Hi All,
Sometimes in life, you get an opportunity to do something a little different and a very cool. Yesterday was my turn....I was lucky enough to be invited to the TWO magazine 1000cc group test last day at Bruntingthorpe yesterday. They had all 4 brand new 08 models on test and wanted an owner of each current model to go and test them! Back to Back... Now as we all know, we all test pilot various road bikes but never, all 4 brand spanking new models back to back on the same day. And to also have a 2.25 mile runway to get the clocks to go all the way round!
After what I would describe as the single worst journey on two wheels I've ever had, travelling from Chester to Leicester in torrential rain in nothing but leathers and a pair of golf waterproofs, you would be right in thinking that I was less than convinced it was going to be as much fun as my heart had hoped. But being the sensible bloke, the choice to ride down the night before paid off. Good nights kip, well ok...my two nephews coming in wanting to play xbox at 6 oclock may have woke me a little prematurely! But curtains opened, and the break of sunlight filled my heart with glee. Was like the gods were smiling! However it looked like it may be a cheeky smile. As the wind was like a nothing I'd seen or heard! My sisters fence confirmed that as it was laying slumped like a bloke at 3am after kick out, against her kitchen wall. Non deterred, and my thermal EDZ romper suit on plus one more base layer t-shirt for good measure, I pulled my one piece Skippy leather suit on. Out the door, and back in sharpish....I grapped my North face fleece for a future wind preventative layer. BLimey....it could strip paint that wind! So out the door and jumped on the very dirty ten after the night before but still, home territory, and the great 5 min ride to Brunters.
Arrive at Brunters, to be met by John Urry. He described the plan for the day. He told me that he, and his colleagues have "disguised" all 4 bikes so that you couldn't tell what they where. We were then to be blindfolded, sat on a bike, blindfold removed and then let out on the open road for a test thrash, I mean ride. The aim: to see if all bikes were so similar that really, the only reason for someone to buy one, was pure aesthetics! (Or looks to you and me)
Now, me being me and the cynic of all cynics, I thought, Yeah right..I know every line, curve, headlight, tank shape of most bikes and there is nothign you can do to prevent me from guessing. But I thought, come on Andy. Humour then a little. After all, you are here for free and getting this opportunity. So we all started getting lined up, like guantanemo bay refugees with helmet bags over out heads. We were guided onto a bike by the team and sent out into the awesome Leicestershire countryside. So which bikes were which....was it that easy....how did they ride...where they all the same?
For me, and I can't stress that enough...this is in my opinion and may be way off. But thats all I can do. Is wax lyrical about these machines based on my personal findings and preferences.....
I sat on the first one and thought "Fuck....what the hell is this". I genuinely couldn't tell... so I thought bollocks, best just open the throttle and see what it does! Yep, that didn't give me any further indication.....nor did this test get any easier with the second bike. So, I have to admit, in this case my cynicism was found lacking, and I had to go with it. Ride it like a motorbike and "try" to have some fun. After each ride, I returned to be blindfolded, helped off the bike and the next one was brought out. So there was no chance of me seeing the back or front of the bike after I'd ridden it.
This is what I thought of the bikes (anonymously):
1. Fab, Loved it. Smooth, effortless engine. Extremely good riding position. Made me ride like a god out of the blocks. Engine was responsive. Handling was crisp. Loads of feedback through the bars and seat. On those roads, which I learnt to ride on...I was like a pig in the preverbial! This bike confirmed why I ride sportsbikes....made me boy again!
2. Hmm...different to 1. The engine was little sluggish from low revs and had to really open it up. But when it went my god, was like a missile. Handling was defined and allowed you to concentrate on the road ahead and your lines. Didn't get me into any problems and was very settled. Enjoyed it, but not as much as 1.
3. I pulled out of Brunters and hit the road, front wheel lifted after giving it some berries. This bike felt right! I looked at the corner of the clocks and saw a familiar sight. A Kawasaki indicator. Oh yes, wow, here I am, on the brand new zx10. But I thought I needed to be impartial and give it the same consideration as the other two...yeah right...fuck that....I turned right instead of left and took the A5199 towards Husbands Bosworth. This was going to be a slightly longer test ride me thinks. Engine was immense, and tripped that switch in your brain to make try and go that little bit faster. Handling was great, but front end was a little flighty when giving it some beans. Comfortable and plenty of feedback. Similar to 1. Felt like you expect from a out and out sports bike! Bollocks..best go back now!
4. Erm....what the hell...was like sitting on a sports tourer. Very upright. Very comfy, don't get me wrong but my god, how different to the other 3. I thought, hang on...they thrown a GSF or CB 600 into the mix to throw us off. But hey ho...onwards I went. Was quick, but really had to thrash the engine like a 600. Didn't feel the same through the twisty bends as the others. Bit vibey too. Felt like my testicles were gonna rattle off a some points. But handled well if a little dull. Maybe it was me after riding 3 other bikes back to back.
So....test rides finished and a dictophone shoved under my nose. What did I think etc etc......but most importanty...which did I like and which one was which? I obviously knew the 10 was 3 and told the guys that, but basically said what I've written above. Which was which...erm now let me see:
1. R1
2. Blade
3. Zx10r
4. Only one left, must be the gixxer (oh dear....so much for me being a closet gixxer lover)
Our survery says....2 out of 4!
I got the first two the wrong way round! Blimey...who have thunk it!
Obviously, I had fallen in love with the new ten, and lets be honest, its not hard to but the shock for me was the CBR. What a bike! Now admittedly, it looks like its front end was set alight and put out with a shovel but it makes 100%, total and utter sense. Good ol' Honda!
![[pray]](http://forum.zx10r.co.uk/Smileys/default/icon_pray.gif)
Now where did I put my bank managers phone number
All the rides were finished now, and we had to do the obligatory photoshoots. Once out the way we were given the green light to run the bikes out of fuel using the runway and short track. I obviously grabbed the ten, and the other 3 boys grabbed the others. Surprisingly, the gixxer was the last one to be picked! Hmmm...wonder why!
We all headed for the bottom of the straight and all again, had the opporunity to ride each bike. Up the strip, round the bends and back! I went first as the old hand at this strip marlarky (see Turf Wars) and headed off on the 10! 180mph came up pretty quick and the runway was starting to crest the hill. Now what happened next can only be described as a moment of inner clarity. I don't mean I had a decided I was going to give up all my worldy goods and become a monk. But I mean, I knew exactly how I was going to die. By crashing off the runway at 180mph on a brand new zx10. I had been hit by a sidewind that was like being hit by a freight train. I was on the far left hand side off the track and within the seconds was a mere 6 ft from the grass verge on the right. I managed to shove the bike back by leaning the bike 45degs left to try and correct it. Thank christ....brakes on and aim for the right hand bend! Note to self: ONce you clear the trees, throttle off and lean left!
After this steep self learning curve, and deciding that the bike journos where completely barking made for still attempting top speeds runs on all bikes despite the conditions, I got to have a go on the others. R1 and CBR where lovely and felt a lot more solid than the 10 at speed. The CBR again, proved its place!
Finally, the photographer guy from TWO, who had laughed at my slating of the Gixxer, came over and recommended I take the Gixxer out before they loaded it into the van. He said trust me...do it! So I reluctantly donned the Arai, and cocked my leg over the big black sports tourer!
In position, I launched the gixxer up the strip! Blimey, this things quick....and it kept going 186 without a glitch and the it took the sidewind on like a runner in the bull run at Pamplona. Stared it out and didn't blink. Round the big sweeping bends of Brunters, it came alive...it somehow...made sense! How strange? I returned back to see a big grin on the journos face. "Changed your mind?" I have to admit, Jury is still out, but on track and up the strip it was a perfect balanced equation!
A great day all in, and the weather held for my 150 mile return trip home! Cold, but sunny and even managed to take some of the back roads for a last smile. I still love my 10, and its make me grin like a smug criminal knowing his brief has just got him off doing time! But I tell you what....those new bikes sure are lovely (ok, even the gixxer to an extent) and when my redundancy cheque arrives. I will have to seriously stop myself from heading to the local Kwak or Honda garage!
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Topic: Great Day Out - TWO Magazine 1000cc Group Test (Read 4111 times)