05-23-2014, 06:42 AM
OK just rolled in from testing Yamahas. They would only let me test 3 today (I could return tomorrow and test 3 more if I wanted). I chose the FZ09 first, the FJR second, and the V Max 3rd.
My reviews
FZ 09..I named this the twitchy brick. Real abrubt throttle it was either on the gas or off the gas (hence twitchy)..the seat was real hard and sloped so that you slid into the tank, and the suspension was real stiff (hence the brick). The good? it sounded great and the front brakes were awesome ( I had read the brakes were rather wooden feeling..not on the one I rode)
The FJR... Nice motorcycle...I had 2 complaints...too dang many switches, modes and programs and the bar ends were at a weird angle that hurt my wrist. Other than that, really nice bike, very smooth, good instruments good brakes.
V Max..oh the Mighty Max. Most fun bike I rode. Actually had me laughing in my helmet. Good ergos, power everywhere. Honking great motor noise, Wasn't much fun for me on a curvy road, didn't seem to want to lean over easily, but any kind of little straight was an excuse to wick it and watch the landscape blur by. Get one of these and you'd better be friends with a tire distributor and a gasoline distributor.
Oh yea the VMax has a gear indicator but it's really little, under a hooded thing down on the tank, and you don't have time to look for it anyway. Good idea though.
Would I give up my CB? Not for any of them or all 3 of them together. Seriously!
My reviews
FZ 09..I named this the twitchy brick. Real abrubt throttle it was either on the gas or off the gas (hence twitchy)..the seat was real hard and sloped so that you slid into the tank, and the suspension was real stiff (hence the brick). The good? it sounded great and the front brakes were awesome ( I had read the brakes were rather wooden feeling..not on the one I rode)
The FJR... Nice motorcycle...I had 2 complaints...too dang many switches, modes and programs and the bar ends were at a weird angle that hurt my wrist. Other than that, really nice bike, very smooth, good instruments good brakes.
V Max..oh the Mighty Max. Most fun bike I rode. Actually had me laughing in my helmet. Good ergos, power everywhere. Honking great motor noise, Wasn't much fun for me on a curvy road, didn't seem to want to lean over easily, but any kind of little straight was an excuse to wick it and watch the landscape blur by. Get one of these and you'd better be friends with a tire distributor and a gasoline distributor.
Oh yea the VMax has a gear indicator but it's really little, under a hooded thing down on the tank, and you don't have time to look for it anyway. Good idea though.
Would I give up my CB? Not for any of them or all 3 of them together. Seriously!