OK, got 203 miles on it now. I'm just going to come right out and say it... I love this bike. I predict it is going to get rave reviews and sell very well. The motor is awesome and seems to get better with every mile. Got 64.4 mpg on my first 103 miles. I think I sold one at the gas station. Dude came over all abuzz asking about it. "Dude, i was just about to by a DR650"... I think he changed his mind. Bike continues to be fantastic on the street and feels like a V-twin to me. Gobs of power and can pass cars from 65 mph EZ. Just like a real street bike. As I said, the motor is terrific right out of the box. FAST and smooth. Clutch is super EZ, shifts nice, quiet. Brakes are breaking in and are very good and strong. This is a great canyon carving machine. Handles light and is fast.
Hit the dirt...
Finally got it on gravel and dirt and the bike hides it's weight and girth better than I had hoped. On the gravel it rules, motor is a flat track king, handles nice, could do hours of gravel at 40 plus mph all day long. Found myself ripping along at 64 mph on one gravel section and did not even realize it. I can't think of a better bike for gravel. Found some sandy two track, worked fine. Found some old road grades in the woods all grown over and the bike is FUN on that to. Steers far lighter than it should (most likely due to the under seat tank) and bike feels relatively light on its feet. I am a fairly accomplished off road rider and have ridden many bikes big and small and i found this bike quite acceptable off road. Better than i originally thought it would work due to how good it works on the street. I'm impressed. Not a 610/630 in the dirt but not as far off as you might think. In fact I envisioned a version of this bike stripped and with real suspension being a great bike for open off road like you would use a XR650 for.
Guys, this bike is the goods. No BS, it is a GREAT road bike and good dirt bike. I think they absolutely hit the mark with this bike. I can't believe anyone could ride it and not think so. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict this bike gets rave reviews in the next few months and sells very well. I'm not generating hype, ride the bike and tell me I'm wrong.
More tid bits / random observations...
- The wheels are balanced stock and it has rubber inserts in the pegs. This makes the bike very smooth and full on street bike feeling on the road. Very nice.
- Gets about 65 mpg so far. I think it holds 3 gallons but the book says 3.67 which would mean almost 240 miles per tank!!!
- Odd filler neck works great, no spillage really possible.
- Seat is good but not great. Seat Concepts is building one. I plan to put gobs of miles on this bike.
- suspension is the weak link on this bike. It is OK but better suspension would make it nicer.
- Needs a skid plate ASAP (we are already working on a VERY cool one)
- Tires are excellent on the street and pretty good off road too.
- Brakes are STRONG
- Motor gets even better with every mile and is fast. Feels much more like a mid displacement V-twin than a single.
- Stock gearing is to tall for me. I almost don't need 5th. Even on the highway 4th is better as it puts you in the nice range where there is power. On fast canyon roads I was actually using 3rd up to about 60 as it gives you more control and punch. I am going to go one down on the CS sprocket. This will still give me lots of top end and way better use of 1st off road and harder pulling everywhere.
- 1st to 2nd jump in gearing is tall for off road. Hoping final gearing will help this some.
- Clutch is very nice
- EFI is awesome and near perfect. Did find it almost wanted to stall coming to a quick stop at an intersection and then jumping right back on the throttle. It runs on the lean side for sure. this is nit picking as it runs fantastic, better than i had hoped, right out of the box, no fiddling, no power up, nothing.
- motor motor motor. This is one great lump
- Exhaust is very tucked in and good looking. No hot spots to deal with or buy covers for.
- Radiator needs protection bad
- Dash is very good, EZ to read even in direct sunlight and has nice big indicator lights for a bunch of stuff.
- Cable routing and single cable throttle make the bar area very clean / open
- Torx wrench fits under the seat on the battery strap and with that one tool you could take a good part of the bike apart.
- Bike starts great and exactly the same every time. Turns kinda slow for about 2 revolutions and purs to life.
- Mirrors are huge and very usable / good.
this thing is a winner.
Hit the dirt...
Finally got it on gravel and dirt and the bike hides it's weight and girth better than I had hoped. On the gravel it rules, motor is a flat track king, handles nice, could do hours of gravel at 40 plus mph all day long. Found myself ripping along at 64 mph on one gravel section and did not even realize it. I can't think of a better bike for gravel. Found some sandy two track, worked fine. Found some old road grades in the woods all grown over and the bike is FUN on that to. Steers far lighter than it should (most likely due to the under seat tank) and bike feels relatively light on its feet. I am a fairly accomplished off road rider and have ridden many bikes big and small and i found this bike quite acceptable off road. Better than i originally thought it would work due to how good it works on the street. I'm impressed. Not a 610/630 in the dirt but not as far off as you might think. In fact I envisioned a version of this bike stripped and with real suspension being a great bike for open off road like you would use a XR650 for.
Guys, this bike is the goods. No BS, it is a GREAT road bike and good dirt bike. I think they absolutely hit the mark with this bike. I can't believe anyone could ride it and not think so. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict this bike gets rave reviews in the next few months and sells very well. I'm not generating hype, ride the bike and tell me I'm wrong.
More tid bits / random observations...
- The wheels are balanced stock and it has rubber inserts in the pegs. This makes the bike very smooth and full on street bike feeling on the road. Very nice.
- Gets about 65 mpg so far. I think it holds 3 gallons but the book says 3.67 which would mean almost 240 miles per tank!!!
- Odd filler neck works great, no spillage really possible.
- Seat is good but not great. Seat Concepts is building one. I plan to put gobs of miles on this bike.
- suspension is the weak link on this bike. It is OK but better suspension would make it nicer.
- Needs a skid plate ASAP (we are already working on a VERY cool one)
- Tires are excellent on the street and pretty good off road too.
- Brakes are STRONG
- Motor gets even better with every mile and is fast. Feels much more like a mid displacement V-twin than a single.
- Stock gearing is to tall for me. I almost don't need 5th. Even on the highway 4th is better as it puts you in the nice range where there is power. On fast canyon roads I was actually using 3rd up to about 60 as it gives you more control and punch. I am going to go one down on the CS sprocket. This will still give me lots of top end and way better use of 1st off road and harder pulling everywhere.
- 1st to 2nd jump in gearing is tall for off road. Hoping final gearing will help this some.
- Clutch is very nice
- EFI is awesome and near perfect. Did find it almost wanted to stall coming to a quick stop at an intersection and then jumping right back on the throttle. It runs on the lean side for sure. this is nit picking as it runs fantastic, better than i had hoped, right out of the box, no fiddling, no power up, nothing.
- motor motor motor. This is one great lump
- Exhaust is very tucked in and good looking. No hot spots to deal with or buy covers for.
- Radiator needs protection bad
- Dash is very good, EZ to read even in direct sunlight and has nice big indicator lights for a bunch of stuff.
- Cable routing and single cable throttle make the bar area very clean / open
- Torx wrench fits under the seat on the battery strap and with that one tool you could take a good part of the bike apart.
- Bike starts great and exactly the same every time. Turns kinda slow for about 2 revolutions and purs to life.
- Mirrors are huge and very usable / good.
this thing is a winner.
