Ok, we went with that.
2021-07-15_02-10-03 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Chatted for an hour or so with GP and then eventually jumped on the CB1000 with very little in the way of expectations.
Had to stop and adjust the brake lever early on, it was set to 3 and I like mine softer than most, so went to 6. Much better.
Looking at the dash, I was in sport mode, which felt remarkably civilised for a bike in sport, they're often a bit over sensitive.
Looking more I see a QS symbol, nice, quickshifter, yip, that's smooth. Wondering if it was a 2 way up/down I kicked it down a gear, yup, both ways. Excellent.
Footrest position is higher than I'd like usually but didn't seem to trouble my knee so just got on with it. 3-4 miles later I get to some decent tarmac heading up towards Highworth in the Cotswolds. The engine is smooth, but as always for me, the IL4 left me feeling a bit meh, power is there but it's a bit lacking unless winding it hard and putting up to 10,000+.
However the ride on the thing is something else. It's magic carpet levels of smooth, doesn't care what surface, just smooth as silk. Tipping it into a bend it's superbly responsive and just effortlessly tips in. Less input but more stable than the XSR. Wow, I was absolutely blown away by the handling. The more miles I did on it the more it astounded me.
I stopped for a coffee and rang Couch and Crust and gave them stories about how amazing it was. Even going as far as speaking to 2 dealers on theirs. Only the R+ comes with quickshifter both ways, or the later 21 models all have them.
If the dealers had been more on the ball, I'd have bought it there and then, I was that impressed by it.
One of them was the dealer who had my XSR in being serviced and we agreed to discuss when I got back, I gave him the figures and left him with it.
Heading back to Blade I was ready to buy it. I'd kinda prepped the wife with a "wow this is amazing" the rest I expect she could guess.
Sadly the dealer was busy and he came out and said "I'll be 2 minutes" I actually gave him 20 before I left, stuff to do and had to get home to meet my boy from school.
Getting back on the XSR I was really loving the engine again, the triple is just fab! It's very different to the CB but I much prefer it.
The suspension isn't as good on the XSR though, but the ride prompted me to soften the rear by 3 clicks and the front by 2, which actually made it feel much better. But still not as plush as the Honda.
Will I buy one, oooft there's a question. I dunno if the handing being so good outweighs the engine lacking any feel or fun.
Fabulous bike though, just brilliant
2021-07-15_02-09-56 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE
