
2017 CBR500R: Tried one of these to remind myself that I don't want a sport bike. This one in particular just felt cheap. Buzzy, had to wind it up on the highway, shifter and rear brake pedal were too close to the chassis. Looked pretty cool, but definitely not for me.
Walked away reminded of what a nice ride the CB1100 is. Need that reminder sometimes.
2017 Africa Twin: felt comfortable right from the get-go. Seat height was a bit tall, but ok. Plenty of power for highway speeds. Wind management was surprising good. Gear box was a bit clunky, and kind of felt like I was riding a big dirt bike, a bit shocked with the amount of nose dive under hard braking, but it was a good 30-min test ride. I liked it.
2017 Gold Wing: my god I couldn't get used to the weight. Was tense anytime we weren't on the highway. Didn't like the transmission downshifting into 2nd or 1st, reminded me of a transmission on a public bus. Tons of torque, and just a dream on the highway. Not for me though. Sport tourer may suit me better.
2017 CBR500R: Tried one of these to remind myself that I don't want a sport bike. This one in particular just felt cheap. Buzzy, had to wind it up on the highway, shifter and rear brake pedal were too close to the chassis. Looked pretty cool, but definitely not for me.
Walked away reminded of what a nice ride the CB1100 is. Need that reminder sometimes.