GSXR1000 mini test

Quite brisk, and it would probably have been quick if I'd taken it above
8,000 RPM at some point.

Took a while to get used to the riding position (are forward controls an
option?) and the low speed handling definitely took some acclimatising
to, so much so that I was overtaken on a bend by some new state of the
art retro-styled Moto Guzzi homologation special. I guess it's Guzzi's
version of the new retro Ducati's; looks really old but would not be out
of place on a World Superbike grid.

Anyway, the Gixxer doesn't want to do slow, and if you try it punishes
you by being a bit crap. Get the speed on a little and it starts to make
sense, but the ease with which it then does really fast is a bit
un-nerving.

I think it would have been better if I'd have been in jeans rather than
armoured leathers over jeans which reduced my ability to get comfortable
and move around as I wanted to.

The Gixxer 1000 is the first bike I've ridden where I've thought that it
actually had more performance than I could ever use and I think that
would actually disappoint me. Still, at least the brake reservoir lid
didn't fall off so maybe it is OK after all.

 

To "get" this, one presumably has to put two and two together.

In this instance, I don't know where to get the other two I need to
make four.

 

Do we have any Guzzi owners on this group?

 

On the way to Avebury last night the screws holding the lid on the rear
brake master cylinder on the Harley came lose. One fell out, and that
was enough to deposit fluid more widely over the back of the bike than I
care to imagine.

 

Oh, I got that one. It was the other one I didn't get.

 

Nasty. Did sir fill sir's pants?

 

On early GSXR1000's the brake reservoir lid was deliberately designed to
fall off. This was supposed to distract you from the fact your clutch basket
had just disintegrated.

 

Sir would have needed considerable quantities of poo to fill those
particular pants.

 

Just the job for the Atkins pineapple.

 

Actually that's a good point and one that I've been giving quite a bit
of thought to recently. As you know, I've been forced to use my GS500
while my gixxer is being fixed [1] but I have had a great deal of fun
on it. It's a bike that I, and probably many others, can ride to it's
limits. It can do stunts [2] and can show up a lot of much more
powerful bikes providing you hold the throttle against the stop,
everywhere. I was out riding yesterday and thoroughly enjoying myself
on a bike that apparently has crap handling and is probably pushing
out at least a 100BHP less at the back wheel than my gixxer. I slide
the GS more than the gixxer probably because I wont mind dropping it,
if I do I'll just kick it back into shape. Don't get me wrong, I'm
not advocating that everyone rushes out and buys a crapobiko but it is
fun. Still when my gixxer is back I can have some real fun.

[1] It should be back next week.
[2] Wheelies are not brilliant on it. But possibly eh Wik and Suze ;-)

 

Molly wrote:

I like my ZXR750L for that reason

did i mention i'vr picked up an Ohlins rear shock for the ST ?


Simonb

 

I really do miss that bike.

No, but go on.

When I get my gixxer back I'm going to look at the suspension.

 

Picked it up from Bristol on Sunday [1] £250 (retail £519). I've fitted
racetech

The gixxer was one of the few bikes i've had where the suspenion worked
very good from new. No fade when it got hot, unlike the ZX9 wich lost all
damping going over the Bwlch [2]

[1] I was very lucky to be the first person to reply to the email on the
ST list. There where four other people waiting in turn to buy it if I
didn't.
[2] Search for it.


I must have a look at the ZXR, the tank vibrates. I wonder if it's due to
the rubbers along the edge...

Simonb

 

The back is feeling a bit tired now so I'm looking out for a
replacement. I'll also try re-springing the front forks and some new
oil if that doesn't help much I'll get them re-valved.

No need I've been there many times.

It never did that before.

 

To quote(ish): "I was piling into the bend and saw some twat on a sports
bike. As I went past him I realised it was Gyp on my
Gixer"

 

Almost word-for-word what I had in my head!

 

Thankfully it avoided the tyre but did go widely over the exhausts and a
few painted bits at the back. SWMBO had the hose pipe ready so I could
flush it off as soon as I got home.

I've not been out to check it in daylight.

BTW, the new Harley screw was £3.62!

 

Scarily, 2 years ago those fitted

 

Stay scared - end of last year, you looked thin and youthful. Last night,
you were clearly back in "Mr Cuddly" mode.

 

"You know you're full of shit when..."