22-06-19, 08:50 PM
So I’ve lined up a test ride of the R1250R for Sunday.
So this morning I popped up to see Victor Devine Honda in Glasgow.
So you wanna shot of the CB1000R – no problem.
1 grand excess. And I get 1hr.
Unfortunately, Victor has run out of gas, but no worries I stop for juice whilst working my way out of Glasgow. Which is a thing, I spend quite a bit of my test ride getting out of the city centre and then back into it. The CB gets plenty of attention from cagers at the traffics lights.
So here’s my impressions. You sit on it, not in it – there’s no feeling of having a big petrol tank in front of you. It is totally naked, you feel as if there is nothing in front of your head at all.
It’s quick, though not ferocious like the MT10. If you wind it up it gives you good warning of getting flighty. I felt perfectly comfortable bumbling along at 80-85, above the ton you feel the wind blast and by 130 it’s dragging you off the back.
The engine is very Fazer like in it’s power delivery, quick but civilised. But it feels busy and a little buzzy. There are no deep growly tones from the exhaust or air box – the note is tinny and annoying.
It’s fantastic around town and through the city. It feels super light. I struggled with the clutch a bit pulling away, I had the lever out quite some way before it bit and then it felt a bit rough – maybe this demo bike had had some abuse. But the box is sweet. No quick shifter, but clutch-less changes were sweet and smooth. Personally, I see little point in quick shifters anyway.
The LCD panel, which clearly Honda have put a lot of thought into, tells you how fast you are going. That’s about all I can see with ease. Everything else is too small.
Oh, another thing, every time I went to indicate the horn went off. Why? Cos Honda have decided to swap the usual indictor/horn positions round. I had to keep looking down to find the indicators.
The seat is really firm and didn’t cause me any discomfort – but I suspect it might be torture after a couple of hours. The suspension is firm too but seems to do what it needs to do. It’s easy to throw and around and change direction mid corner – it feels super light. The brakes – what is all the fuss about these fancy radial callipers? They work, power and feed back feels better than on the MT10, but good old blue spots are as good as anything I think.
So I dunno. MT10 v CB100r ?
MT10 is a nicer place to sit, you feel part of the bike as apposed to plonked on top of it. The lights and instrument panel on the MT10 are out front and deflect a little air. I think the MT10 would be a better place to sit all day, but then you won’t be sitting there for long before you need to stop for fuel. The old fireblade engine in the CB1000r is quick, easy going but sounds annoying with the standard can. While the CB wants to be your friend and tend to your every need, the MT10, if you open the taps wants to take you outside for a square go, but don’t worry it’ll soon run out of fuel.
So this morning I popped up to see Victor Devine Honda in Glasgow.
So you wanna shot of the CB1000R – no problem.
1 grand excess. And I get 1hr.
Unfortunately, Victor has run out of gas, but no worries I stop for juice whilst working my way out of Glasgow. Which is a thing, I spend quite a bit of my test ride getting out of the city centre and then back into it. The CB gets plenty of attention from cagers at the traffics lights.
So here’s my impressions. You sit on it, not in it – there’s no feeling of having a big petrol tank in front of you. It is totally naked, you feel as if there is nothing in front of your head at all.
It’s quick, though not ferocious like the MT10. If you wind it up it gives you good warning of getting flighty. I felt perfectly comfortable bumbling along at 80-85, above the ton you feel the wind blast and by 130 it’s dragging you off the back.
The engine is very Fazer like in it’s power delivery, quick but civilised. But it feels busy and a little buzzy. There are no deep growly tones from the exhaust or air box – the note is tinny and annoying.
It’s fantastic around town and through the city. It feels super light. I struggled with the clutch a bit pulling away, I had the lever out quite some way before it bit and then it felt a bit rough – maybe this demo bike had had some abuse. But the box is sweet. No quick shifter, but clutch-less changes were sweet and smooth. Personally, I see little point in quick shifters anyway.
The LCD panel, which clearly Honda have put a lot of thought into, tells you how fast you are going. That’s about all I can see with ease. Everything else is too small.
Oh, another thing, every time I went to indicate the horn went off. Why? Cos Honda have decided to swap the usual indictor/horn positions round. I had to keep looking down to find the indicators.
The seat is really firm and didn’t cause me any discomfort – but I suspect it might be torture after a couple of hours. The suspension is firm too but seems to do what it needs to do. It’s easy to throw and around and change direction mid corner – it feels super light. The brakes – what is all the fuss about these fancy radial callipers? They work, power and feed back feels better than on the MT10, but good old blue spots are as good as anything I think.
So I dunno. MT10 v CB100r ?
MT10 is a nicer place to sit, you feel part of the bike as apposed to plonked on top of it. The lights and instrument panel on the MT10 are out front and deflect a little air. I think the MT10 would be a better place to sit all day, but then you won’t be sitting there for long before you need to stop for fuel. The old fireblade engine in the CB1000r is quick, easy going but sounds annoying with the standard can. While the CB wants to be your friend and tend to your every need, the MT10, if you open the taps wants to take you outside for a square go, but don’t worry it’ll soon run out of fuel.