Been out for another play today. Can't say there's anything i don't like about it.
Sure i'd like a slipper clutch for the downchanges, but hey, it only matters if i ever take it to track. The handling, it's perfectly nice, if a little wavey at times on the silly back roads, but i'm sure a shock will sort that completely. It's far from bad, just could be better i think.
It's tricky not to compare it to the XSR and the KTM.... But i will anyway. The fuelling is smooth, like silky smooth. There's a couple of people who say "the fuelling is a bit on-off" well fuck me, they want to try riding a KTM 990 Superduke R or even arugably a 690 lol. Holding consistent throttles and speeds are effortless.
Clutch is, well, Japanese, as is the whole bike really, it does everything you ask, without question, without discussion and debate, all the gear changes feel effortless, there's no slop, play or missed changes, it's just through the gears as and when you ask.
It's not a big bike, even compared to the KTM which people say is small, but this sits lower, you also don't need to move about on it when riding, just on the seat and lean into corners. It's more of a leany bike than a hang off bike for it. This does of course mean the bike stays a bit more settled.
If we're being properly picky, these is the one thing where the KTM690 wins, it feels a bit more loose, a bit more all over and that kind of entertains you, so you end up feeling a bit wooah, a bit wahaaaay and that makes you laugh. The MT-07 just gets on with it and says "sure mate, we'll take that line if you like"
Changes of direction, lightness, that's where the MT07 beats the XSR900 hands down, it just feels well, more able to go where you want, when you want and how.... The XSR always felt a bit longer and a bit more grown up in that sense.
Do i miss the power of the XSR900, i'd be a liar if i said no, but only a little bit. The little Twin engine makes a cracking noise and pulls lovely, but it's not a stomping 120bhp twin after all so it takes a little persuasion to get there... but finding yourself at 80 is where the fun is, whereas on some of the bigger bikes (like the XSR900) you're not really getting that kick of fun well into 3 figures on the dash.
I assume the dash has buttons that show me other things, but i've got my rpm, gear indicator, fuel gauge and a clock, i don't really need to know the relative humidity in outer mongolia or any of the Traction, ABS, power modes, because i don't have them anyway
I'm struggling to find a downside really on this.