A tale of three bikes...

Three more bikes tried and tested this week.

Honda NTV650: I had the misfortune to volunteer to help Pater deliver
his NTV to deepest Surrey on Sunday. Having watched him wobble his
way from Canterbury to Clackett Lane services, I took over for the
final leg of the journey.

At one point I found myself telling myself it wasn't so bad really...
but it was; nothing seems to be in the right place in terms of
controls etc, and I would assume it's just a case of they're not
designed for someone my size, but Pater is a fair bit shorter than me
and he had the same issues with it really.

20 miles in, and my arse was telling me it had had enough of the
vibration, and my back was aching too.

I hope never to ride one of these again!

The guy who bought it has a mate planning to ride one to Poland in the
near future...

Ducati ST4S: I had a blast on one of these on Sunday along some
decent roads near here. It felt more comfy than the VFR seating
position wise, bar it seemed heavier on the wrists - I suspect the
vibration at low revs didn't help too much.

Anyway, not a bad bike really - I didn't really gel with it, but I can
see why some might like them. Not as quick as I'd expected, but no
slouch. I'd still rather have a VFR any day.

Oh, and an engine cut out switch which cuts the engine when the side
stand is put down, even if the bike is in neutral??? Poxy idea, but
I'm aware you can bypass this.

Yamaha R6: Collected this afternoon and ridden a straight 100 miles
or thereabouts home. It's *comfier* on a run than the VFR? Can now,
having hit a few bits of wet tarmac overbanding and potholes, see why
people say they're twitchy. Can't get enough of the engine when
revved. All in all, I really wish I'd tried one of these ages ago.

The only sad point is the VFR went today as well... pipe and slippers
or not, they're a very accomplished all rounder and I shall miss mine,
just as I miss the 750s that went before it.

 

Anyone who could compare a 996 engined Ducati and a VFR has a screw loose.
So loose they would probably buy an R6 over an R1 or Gixxer^H^H^H^H^oh as
you were

 

The lights were shit by comparison... it was rough as a badgers
arsehole at lower revs, and didn't seem to be any quicker than the VFR
when both were thrapped.

And yes, some of it might have been I was familiar with the VFR, but I
felt like I could make much better progress on it over a twisty route.

YMMV... which is why you've got an ST4S... mine varies from yours,
which is why I'd have another VFR over one of these.

Bah, stinky bait.

I is very happy with the R6, TYVM... much more fun to ride than most
of the stuff I've tried in recent times.

 

The lights are average but it's a Ducati V Twin, if it feels rought it
needs fettling. Unless you mean at very low revs, where it needs some
clutch slipping.

I haven't heard anyone suggest a VFR outhandles a Ducati before,
especially the top of line Ohlins model. It's a novel concept ;o)

I suppose like a lot of people who have been riding (road) a long time
I'm slightly lazy. I like lots of power at any revs and 600's don't do
it for me.