NBT: I've bought a Honda!

[KungFooBob]

No matter that people say, Wheelies are big and they are clever.

The distractors are mainly people who can't wheelie.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I stopped because I'm shit at wheelies and worry about binning it.

Had a nice 80 mile ride tonight to Beccles and back.

[KungFooBob]

Good sugestion,but being a Yamaha fanboi,if I go down the big air cooled four route I think I'll end up with a XJR1300SP.One of my mate's has had a few XJR's over the years,in fact he's got one at the momment,I'll have to have a word with him.

This one on Friendface Marketplace could fit the bill :p

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 8281149894

[Mr. Dazzle]

I can guarantee you that if I pulled a wheelie on the road (I couldn't, BTW) I would be arrested straight away and sent down for 25-life with bubba. 'course I would, I'm a square law abiding citizen who thinks they're a daft thing to do on the road, therefore I'd be caught and punished immediately.

Same reason I can never get away with riding without MOT, Tax, Insurance etc.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Now at about 350 miles on it

Things I like - the power, the handling, everyone comments on what a good looking bike it is
Things I don't like - the engine isn't as smooth as the Suzuki at low rpm, it's thirsty and has a smallish fuel tank, the handlebars are a bit wide, poor wind protection (and all the aftermarket ones look bad), the seat gets painful after 2 hours
Things I miss from the Suzuki - one press start, fuel range display, space under the pillion seat

The quickshifter is a bit meh, occasionally it won't shift up and you have to close the throttle, but I'm not convinced this isn't my riding, so I'll give it a bit longer before I start adjusting it.
The rear shock is okay, it feels a bit under damped, but the spring is right.
Forks are good, really good, springs feel a little soft for hard riding.
There's a noticeable lag when you close the throttle and open it again, I think I'll get used to this.

If I change anything on it will be the rear shock first, then maybe the exhaust, but I don't want it any louder than it is.

[Dodgy69]

That's my problem.I had to stop commuting on the Street Triple as at 05.15 in the morning the roads were empty & I kept getting 'enthusiastic'.
I fancy a big Jap four again,but the only one that I think I could behave myself on would be a Z900RS,(You've just ruled out the Honda for me)...

Get an H1. One of those won't get you a tug for speeding.

Oh wait...

The problem is,not the type of bike (though some do make it hard) the issue lies with the rider and that's much more difficult to remedy. I was as much a twat on a step through as a 10R,just in different ways. Age and a sense of self preservation goes some way to mitigating the twatish behaviour,but if it's in you from the start,there are gonna be times....

When I go out on any bike,I want to ride however I feel on the day,this will inevitably bring me into conflict with rules and other road users. It's one of the reasons I like to ride early in the morning,as I don't have to put up with traffic and they don't have to put up with me.

I'm finding it more enjoyable riding a slow bike slow, than a fast bike fast, on our lovely roads.

It could be the novelty affect mind..

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Just remembered something else I don't like on the Honda, the front indicators double as side lights, so you have orange lights on the front of the bike always on, when you indicate, one flashes and one stays on, it confuses other road users, I think there's a wire on the flasher unit I can pull to solve this.

[Yorick]

Just remembered something else I don't like on the Honda, the front indicators double as side lights, so you have orange lights on the front of the bike always on, when you indicate, one flashes and one stays on, it confuses other road users, I think there's a wire on the flasher unit I can pull to solve this.

My GSXR has those silly lights.

[Taipan]

Just remembered something else I don't like on the Honda, the front indicators double as side lights, so you have orange lights on the front of the bike always on, when you indicate, one flashes and one stays on, it confuses other road users, I think there's a wire on the flasher unit I can pull to solve this.

Mine has this. Very odd. I thought the PO had wired it up like that as the backs aren't on to match it?

BTW, whats one press start?

[Yorick]

Just remembered something else I don't like on the Honda, the front indicators double as side lights, so you have orange lights on the front of the bike always on, when you indicate, one flashes and one stays on, it confuses other road users, I think there's a wire on the flasher unit I can pull to solve this.

Mine has this. Very odd. I thought the PO had wired it up like that as the backs aren't on to match it?

BTW, whats one press start?

Mine has that. Just touch it, and it spins till it starts.

[Supermofo]

Funny how you get used to things that aren't really important but you end up valuing. I love the one press start.

Re: fuel use I struggle to get the GSXS under 50mpg a lot of the time, I currently get about 180 to a tank.

I read a test the other day (scary how Google picks up these things) comparing the GSXS to the CB. Apparently they make pretty much exactly the same power but make it completely differently. Sounds like the Honda has kept the Fireblade sportsbike power delivery, whereas the Suzuki is more tuned for grunt. The Honda was better overall in most areas showing the extra polish you get for the money. Tis' a lovely thing.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm getting 43mpg, but I'm riding like a twat quite a bit.
The engine has a step in power at about 6000rpm, it's pull your arms out fast above that, it's also what makes it easy to wheelie, as you get a surge of power that lifts the front wheel.

The finish is better than my Suzuki, but not fantastic, there are a couple of corroded washers on the tail light bracket, and the paint on the bracket is a bit speckly, there's a tiny bit of discoloration on a weld at the bank of the fuel tank. I took the seat off to investigate disabling the indicators being always on and the area under the seat is very neat and tidy, the battery and all the electronics sit in a box that's part of the sub frame.

I've put all the suspension to standard so I've got somewhere to start from set to g it up, not that there's much adjustment

[ChrisW]

I'm getting 43mpg, but I'm riding like a twat quite a bit.
The engine has a step in power at about 6000rpm, it's pull your arms out fast above that, it's also what makes it easy to wheelie, as you get a surge of power that lifts the front wheel.

The finish is better than my Suzuki, but not fantastic, there are a couple of corroded washers on the tail light bracket, and the paint on the bracket is a bit speckly, there's a tiny bit of discoloration on a weld at the bank of the fuel tank. I took the seat off to investigate disabling the indicators being always on and the area under the seat is very neat and tidy, the battery and all the electronics sit in a box that's part of the sub frame.

I've put all the suspension to standard so I've got somewhere to start from set to g it up, not that there's much adjustment

Keep an eye on the engine paint at the front - I seem to remember they can suffer a bit behind the front wheel.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Cheers, I can see that happening, there's nothing to stop dirt and stones hitting the front of the engine.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Went out this morning, did about 120 miles, it handles better on the standard suspension settings, the front had a load of preload and compression damping and not much rebound before, and the rear damping was set soft, no wonder it wheelied easily, corner entry is much nicer now, I might need to increase the rear damping a bit more.

I've found that if I have the engine braking and torque control on minimum and the power on 2 (of 3) then it's nearly as smooth as my Suzuki was.

Quick shifter, definitely better changing up if I keep the throttle open, which feels weird, down changes I have to stop myself blipping.

Really good ride this morning, went along the road from Watton to Swaffham, which the Suzuki felt nervous along, Honda felt very planted and safe.

The front end of the Honda is very good, you can change line mid corner easily and it feels precise.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

IMG_20230911_193822_(2000_x_900_pixel).jpg (628.33 KiB) Viewed 728 times

550 miles in a week, and I was at work Monday to Friday, it's a really good bike

[Supermofo]

HRC colours for the Homda

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Happy days, as I said I think you made a great decision there, on paper it was the perfect bike for you and it's good to see it working out in real life as well. IMHO it's got everything, including that premium thing about it that makes it stand out over other bikes.

I can't make my mind up about the exhaust, I don't think I'd change it, it reminds me a bit of the Dragster three pipes end section and in the pictures it looks alright.

Normally I'd be down that way at this time of year for a week with the Rudge chaps and I'd be blagging a go, but this year it's unfortunately not possible.

The exhaust is hideous, and also quite loud, but I can't see it when I'm riding the bike so I'm not that bothered.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

HRC colours for the Homda

It's the love child of a Simpson Bandit and a Boeri Alien 2, it's really horrible

[Supermofo]

HRC colours for the Homda

It's the love child of a Simpson Bandit and a Boeri Alien 2, it's really horrible

It is a bit Shoreditch for me, but I like the colours