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Local dealership has the Yamaha Truck in for test rides today and tomorrow. Allowed to ride 3 a day. Today I'm going to ride an FZ-07, an FJ-09 and an R3.
Not sure about tomorrow, probably a Super Tenere, FJR and either a Bolt Spec R or a V Max. Haven't ridden the Bolt before, rode the other 3 last year.
Fun, Fun, Fun
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We will be expecting a detailed ride report later Ferret. Sounds like a fine day you have in store.
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redbirds..one of my regrets from the rally is not trying to convince Sparky to let me take a test ride on her SV. Someday, when the Mrs decides she's no longer going to tour, I'm moving down from my big touring bike to a smaller touring bike and I think the SV is in the running along with the Versys 650, and the NC 700. The FZ07 and FJ09 are in the running too pending test rides.
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Indeed, you should have asked because she would have been delighted to allow you a test ride. I have ridden all the V-strom competitors and have come away with the opinion that, like the CB1100, it is not the absolute best in each category of performance for it's class. However, it is such a competent bike overall, it outshines the others. The engine is a jewel, smooth and reliable as a hammer and the seat is all day comfy. Only the brakes need an upgrade. Braided lines and new pads are the ticket.
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Home from test rides. Rode all 3
First the FJ09
Tall drink of water
Good power in std mode (and my son said REALLY good power in A mode. I didn't switch modes just rode it on std defaults)
Transmission good
front brakes excellent
rear brake poor
handlebars wide
seat hard
suspension hard
windshield ok (I would shorten it a couple of inches)
hate tachs that are moving bar graphs
Gear indicator was nice
would pull 6th down to 3000 rpms and pull away cleanly
wound up quickly in 1st
Pretty exciting exhaust/motor noise when accelerating
Would actually make a decent solo touring bike I think..my son now wants one badly
FZ07
Small
looking over front end like on a Ducati Monster..could not see headlight at all
Better ride and seat IMO than the FJ-09
Gear indicator was nice
Same wonky mirrors
Even wonkier switches
Vibration easily felt from 3500 rpms up
Front brakes good
rear brake good
another stupid moving bar graph tach
Would never IMO make a touring bike no matter what you did to it.
R3 (keep in mind this is a 250 and not meant to be a replacement touring bike for me..just wanted to ride one)
Tiny
Really smooth
Power? what's that?
Seriously starts making power above 5000 rpms and gets meaty from 7-11K... but if you back off the throttle for anything, better start downshifting. At one point I was coming down a curvy hill in 5th onto a flat and was coasting down the steep part on the hill, when I hit the flat I gave it full throttle and literally nothing happened. Looked down and tach was at 3000 rpms, so quickly downshifted a couple of times and gave it throttle again and it accelerated.
Was like riding a 2 stroke RD 350 lol
transmission good
brakes ok
swear to you... one time I took off and ran it up in first, hit second ran it up, hit 3rd, ran it up and looked down at the speedo and I was doing 29 mph
feels like you are in a roadrace all the time, left foot dancing like a flamico dancers
Gear indicator was nice
As far as a touring replacement for my ST, on the way home riding my CB, I thought for the same money or less, why not pick up a gently used CB and add a luggage rack and some hard bags to it? IMO it's head and shoulders better motorcycle than all these bikes.
Tomorrow I'm riding the Super Tenere' and FZ09 or R6
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Rode all those at Bike Week demo rides. Like them all
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Good report Ferret, thanks.
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Good report, Ferret.
Except for the mention of the gear indicator, of course!
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I like them all too Geezer, but at this point I'm searching for a particular tool for my tool box ( if you get my drift)
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(08-21-2015, 09:46 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: I like them all too Geezer, but at this point I'm searching for a particular tool for my tool box ( if you get my drift)
I'm often told that I am a tool
