“For: (Brace yourselves because I am a fan!)
1. Long distance riding or comfort of riding - I can get on my bike and ride all day and feel no more tired if I had done it in a car, but 100 times the fun. I have done this (in Europe) with mates on sports bikes and they were shattered! - sore wrists, spine complaints, cramps, crying, whinging etc. It was embarrassing!!
2. Awesome, I mean AWESOME power! Because the bike is heavy and long (leading link front suspension) the bike does not wheelie as easily as "pocket rockets" so the power pushes you forward better.
3. Leading link front suspension - keeps the bike planted, does not "dive" like telescopic forks and is very forgiving if your technique is not track perfect.
4. Extras like ABS and traction control keep you a lot safer - I never switch either off (unless I am feeling suicidal or fancy a few proper off-road wheelies!!)
If you are after a bike that will fulfill the above like I did you will not find better, at (almost) any budget! I am hoping I don't win the lottery as I don't know what I could swap mine for!!
Against:
1. I wish there was a HID light on the front (Extra bright white light) instead of the yellow halogen (So "last year") - When I ride in a group who all have decent new metal, they all comment that they know it is me in the rear view mirror because of the candle light!!
2. Most £15.000+ bikes have selectable ECU control settings - race - sport - wet etc. where the ECU can increase/ decrease/ deselect electronic options including suspension, traction control, ABS, power output etc.
3. Reduce the ride height for smaller riders. I can't believe ANY manufacturer would restrict sales of a bike by not making it fit up to a third of all riders (the 1/3 thing is a guess!), especially with the high weight factor of this bike. Make sure you are sure footed when stationary and pay out for bar ends and bungs because sooner or later you may do the "fall over while stationary" embarrassing thing - I did at a petrol station once and I have 30 years biking under my belt!!
4. Weight - This bike could be made considerably lighter.
Hope this helps, Dave B, Lancashire.”
“For: (Brace yourselves because I am a fan!)
1. Long distance riding or comfort of riding - I can get on my bike and ride all day and feel no more tired if I had done it in a car, but 100 times the fun. I have done this (in Europe) with mates on sports bikes and they were shattered! - sore wrists, spine complaints, cramps, crying, whinging etc. It was embarrassing!!
2. Awesome, I mean AWESOME power! Because the bike is heavy and long (leading link front suspension) the bike does not wheelie as easily as "pocket rockets" so the power pushes you forward better.
3. Leading link front suspension - keeps the bike planted, does not "dive" like telescopic forks and is very forgiving if your technique is not track perfect.
4. Extras like ABS and traction control keep you a lot safer - I never switch either off (unless I am feeling suicidal or fancy a few proper off-road wheelies!!)
If you are after a bike that will fulfill the above like I did you will not find better, at (almost) any budget! I am hoping I don't win the lottery as I don't know what I could swap mine for!!
Against:
1. I wish there was a HID light on the front (Extra bright white light) instead of the yellow halogen (So "last year") - When I ride in a group who all have decent new metal, they all comment that they know it is me in the rear view mirror because of the candle light!!
2. Most £15.000+ bikes have selectable ECU control settings - race - sport - wet etc. where the ECU can increase/ decrease/ deselect electronic options including suspension, traction control, ABS, power output etc.
3. Reduce the ride height for smaller riders. I can't believe ANY manufacturer would restrict sales of a bike by not making it fit up to a third of all riders (the 1/3 thing is a guess!), especially with the high weight factor of this bike. Make sure you are sure footed when stationary and pay out for bar ends and bungs because sooner or later you may do the "fall over while stationary" embarrassing thing - I did at a petrol station once and I have 30 years biking under my belt!!
4. Weight - This bike could be made considerably lighter.
Hope this helps, Dave B, Lancashire.”
