First Impressions

yambabe · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I finally have all my paperwork and am good to go.

So today it isn't actually pissing down for the first time in ages and I wheel the VS out of the garage. All the neighbours come out for a look when I fire it up! Laughing

Including John's mate from round the corner who has an N-reg 600 Intruder. We compare the 2 side-by-side, there are a lot of similarities and just a couple of differences - one being that my seat is a good few inches lower, the other being that his engine appears to be physically larger than mine! Confused

Get my kit on and off I go. Bit of a wobbly start, being used to the Zeph now I give it a big handful of revs Embarassed

and then cringe a bit in embarrassment when I realise I don't need to. The clutch bite is in the wrong place, the pegs are in the wrong place, the bars are in the wrong place, oh hell what have I done? Sad

So, nice and slow out of the culdesac and onto the main road, taking my time until I have my hands and feet where they are supposed to be and it feels comfortable. This takes, ooh, about half a mile or so. By the time I get to the first roundabout I have to negotiate I am feeling much more confident, and I gun it a bit on the exit. WOW! Very Happy

Power delivery is smooth in all the gears, this is so easy! Cool

I decide to do a fairly short first run so I ride about 5 miles to our "test track", a nice wide piece of newly-surfaced road about a mile and a half long with roundabouts at either end, and I go up and down there a few times. I test my throttle and my brakes, the brakes are very keen but I have already discovered that the throttle is so responsive I have hardly needed any brakes on the ride over. The throttle is great, this bike has more power than I am ever likely to need. It will bimble along happily at traffic speed and then just a sharp twist of the wrist in any gear and BLAT! it leaps forward and I can practically hear it going WAAAHAAYYYYY! as we overtake some pottering cars. Just what I wanted, enough power to cruise along at any speed but always some left in reserve just in case...... Wink

Being its first run I don't take it above 80 and we only go over 60 for a few brief seconds of overtaking a few times. It gets a bit vibey at around 65, not sure how that's going to pan out on long rides, but otherwise seems very comfortable and the riding position is relaxed whilst still upright and alert if that makes sense. Everything is within reach and there is no strain on any part of me.

I am amazed how easily it goes round the roundabouts. All the weight is low-down, and it feels so well-balanced. I have a lot more confidence than on the Zeph and am quite pleased with my speeds and angles of lean, especially as this is the first ride. I head back for home on a local fairly twisty road, big grin permanently fixed on my face! Mr. Green

I've only done about 25 miles so far but it is enough for me to know that I have made the right choice. There are still some "getting to know you" issues to overcome, I tend to stop a bit short of junctions Embarassed

and the clutch is a bit of a stretch, especially with my "proper" gloves on, and the brake lever is a bit close to the peg so my foot has to rest turned out at an angle, but I think the more I ride the easier I will adapt to these things.

Might go out again for a bit this evening Smile

, and am now praying for reasonable weather tomorrow so I can take it to Barnsley.

Thank you for listening!

The Happy Bunny xx
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate. Very Happy

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

so what is this new bike of yours then ?

a VS what ?
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colin1 is officially faster than god

McGee · O RLY? Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Karma :

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

well it looks nice but i cant read what it says on the tank can you ?

so is it a 600 then ?
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LeeR · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Karma :

Looks like a Harley style engine but it could be almost anything, I think it says Vincent, but I'm not sure... Eh?

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McGee · O RLY? Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Karma :

Suzuki Boulevard s50

Its an 800cc ?

Wink

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Its pronounced Jixxer!

LeeR · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Karma :

Right, nice and shiny and black in places...

I was going to suggest riding with the ball of your foot on the peg babyyam in order to miss riding the rear brake, but as it's a cruiser style bike I expect that's not entirely possible.
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neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

Nice bike there, i wouldnt mind a cruiser/chopper type bike for when i just want to take it easy Thumbs Up