“What an amazing bike - I absolutely love it! I look forward to riding it every day, even in tough traffic conditions.
I get anywhere between 40mpg and 68mpg depending on the type of riding I'm doing and the type of fuel I put into it - it really delivers the goods on better quality fuel!
It's generally very, very comfortable until you get to 150+ mile journeys. Beyond that, my legs feel a little cramped and I slide into the tank a little too much (really need to try that taller touring seat). Other than that, no comfort issues. I've done 220 mile days on it, with only very minor discomfort.
Handling-wise, it's pretty solid, although it can be a bit lumpy around tight corners in low gear - the steering could probably use some damping. I haven't had to touch the suspension yet - feels fine out of the box.
The engine mapping modes can be a little odd. The Urban mode feels choked-up and awkward to me, so I don't use it. Touring mode is nice and gentle, and perfect for when it's raining or filtering through particularly tight traffic where you're constantly on the clutch. For all other riding, set it to Sport and leave it there - all the power, nice throttle response - not snatchy at all - and an engaging ride without being too much hard work.
I got the Termis fitted for almost nothing extra and the sound is just incredible. Now that it's fully run-in, I'm getting this lovely crackle and pop on deceleration, which is just addictive. Not as much as the old air-cooled version I had back in the day, but very close.
It gets wistful looks everywhere it goes. It looks and sounds amazing, and seems to be appreciated by pretty much everyone who passes by, if you're into that kind of attention. It's not a chav-magnet like my KTM was, and it really stands out amongst those generic plastic pocket rockets coming out of Japan.
Did I mention it's fast? 0-60 in what must be less than 3 seconds. It'll rip your arms off if you want it to, and that sofa seat keeps you rooted to the spot. Breathtaking.
It's a pain in the arse to clean. You need a pressure washer or a lot of patience.
The only minor niggle I had was the temperature. This thing kicks out some heat from under the seat when the engine gets above 90 degrees, which can get a bit uncomfortable when at a stand-still.
That said, I got used to it pretty quickly and barely notice it now, unless it's a roasting hot day (i.e. not very often). Getting into Autumn now, I think the heat will actually be a welcome addition as the weather gets colder - something to warm my hands with at the traffic lights.
I did 2,500 miles in two years on my last bike. I did 1,600 miles in the first 8 weeks on this thing. I love it. I don't do track racing, but for every other type of riding you might do, it just works. Looking forward to doing some touring on it next summer.”
