|
Saturday, 08 September 2001 |
|
Page 2 of 4
Day One.
Arriving in LAX to pouring rain I figured, like typical Floridian weather, that it was only a passing squall. Looking back I was about to “enjoy” the worst Californian weather not seen this side of “El Nino”. Grabbing a wet ride on someone else’s toy was unnerving enough, chuck in 140+ BHP and I can see how things could get ugly. |
 |
 |
First day on the bike was spent dodging showers in freeway traffic in and around town. I was initially disappointed. The bike seemed not to have the low down grunt of the Yamaha R1. Ergo’s were not suited to this type of town riding and my wrists were confirming this too. The bike really didn’t seem have the initial kick in the pants that the R1 enjoyed right off the line, of course due to the conditions and environment I couldn’t get busy in the way us sportbikers like to busy themselves. |
|
I stopped by the Vance and Hines motorcycle center in Whittier and strapped the 1000 to a dyno. It made 141.5 bhp and a healthy 75.7 lbs of torque. Hmmm, my own R1 made 136.7, the difference was not as significant as I had hoped. I came to ride a jet fighter and it was being down graded before my very eyes. More piddling (literally), around town.
|
|
|
Initial gripes were that the screen obscured my view of the clocks. The reflection of the brake lights of vehicles in front of me looked like they were coming from the bikes instrument cluster, as I was looking down and through the screen. Caught me a couple of times that one. The stock steering damper also felt a little heavier than I remembered the 750’s damper to be and certainly felt heavier than the GSX-R600 we had with us. It definitely felt eager to turn, yet it felt muted with the damper. I’m sure this is to curb that warm and cuddly slapping sensation we enjoy so much on these light and short wheelbase motorcycles. The front forks also felt very harsh.
OK, so I’m back at the hotel now. Thoroughly disillusioned with both the crappy weather and a little with the big ‘Zook. I came here to experience that much needed adrenaline rush we all crave as performance sportbikers, instead I'm a little soggy and kind of wondering what all the fuss is about. I crack open the mini bar and delve into the whiskey and vodka miniatures, I’m halfway through the second tin of mixed nuts when I realize that I have to pay for this indulgence, sometimes being the boss sucks too. Is this going to get better?
|
|
