New bike day tomorrow

[Old Git Racing]

I'll be fully retiring in November so after almost 50 years working I've decided to treat myself to a present.

Tomorrow morning I'll be riding the Tiger XRx in to part ex it. Not had the Triumph long, and I really rate it but after a 2.5 hour test ride I had to have a new Honda Goldwing Bagger.

Even 2 or 3 years ago I wouldnt have even considered a wing but after the test ride, wow.
The Goldwing had a full redesign in 2018, smaller, lighter (thats relative lol) and restyled. New chassis and engine.

So the test ride. First impressions are its bloody big and the dash and switches etc are like the starship enterprise. Its the manual version, not the DCT so into first and pull away.

I'd decided on a route out to the East Coast and up to Hornsea on the coast road, a good mix of twisties and straights.

In town and traffic its surprisingly easy to ride. The considerable weight (367kg) is carried low down and the balance is superb, feet up riding at less than walking pace is easy. The riding position is faultless for me and I'm easily able to get both feet flat on the floor at stops. It also has a presense, other road users notice it.

Out of town on a NS road trundling along in 4th at 2k revs I give it a handful. Power is instant and its soon doing illegal speed at a very surprising rate of acceleration.
A 90 degree right is fast approaching. I hadnt had to use the brakes much in town and I grabbed the brakes much like I would have had I been on the Tiger. Mistake. I scrub speed off so quickly I have to get back on the gas, the brakes on this thing are probably the best on any road bike I've ridden.
The bike breezes around the corner and I imagine its laughing at me saying 'is that all you've got?'

After getting a bit used to it I was grinning thinking this thing shouldn't handle like this, it defies the laws of physics, so do the brakes. Its also bloody fast in sport mode and is definitely THE most comfortable bike ever.

Talking of modes, never used them much on other bikes but I think I will on this as you can feel a real difference between them. Tour is the standard mode and if it only had this it would be good enough. Put it in sport and it goes ballistic, bit intimidating to be honest. I found rain good to use around town as it softens everything up. Never tried eco.

Rode back on some dual carriageways, used the cruise control and fiddled with the satnav. So smooth, no wind in your face at 70, visor open or you can lower the electric screen to get some if you want.

Other things I didnt use but are there - Loads of things in the TFT, reverse gear, hill start asisst.

Did the deal there and then so collecting tomorrow, bit like a kid at xmas.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

Enjoy your new Goldwing mate. You going to be garaging it over winter or getting out on her?

Goldwings are miles out of my price point anyway
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PRESENT: 2018 BMW S1000XR SE Sport.
PAST: 2009 Kawasaki ER-6F. 2021 Zontes ZT-125U.

[chickenstrip]

"Goldwing" and "sport mode" sounds like an incongruous combination, but you've got me intrigued to know what riding this would be like, though I never looked at Goldwings before.

How good is the sound system?
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[GettinBetter]

Oh wow that's awesome, just popped on YT to have a look at them.

Have fun dude, and stay safe.

[Old Git Racing]

[jeffyjeff]

What a great bike to ride as you join us old retired bastards. That F6Bagger screams "attitude" . I recently had an encounter on Interstate 580 near San Francisco. Riding down the Dublin grade, traffic was flowing really fast, I was doing 100 (mph) in the #1 lane, CHP nowhere to be seen. A guy on an F6 comes up on my right; he is doing about 110, one hand on the handlebar. Flashes me a thumbs up, and nonchalantly speeds away. Cool bike.
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[UncleFester]

That's a properly cool bike. Good move!
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2017 Z1000SX

[struan80]

I'm jealous. Great bike. Would love a shot. Does it have reverse gear? To big for me really.

Edit it does have reverse.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

I'd love a go on one, hustling the pure heft sounds like fun.
I'd be worried about stopping on any kind of off camber junctions, once a thing like that starts to go you have to get it back under control immediately.

Plenty of fun to be had on track apparently.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=o1jqX3sY3iQ
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'81 CG125, '97 FZS600 : '99 CBR600F4, '09 KTM RC8

[Old Git Racing]

True to form its pissed it down all day, every time I get a bike it rains, mates call me deluge Dave even Monsoon Maurice who gets rain every time he books a holiday.
Never mind, in the garage now. Spent some time pairing headsets and phones to it, could have done with a teenager to help me lol.
Hopefully get out tomorrow.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[chickenstrip]

[chickenstrip]

____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[P.]

That is definitely not my style, but it actually looks decent!

Sounds really heavy at 350+ but damn, enjoy your new machine.

[xX-Alex-Xx]

[chickenstrip]

[Polarbear]

I absolutely loved my Goldwings. The 1800 handled amazingly well for such a big bike.

.......and yes, I am jealous as well. Enjoy.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[xX-Alex-Xx]

[UncleFester]

Bargain 2nd hand .... I'd be more tempted by one of those than any car currently
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2017 Z1000SX

[Blah blah]

I've always fancied having a go on a Goldwing, probably as a result of Performance bike wheeliying them years ago...

https://i.postimg.cc/cHSY7DLN/821436d82cf9478fe94d26bd974b8abe.png

(random picture off the net showing what can be done..!)