the Ferret
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2021
- Messages
- 3,037
- Reaction score
- 4,422
- Points
- 113
- Location
- sw Ohio 21 DCT
On day 1 and maybe day 2 of ownership I was thinking maybe I had made a mistake and should have kept my FJR.
Now after day 5 of riding and nearly 400 miles I'm starting to like this bike very much.
I don't care when and if it shifts quickly to get up to 6th. I've made up my mind not to "expect" it to shift when I would have normally shifted. To let it just "do it's thing". The DCT operation is flawless and other than shifting quickly when leaving a stop sign or stop light, once you get up to speed it works very well for the type of riding I do, which is country curvy roads with speed limits of 45 & 55 mph. My roads aren't terribly technical, more sweepery, lots of curves and S curves with elevation changes, so the trans really only fluctuates between 5th and 6th gear for the most part, and when I do get to a tighter curve or a sharp uphill/downhill curve, a tap on the - button puts it in 4th for pulling power. Amazing really. This is exactly what I was looking for out of this bike.
Once you get to a straight stretch my bike seems to really like 60-70 mph. The engine seems to smooth out, and it just hums along.
I've read where some of you said this is the smoothest bike you've ever ridden, but I don't find it nearly as smooth as my inline 4's or my V4. The 270 degree P twin throb just annoys me for some reason. I feel it when I ride my brothers T -120 Bonneville as well.... A constant throb. Suppose I will get used to it and learn to overlook it, but one thought I had riding today was what a wonderful bike the CB 1100 would be with this DCT trans. Smoother, faster, more torque. But then again the CB doesn't get 74 mpg lol, which I like a lot.
The intake/exhaust drone while accelerating is pretty intoxicating, reminding me of 4 barrel carbed V8's when I was in my late teens.
I'm enjoying the light weight, the good handling, and even the brakes don't feel too bad. I've quit reaching for the clutch, moving my foot over to shift, and I even hit the turn signals and the horns correctly for the fist time today without looking lol.
Today I must say, I really ENJOYED this motorcycle.
Now after day 5 of riding and nearly 400 miles I'm starting to like this bike very much.
I don't care when and if it shifts quickly to get up to 6th. I've made up my mind not to "expect" it to shift when I would have normally shifted. To let it just "do it's thing". The DCT operation is flawless and other than shifting quickly when leaving a stop sign or stop light, once you get up to speed it works very well for the type of riding I do, which is country curvy roads with speed limits of 45 & 55 mph. My roads aren't terribly technical, more sweepery, lots of curves and S curves with elevation changes, so the trans really only fluctuates between 5th and 6th gear for the most part, and when I do get to a tighter curve or a sharp uphill/downhill curve, a tap on the - button puts it in 4th for pulling power. Amazing really. This is exactly what I was looking for out of this bike.
Once you get to a straight stretch my bike seems to really like 60-70 mph. The engine seems to smooth out, and it just hums along.
I've read where some of you said this is the smoothest bike you've ever ridden, but I don't find it nearly as smooth as my inline 4's or my V4. The 270 degree P twin throb just annoys me for some reason. I feel it when I ride my brothers T -120 Bonneville as well.... A constant throb. Suppose I will get used to it and learn to overlook it, but one thought I had riding today was what a wonderful bike the CB 1100 would be with this DCT trans. Smoother, faster, more torque. But then again the CB doesn't get 74 mpg lol, which I like a lot.
The intake/exhaust drone while accelerating is pretty intoxicating, reminding me of 4 barrel carbed V8's when I was in my late teens.
I'm enjoying the light weight, the good handling, and even the brakes don't feel too bad. I've quit reaching for the clutch, moving my foot over to shift, and I even hit the turn signals and the horns correctly for the fist time today without looking lol.
Today I must say, I really ENJOYED this motorcycle.