SGM
08-02-2008, 12:17 PM
Hi fellas! :)
I've just started to get used to the new bike, came from a VFR800 (´99) - and man this is something completely different. :happy:
I'm coming from 9 years of pouring big money into a Subaru Impreza (we've had the turbo over here since the mid 90´s, I had a 2000 GC8) - which in the end was quite entertaining, but also very expensive to keep running.
It developed a bit north of 400 hp, 400 lbft (and our horsies seems larger for some reason when dyno numbers are compared over the pond, but lets not open up that can o' worms :D ) on ethanol fuel.
The car had the full on autronic ecu with antilag, launch etc, plated rear diff, adjustable centre diff, race track suspension (all the goodies more or less).
...and compared to bikes, still not that quick, this car was at best a mid 11 second quarter mile car.
I got seriously fed up with working on other peoples Imprezas just to get funding to keep my own running - so I backed off for a while, and was suckered into enduro riding by a colleague of mine (over the years one had put on a few pounds, and needed excercise, why not do it with an engine?).
First time out in a properly evil enduro race track, I promised myself "never more" - I think I managed a 5 mph average over 1 hours worth of driving, fell a million times, wanted to drown the bike, kill myself and almost resorted to crying.
But, after a few tries, I quickly became better at it...and got bitten, bad. :worship: This was in August last year, and I spent the whole winter (yes, snow and ice covering the roots, rocks and other assorted nasty stuff) fubaring' very expensive studded tires, and generally had a blast.
Come spring I started thinking about selling the Impreza, getting that bike drivers license, and get a street bike...
Said and done, managed to get another colleague of mine hooked on the idea of street bikes & drivers licenses - we quickly breezed through the license bit, got ourselves a sensible, comfortable and reliable bike - the VFR800.
It's the perfect beginners bike, smooth, easy to ride, comfortable and quite sporty - but after riding it for 3 months I knew I wasn't going to keep it for long, I love midrange grunt (turbo cars...), and I love twisty backroads, couldn't care less for longer trips.
So the hunt was on for something sporty with a twin engine - I've always loved the ducatis, and still do, but am not so sure if I'll feel the same about the running costs (that, and the fact that you can get 2 2001 milles over here for the price of one 998).
The SP1 was the next choice, but they're quite rare over here - and insurance was a problem there.
The TL1000R felt lumbering, and I can't stand the design of the Suzukis - there's just something wrong with them for me.
...so, what's this then, a rotax (reliability) powered Italian (sexy design) superbike with sensible running costs and a sane insurance rate?
All it took was one test ride at the dealer, who gave me a good deal px'ing the old viffer - and I was looking forward to a 250 mile trip back home (I'd already done 250 miles there on the viffer :D ) - man I was happy but sore when I got back home.
The rest is history as they say, I'm looking forward to a few track days, and advanced courses on the mille - so far - I love it!
http://sgmmotor.se/images/d70sverige/Mille_i_motljus.jpg
http://sgmmotor.se/images/d70sverige/mille_bak.jpg
...and one of me on the other bike
http://sgmmotor.se/images/d70sverige/jag%20hoppar%20ta%20mig%20fan.jpg
/J
I've just started to get used to the new bike, came from a VFR800 (´99) - and man this is something completely different. :happy:
I'm coming from 9 years of pouring big money into a Subaru Impreza (we've had the turbo over here since the mid 90´s, I had a 2000 GC8) - which in the end was quite entertaining, but also very expensive to keep running.
It developed a bit north of 400 hp, 400 lbft (and our horsies seems larger for some reason when dyno numbers are compared over the pond, but lets not open up that can o' worms :D ) on ethanol fuel.
The car had the full on autronic ecu with antilag, launch etc, plated rear diff, adjustable centre diff, race track suspension (all the goodies more or less).
...and compared to bikes, still not that quick, this car was at best a mid 11 second quarter mile car.
I got seriously fed up with working on other peoples Imprezas just to get funding to keep my own running - so I backed off for a while, and was suckered into enduro riding by a colleague of mine (over the years one had put on a few pounds, and needed excercise, why not do it with an engine?).
First time out in a properly evil enduro race track, I promised myself "never more" - I think I managed a 5 mph average over 1 hours worth of driving, fell a million times, wanted to drown the bike, kill myself and almost resorted to crying.
But, after a few tries, I quickly became better at it...and got bitten, bad. :worship: This was in August last year, and I spent the whole winter (yes, snow and ice covering the roots, rocks and other assorted nasty stuff) fubaring' very expensive studded tires, and generally had a blast.
Come spring I started thinking about selling the Impreza, getting that bike drivers license, and get a street bike...
Said and done, managed to get another colleague of mine hooked on the idea of street bikes & drivers licenses - we quickly breezed through the license bit, got ourselves a sensible, comfortable and reliable bike - the VFR800.
It's the perfect beginners bike, smooth, easy to ride, comfortable and quite sporty - but after riding it for 3 months I knew I wasn't going to keep it for long, I love midrange grunt (turbo cars...), and I love twisty backroads, couldn't care less for longer trips.
So the hunt was on for something sporty with a twin engine - I've always loved the ducatis, and still do, but am not so sure if I'll feel the same about the running costs (that, and the fact that you can get 2 2001 milles over here for the price of one 998).
The SP1 was the next choice, but they're quite rare over here - and insurance was a problem there.
The TL1000R felt lumbering, and I can't stand the design of the Suzukis - there's just something wrong with them for me.
...so, what's this then, a rotax (reliability) powered Italian (sexy design) superbike with sensible running costs and a sane insurance rate?
All it took was one test ride at the dealer, who gave me a good deal px'ing the old viffer - and I was looking forward to a 250 mile trip back home (I'd already done 250 miles there on the viffer :D ) - man I was happy but sore when I got back home.
The rest is history as they say, I'm looking forward to a few track days, and advanced courses on the mille - so far - I love it!
http://sgmmotor.se/images/d70sverige/Mille_i_motljus.jpg
http://sgmmotor.se/images/d70sverige/mille_bak.jpg
...and one of me on the other bike
http://sgmmotor.se/images/d70sverige/jag%20hoppar%20ta%20mig%20fan.jpg
/J