Finally... today I was able do my first real ride on my new bike (other than putting around the neighborhood). And... I AM IMPRESSED!
I rode at a local park (Metcalf Road in San Jose, CA for the locals) which is typical of the area here: hard pack with a layer of slippery gravel / sand on the fire roads and some gnarly single track in the manzanita brushes.
What I liked most about the bike is the handling, especially in the tight stuff: very flickable, sticks to the corners pretty well, respond nicely to body inputs. The engine has also more bottom end that I expected, allowing me to lug it when necessary. More top end that I'll ever need too
Suspensions: I haven't done anything beside setting the static sag in the back. I haven't even looked up the stock clicker settings in the manual. That's will be the focus for the next ride: reset the suspension to factory setting and go from there. I suspect I'll need stiffer springs too (I am on the heavy side unfortunately).
My main gripe is the tendency for the bike to flame out: low rpm, grab a handful (sometime not even that much) of throttle and... pop! Dead bike, a couple of time putting me on the ground. So I had to adapt my riding style trying to keep the rpm's a little higher than I usually would and using the clutch more.
Another issue is when the bike was hot, went back to the parking lot, took a 15mn rest, when restarting the bike it was gargling and coughing at low rpm. Felt like a two stroke running really rich.
Some other comments:
Clutch is super easy and smooth (which help with my major gripe).
I need a grippier seat cover and my rear end appreciates the soft seat (my WRF seat is made of concrete!).
Bike is hard to grip with the knees when standing up forward (knee braces don't help, but that has also a lot to do with the shape of the gas tank which is wide up front and narrow at the seat junction so when try to squeeze mid way, the knees get pushed back).
The side stand is worst even.
Front brake is pretty powerful, a little touchy / grabby tho.
Rear brake seems to work on / off, but that might be me as I have always had a hard time with rear brakes when wearing big boots...
Ergonomics is pretty good for my size (5'10")
I like the wide footpegs.
I don't like the on/off ignition switch on the handlebar. I'd much rather have the starter on one side of the handlebar and the kill switch on the other side.
That front light is just waiting to get slammed by a branch! Need to find an alternative.
Denis
I rode at a local park (Metcalf Road in San Jose, CA for the locals) which is typical of the area here: hard pack with a layer of slippery gravel / sand on the fire roads and some gnarly single track in the manzanita brushes.
What I liked most about the bike is the handling, especially in the tight stuff: very flickable, sticks to the corners pretty well, respond nicely to body inputs. The engine has also more bottom end that I expected, allowing me to lug it when necessary. More top end that I'll ever need too
Suspensions: I haven't done anything beside setting the static sag in the back. I haven't even looked up the stock clicker settings in the manual. That's will be the focus for the next ride: reset the suspension to factory setting and go from there. I suspect I'll need stiffer springs too (I am on the heavy side unfortunately).
My main gripe is the tendency for the bike to flame out: low rpm, grab a handful (sometime not even that much) of throttle and... pop! Dead bike, a couple of time putting me on the ground. So I had to adapt my riding style trying to keep the rpm's a little higher than I usually would and using the clutch more.
Another issue is when the bike was hot, went back to the parking lot, took a 15mn rest, when restarting the bike it was gargling and coughing at low rpm. Felt like a two stroke running really rich.
Some other comments:
Clutch is super easy and smooth (which help with my major gripe).
I need a grippier seat cover and my rear end appreciates the soft seat (my WRF seat is made of concrete!).
Bike is hard to grip with the knees when standing up forward (knee braces don't help, but that has also a lot to do with the shape of the gas tank which is wide up front and narrow at the seat junction so when try to squeeze mid way, the knees get pushed back).
The side stand is worst even.
Front brake is pretty powerful, a little touchy / grabby tho.
Rear brake seems to work on / off, but that might be me as I have always had a hard time with rear brakes when wearing big boots...
Ergonomics is pretty good for my size (5'10")
I like the wide footpegs.
I don't like the on/off ignition switch on the handlebar. I'd much rather have the starter on one side of the handlebar and the kill switch on the other side.
That front light is just waiting to get slammed by a branch! Need to find an alternative.
Denis