“I've owned the machine since 1992, prior to that a 748 and 748r.The 996 has been totally reliable,easy to service myself,the best machine I've owned,as good as the Z1 I had in my teens!”
“Bonkers..... this bike is not for the faint hearted.... I have come back to biking after an absence of some 30 yrs after it was offered to me at an offer I couldn't refuse.... so... kitted up and ready to go I found that pootlying around at 30mph is next to impossible... mainly 1st or 2nd gear..... get out on the local bypass though and you are very, very, very quickly in license losing mode.... and the adrenalin is pounding around your veins..... Time to get off and take stock......!!
Is this bike suitable for road riding.....? On the short stints I have had on it.. I find it is like riding a wild boar when on the side roads... but that has probably got more to do with the road conditions than the bike.. On the local dual carriageway though it starts to make sense and then I wish I lived near a 'day-track' circuit so I could use it properly...
Comfort... obviously this wasn't built for it and being 6' tall a lot of my weight is on my wrists which tend to ache a short while later.... but that could be my age though..lol.. however, having said that I do find my legs and torso fitting snugly behind and in that big tank and I can get down behind the fairing quite easily.... it really is a good fit...
Petrol costs.... well, you don't buy a bike like this if you are concerned about counting the pennies and well, I haven't yet got around to the yearly servicing bills which because of the difficulty of servicing this machine I understand can be quite expensive... but then again I didn't buy because I am penny pinching...
Looks, well yes.... this has it in bucket loads.... if everyone had a big enough front room they should buy one just to look at in comfort..... and well, if you live near a race track or airfield.... lucky you..... even better.....
Gone on, get one.... you will get your license back some day...... enjoy.!! :)”
