[17416]

So, when do the posted links come alive?



Will they say something other than the predictable:



"Smoothest, best all around liter bike, not as quick as a GSXR1000."



At least if the picture is accurate, we won't hear about Big Red.



Oh yes for the kiddies, you can still claim "first post", as far as I'm concerned..

 

[seruzawa]

Is this a new trend? Naked bikes adding half fairings and the fully faired ones start abbreviating the fairings to show off the enginework? Maybe before long they'll all look alike!

 

[34005]

A lot has changed....

I'm an old fart now, and I don't ride bikes like this anymore...

Your comments however have a familiar ring from my own riding/racing days of late 60's, early 70's.

Yes, Yes I know that tires, engines, and suspension are not even from the same universe that I grew up in -but: We set up our race bikes light, and twitchy, because when you were in the zone, you could get in and out, up, down, and around with much more confidence, precision, & safety - once you were really at speed, bumping shoulders and rattling each others fairings.

It seems funny now, but if you had been on nice road trip on something like an R100 BMW, and then jumped on your RD or TZ they could actually seem hard to keep in a straight line.

But a little track time, and actual race inputs, all that twitchiness seemed to disappear. Hard throttle, hard brake, and your brain rewired for speed, you could place your bike where you wanted it, when you wanted it there.

I quite sure you are describing the same phenomenon. Give me the nervous steed every time in an agressive situation. It feels, less safe, but since it will do what's really asked of it - it's really more safe! When your riding skill catches up to it, your confidence level comes with it!

 

[34005]

And another thing...

Yes Sean it probably is just you...

The solution go spend enough track time that your butt pucker starts to relax, and you begin to have fun....

As for me.... I'd love to ride something safe & friendly like that Ducati Paul Smart Replica!

Cheers!

PS - Someday I'll post the true story of passing Paul Smart at Vacaville raceway ( Paul was prototype Kawasaki Z1 mounted), and then landing on my head!

 

[SeanAlexander]

Re: And another thing...

LOL I'm sorry if I sound arrogant (I guess I am arrogant when you get right down to it) but you must be new around here. Track time and butt puckering weren't my issue. My issue was with recomending a bike like this for "average" riders.

Maximum Respect,

-Sean

 

[Aero_Mongoose]

I would liken the difference between Sean's review and those offered by other testers to the difference between a test pilot and a fighter pilot: they are both highly skilled, but the test pilot is looking to evaluate an aircraft from perspectives other than his own. Instead of just asking "is it good enough for me," they also ask "is it good enough for a rookie under the most demanding conditions," and everything in between. I think this is a very important skill for any tester to have and is one of the things I value most at this site.



The honesty that this approach requires was key in diverting my search for a second bike (first purchase) this past year from the 'relaxed sportbike' that I thought I wanted to the 'sporty standard' that fits my needs and skills much better.



Keep up the good work Mr. Alexander... some of us newbies are listening.

 

[sportbikebandit]

Tough Love

Excellent Review. Hey I admire you for telling it like it is...Don't think kpaulie will be buying this CBR. Wonder when the backlash will hit the sport bike market i.e. folks will want more street worthy, comfortable, more stable sport bikes. Doubt it... its young man's (squid) market huh? Looked at the new ZX-10 at the shop the other day didn't like my sight line to the dash i.e. it was cut-off by the top of the windscreen. 636 more my thing but the dash sucks. I’ll end up with a VFR… someday.

Excellent job Sean. I don't think Honda will mind the review. This bike is meant to beat Mladin. The scarier it is the better.

 

[sportbikebandit]

Excellent Point...Sean did a great job with the test pilot thing

 

[3917]

Still, no slipper clutch! I don't care what they say today's bikes are come standard with a slipper clutch and a steering stabilizer. PERIOD. The ZX10R looks like the complete package this year.. Next is suspension with high/low compression dampning. So far only the R6 comes close to that.

 

[DonM]

Sean you must have waited a long time before posting because I got this months CW same time as your review. They euphemistically called the changes "decidedly more spirited" and the rest of the article seems written from tech lecture notes.

I think I write for most of the MOrons when I say we appreciated your verbose explanation over their terseness. What remains to be read about is whether this change in the Honda "character" will be promoted throughout the Honda line. i.e. a change to lighter, higher performing, but more "unforgiving", motorcycles.

 

[ajohn505]

It's hilarious that MO alternates between chastising bikes for being too pokey on the track and chastising them for being too track oriented.



Perhaps the reviewers could get more predictable in their motorcycle desires?

 

[SeanAlexander]

Do you think it's possible that there might be a happy middle ground?



If so, wouldn't it be possible that the same tester could honestly find some bikes "too pokey" and some bikes "too track oriented"?



-Sean

 

[who_farted]

Who cares really? Either you can ride the stonkin manliness out of the machine or you can't. I would liken the last interation of the 1000RR to that of a Chevrolet Camaro. I could push it really, really hard but when it let go it was a hand full to get back on top of. Looks like Honda has engineered more of the same. Mitsubishi made one hell of a car back in 1995. What relevence does this have? Maybe none, but if you look at their newest products compared to what they were putting out for the last few years it would seem that some of that old philosophy has been revisited. Honda could do the same. Honda no longer wins Gps, AMAs, or in the dirt at all. What has happened to the once all mighty giant? There is no Davey to cast blame upon. Honda is in trouble. The Bean Counters have it wrong. Honda lacks direction and neither Duhammel or Zemke are going to get them there. Honda abandonded their development riders years ago, beginning with Edwards and most recently with Rossi. It's time to swallow some pride boys. Suzuki is listening to Maladin and Hopkins, Yamaha hears you know who and Kawasaki has the very capable Nakano directing the necessary changes to their Japanese dream.



Honda's wrong, all wrong, and I feel confident saying this without having ridden the "all new 1000RR". I will put my 2002 998 on the line against any of you boys who think I may be wrong. Honda will have simpy missed it again but what do they care, the large conglomerate that they are. I'll be if any of you were to go racing tomorrow it would be on a Suzuki or Ducati 99 times out of 100. Honda, you have some catching up to do.

 

[49471]

What's up with the 2nd video. It says 5.2 Mb but it only play 29 seconds.



I need more Sean time!!!



G

 

[earthspirit60]

Fear not MO, you have done Honda a great service...the 19 year old with too much testosterone and cash to burn will now pounce on the Honda and its new found "Bad Boy" rep. No...the Honda is no longer gramps sportbike. There is a near-mint used 2005 on my dealers floor for $8000. It may be mine soon.

 

[crosenfi]

Re: And another thing...

Any squid could provide a self-aggrandizing account of how they just love the new "Extreme" Honda and how fast they can go on it.

It takes a responsible motorcycle journalist to describe how they almost looped a bike, and criticize a name like Honda, with the intent of preventing his (or her) readership from being misled into buying the wrong motorcycle.

-Carl

 

[sarnali]

Nice review Sean, it's good to be able to seperate your perception of how fast you personnaly can go on the track vs. how suitable this bike would be to the average streetbike buyer. Putting it in the perspective of a streetbike rather than a track bike makes a more usefull review and will probably help someone make a decision.



I think Yamaha started the less fairing trend on sportbikes with the R1 a few years ago, I like being able to see more of the motor

 

[Buzglyd]

Ram Air inlet has been moved to a hidden spot below the steering head, which gives the "failing" a slightly cleaner look



I thought the failing had a clean look as well.

 

[oldtim]

Well, I got nothing here. I will never have one of these litre class sports bikes with my cc class riding skills but then I'll never have a new Enzo either but I still like seeing and having them in my world. I'm glad there are guys like Sean who can ride the crap out of them and let the rest of us know how they are. Sorta like ARS' Imaginary Lovers...

 

[Fenton]

I got $100 on Sean and the 1000RR.