Day one impressions after Matt asked if I really liked it or was jaded by the lack of riding thanks to BMW........
That's an excellent question. One that I spent my first day riding, FINALLY, to try and answer.
First 30 minutes was nothing other than the dog in the car with the window down. Riding again after so much headache, heartache, and worn out fingers from typing so much.
After that, I got down to business. Yes, I really do love it. She had three miles on her when I picked her up so she was truly tight and, therefore, had some buzz and stumble a bit. Took about twenty five miles to fix that. After this, I found that I was extremely comfortable in the cockpit. Natural reach to the arms, great seat, good ergos. I didn't much care for the wind management off the screen but I wasn't surprised as many others have reported the same. I have another screen already and am going to play around with it as well as I have a new windshield mount coming that allows infinitely more adjustment as well as incorporates my GPS mounting.
Motor is a true freight train of torque. It just pulls and doesn't really care where it is in the rev range. You can tell it has the big bang firing order as the power is delivered in a tractor like fashion. Still breaking her in so no upper end assessment yet as I only saw that range for a split second here and there and then allowed cooling cycles to intervene.
Transmission/Clutch is wonderful. This is an amazingly slick transmission. Shifts like butter. Snick, snick, snick is it for both up and down. Clutch is a bit different but I put that to my not adjusting the lever to my liking and having to learn its engagement points. Very easy modulation with the hydraulic clutch though.
Suspension is tight. I have not touched it. This is how I always deal with a new suspension though. I set it at the factory recommended settings and leave it for five hundred miles so the bushings and mating surfaces he time to introduce themselves and, therefore, reduce stiction for when I properly set it up. Initial assessment is that it has a bit much in the hi speed compression area but I won't really now until I do my suspension set up next week.
Brakes are still bedding so I can't give a good assessment on overall power yet but the are very linear in response and the communication is fantastic. Again, modulation under the use I have given is great. Haven't played with the unified braking yet but the rear brake is nice. Once bedded in I will be out playing with this more.
Haven't delved in to the traction control or ABS yet. The drive mode is great. It offers two modes; touring and sport, or as I like to call them, trail and street. There is no power change through the fly by wire throttle system, only a delivery change. Softer in trail and more immediate in street. Noticeable difference and quite easy to flip between the two modes on the fly. Traction control has three modes. ABS is defeatable.
The controls/dash are wonderful. Intuitive layout that is adjustable and easy to use/read.
What else? At this point I give her an A- with an asterisk. The asterisk is for break in, familiarity, and set up. More to follow.
Oh, and so far I am seeing just over 40mpg. Reports indicate this improves post break in. That gives great range on its six gallon tank.
That's an excellent question. One that I spent my first day riding, FINALLY, to try and answer.
First 30 minutes was nothing other than the dog in the car with the window down. Riding again after so much headache, heartache, and worn out fingers from typing so much.
After that, I got down to business. Yes, I really do love it. She had three miles on her when I picked her up so she was truly tight and, therefore, had some buzz and stumble a bit. Took about twenty five miles to fix that. After this, I found that I was extremely comfortable in the cockpit. Natural reach to the arms, great seat, good ergos. I didn't much care for the wind management off the screen but I wasn't surprised as many others have reported the same. I have another screen already and am going to play around with it as well as I have a new windshield mount coming that allows infinitely more adjustment as well as incorporates my GPS mounting.
Motor is a true freight train of torque. It just pulls and doesn't really care where it is in the rev range. You can tell it has the big bang firing order as the power is delivered in a tractor like fashion. Still breaking her in so no upper end assessment yet as I only saw that range for a split second here and there and then allowed cooling cycles to intervene.
Transmission/Clutch is wonderful. This is an amazingly slick transmission. Shifts like butter. Snick, snick, snick is it for both up and down. Clutch is a bit different but I put that to my not adjusting the lever to my liking and having to learn its engagement points. Very easy modulation with the hydraulic clutch though.
Suspension is tight. I have not touched it. This is how I always deal with a new suspension though. I set it at the factory recommended settings and leave it for five hundred miles so the bushings and mating surfaces he time to introduce themselves and, therefore, reduce stiction for when I properly set it up. Initial assessment is that it has a bit much in the hi speed compression area but I won't really now until I do my suspension set up next week.
Brakes are still bedding so I can't give a good assessment on overall power yet but the are very linear in response and the communication is fantastic. Again, modulation under the use I have given is great. Haven't played with the unified braking yet but the rear brake is nice. Once bedded in I will be out playing with this more.
Haven't delved in to the traction control or ABS yet. The drive mode is great. It offers two modes; touring and sport, or as I like to call them, trail and street. There is no power change through the fly by wire throttle system, only a delivery change. Softer in trail and more immediate in street. Noticeable difference and quite easy to flip between the two modes on the fly. Traction control has three modes. ABS is defeatable.
The controls/dash are wonderful. Intuitive layout that is adjustable and easy to use/read.
What else? At this point I give her an A- with an asterisk. The asterisk is for break in, familiarity, and set up. More to follow.
Oh, and so far I am seeing just over 40mpg. Reports indicate this improves post break in. That gives great range on its six gallon tank.