No_6
01-03-2003, 06:17 PM
First off a word of warning: do not ride this bike, as doing so may promote feelings of envy and a desire to spend waaaaay too much money for a single motorcycle. That said, here are my impressions from the short ride:
1) Handling. Handling is phenomonal. Comparing stock to stock, there is not a single bike I have ridden that compares to this one. Balance point feels quite low which makes low-speed maneuvering a snap. Feedback from the chassis and suspension are telepathic, and confiedence inspiring. Certainly a bike that prefers that you ride it hard, it really comes alive when you start manhandling her a bit. You may not be a superstar just because you ride on of these, but it certainly makes you feel like you are.
2) Motor/transmission. Power was adequate. I don't particularly care for how twins deliver power, but apart from that, power was plentiful and the delivery smooth and controlled. Have no doubt, this is one fast bike. Also keep in mind that I was being somewhat kind and didn't rev the hell out of a motor that had less than 200 miles on it, but even then, it certainly wasn't as rev-happy a mill as, say, the R1. I did get the impression that were one motivated, they wouldn't have a problem pulling the front wheel. Gearbox was slick, with good, clean engagements, and the clutch had a very positive feel.
3) Ergonomics were just about perfect. Wide, flat seat, and a tank that feels about as narrow as a bicycle between the knees made for an enjoyable riding experience. Pushing the footpegs back and up a little would have been more to my taste, also with the bike so narrow through the knees, the pegs by comparison felt as though they were sticking out too far. I have always ridden sportbikes, and while the 916/748s were considered 'racks' I felt that they were quite reasonable given what the bike was designed for. The 999 feels downright roomy by comparision though, alowing the rider the freedom to situate himself in a way not possible on earlier models. As a result the bike does feel larger than its predacessors, but still feels incredibly compact and light.
4) Styling. Well, some people say it's fugly. I think it looks much better in person, but yeah, there is still some funkiness there. The tail end doesn't look quite finished, and the tank from the rider's perch, while it fits the body well, looks like poo. Instruments are atractive and are easy to read. Overall, the bike has a plastic-y, slightly snap-together model kit kind of finish. The dual projector headlights look better in person. The mirrors are small and well-finished, aerodynamic, and only slightly less useless than your average sportbike mirror. So while I do not think the bike is ugly, you would never catch me standing around the garage admiring it, the way I do my One. This is a bike to ride hard, put away wet, and then move on to do something else.
5) Economy. Are you kidding? This is one hell of a bike, and any little nitpicks I might have are completely made up for by its impeccable road manners. However, it is NOT $9,000 better than the One. Maybe about $3,500 better. Also, a tune-up every 5,000 miles? If the motor produced GSXR killing power, I would say that it was a reasonable trade-off. Well, it doesn't, and it isn't.
6) Conclusion. If the motor were as good as the handling, I would seriously consider putting up with the styling and pay the price. Or if the price were in line with other liter bikes, I would give it the nod over the Japanese offerings.
Intellectually, the hardware simply does not justify the price, but emotionally, I can't get this bike out of my head. Maybe one day when I have a ton of cash, this bike will be parked along side my One. Do yourself the favor, and go out and ride one, but don't say I didn't warn you.