Well...no testing today......i. Braved wind, rain & sleet & kept going in the hope that the sun would appear.
Did it foc!
But i did have about 2 hours of pissing about on the bikes in the showroom & have some initial conclusions....
Conclusion 1....the old FZS600 is a hard bike to beat.
Conclusion 2....My noggyfighter is even harder to beat.
Conclusion 3....as nice as im sure the FZ1 is....my legs are more cramped.
Conclusion 4....i prefer faired/half faired bikes when off the bike....but the nakeds when on them...it's a perception thing....i feel like i'm more a part of the bike with the nakeds...as if i have more weight over the front...with the fairings i feel further back on the bike so my brain tells me the pivot, so to speak is different.....in reality the fairings provide more weight on the front...but i cant help my perception...& it gives me confidence without one....& i've braved enough elements now to realise that if i need a fairing to be comfortable that i probably shouldn't be out in the first place.
Conclusion 5....as nice as the FZ8 is....my legs are more cramped.
Conclusion 6....FZ8 does feel heavy....so does the FZ1....but the FZ8 doesn't justify its weight with enough more grunt or BHP or Kudos as the FZ1.
Conclusion 7....MT09 is the Mazda MX5 of the bike world.
Conclusion 8....TDM900 has the perfect seating position..very comfy..but i still aint having one.
Conclusion 9....Brand new R1 is surprsingly more comfortable on the legs & arms (didn't say wrists) than the FZ8 & FZ1......i am surprised...ankle is bent backwards but in an easily kept position as opposed to being bent forwards awkwardly hovering above the lever with the fazers......shame i cant afford one & wouldn't want to be so low down.
Conclusion 10....they should create an upright bike with the pegs like the R1.
Conclusion 11....the tanks on the FZ8 & FZ1 are nicely shaped to support & splay the legs so that the weight can be transferred forwards...nice & wide...a splay is better than trying to tighten legs round a tank.
Conclusion 12....MT09 tank is not as nicely shaped as the FZ8 & FZ1......it is too physically small....the legs sit too low on the wrong part of the tank.....it isn't as easy to mould into the bike.
Conclusion 13....surprisingly MT09 is comfiest of the new stuff....legs are not cramped...probably equal to the noggyfighter (not better)......bars are similar width to my Renthals & the bike feels light....i could see myself having fun on this machine.
Conclusion 14....the MT09 Akropavich exhaust looks pretty shit....give it some old school treatment.
Conclusion 15....comfort & leg space is important to me...i shouldn't get carried away by power & handling at the expense of leg room because i could have all 3 if i find the right bike.
Conclusion 16....a sunny, dry day will provide more conclusions.
