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This one is a 2004, which is unchanged to this date, with 8,500Ks & rides like new.
First Impressions:
Where's the power? Am I going fast? Why's it hitting the rev limiter?
Make no mistake, this is a very fast & refined Motorcycle, but I don't like it, & it lacks character & charisma, & while the linked brakes are user friendly, they just don't suit my aggressive riding style.
Dropping the clutch at 5, & gassing the Super Blackbird gets the rear wheel spinning & laying big fat blackies as the tacho bounces on the redline. This bike has no sensation of speed or power. Not being so aggressive, & thrashing through the gears sends this bike rocketing to 280k in seconds, but still doesn't feel fast.
Riding around town at sensible speeds is just impossible. I tried riding at the speed limit for one day, failing to maintain the posted speed while honestly trying. You think your doing Ok, then look again & the Digi speedo jumps in 10s, 20,s & 30s. One day while I thought I was riding within the limit, I got pinned for 105 in a 60zone. Then the COP nearly ran up my ass as I did the right
thing & braked & pulled over to cop the abuse for them nearly running me over. No wonder they crash so many police cars! $700, 8points, & 6months loss of license. Just sucks, don't it! Going to court on that one.
Through the twisties, this bike is well balanced & steers neutrally & quick, to my surprise. While this bike still has standard Bridgestone touring tires, it still achieves good lean angles, & can play with any other sport machine with no problems. I lost the front couple of times two up on roundabouts, but was able to catch & kick it back up, before leaving black paint on the
road. While the Linked brakes took a bit of getting used too, they are very user friendly. While I always use the rear brake for minor speed adjustments & stability into corners, & avoid the bike standing upright, it behaved very sedately, still being able to lean harder mid corner. While I really wanted to lock & slide the rear into corners, the rear wheel just chattered, not really doing what I wanted.
Stoppies on this bike just don't work for me at all. While I tried many times, the front wheel just skidded across the asphalt, with no chance of getting the rear wheel up. While the brakes are probably up to this abuse, the tires & forks don't seem to be up for it on this long machine. I'll have to get a ride on one with sticky tires & braided lines one day & give it another go,
if the owner doesn't mind.
Wheel standing this bike is easy, but you need to be quick with the gear shifting to avoid hitting that all so familiar rev-limiter. I can wheelie this bike through to forth gear. First gear comes up on it's own, if it doesn't spin first, but second you'll need a crest or the clutch. Be careful of those past balance wheelies though, because using the rear brake will stop the front wheel too.
To sum this bike up, it is very fast, very smooth, very quite, looks ok, but very much a gentlemen's machine. Sorry for those that love these machines, but this is the most boring motorcycle I've ever ridden.
It's been Australia's best selling Sports Touring machine, so my opinion just doesn't count for much. I don't claim to be a gentleman either.
For those that own & love these bikes, just keep enjoy the spirit of motorcycling, & don't feel offended by my judgmental opinion of this fine machine.
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