Updates from April, 2009

  • GSX-R 600

    22:48 on April 26, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags: , GSX-R 600, ,

    On Saturday, Gen and I went to the Suzuki dealer as planned so that Gen could test ride the V-Strom I tried last week (I’ll let her tell you about her experience in her own post). We had agreed last week with the dealer that I could go out with Gen on another bike, with no obligation at all to buy (not that we were planning on buying new V-Stroms either), my bike of choice? The GSX-R 600, the bike that started it all for me.

    gsxr6001 gsxr6002

    The bike is everything I expected it to be; small, light, fast to accelerate and easy to corner, it did everything but disappoint. I think I may have even found a bike that’s more fun than the Monster on the twisties! Just like the V-Strom this bike is very different to my own in the way the gears work, though it’s not too far off the V-Strom itself. The acceleration is in a different league; the 600cc engine manages to provide just enough power to make the bike shift (I’m talking 0-70 before I even realised it) but not too much that I was scared of it (this is after all the first super sports I’ve ever ridden).

    I don’t think there’s much point going into details, It’s not like I can give a technical review of the bike with my knowledge but I will say this: There is now no doubt in my mind that I will own one of these machines one day. The GSX-R 600 is probably the smoothest, fastest bike I’ve ridden thus far and it doesn’t exactly lack in the styling department either!

    It’s not the bike to travel on; I fear the same wrist/hand (and probably back too) problems as the Monster gives. I’ve made an offer on the white test-ride Strom, honestly, I’d rather not buy new but I do like that white, so I guess this is a happy medium. I could be without a Monster in less than a week!

     
  • Suit up!

    22:10 on April 26, 2009 | 2 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
    Tags: Clothing, , , Protection, Safety

    I decided that on the Monday Bank Holiday just gone (13th April 2009) that after passing my test I wanted to go bike shopping, so off we went to find me a motorbike. Unfortunately the dealers had other things in mind for me as none of them were open. We were driving through Kinson and noticed that Hein Gerike was open, we decided to go in and try on some gear to get a feel for what sort of money I would need to spend. A couple of hours later we left Hein Gerike, my bank account short £800.

    So what did I get I hear you asking… I have been recommended lots of different styles of gear by lots of different people, but the answer for me was to be found in the mileage we want to do; it had to be textile. I tried on some different jackets and instantly fell in love with the most expensive one in the shop! In my defense it feels good, looks good (in my opinion) and is gore-tex, which was really the deciding vote when it comes to riding in the heat (I hope) of Spain.

    Helmet, again I have been told all sorts of things, but in the end I decided to go for a Nolan – it’s a good name, highly recommended, and being able to flip open the face will no doubt prove useful for anything from paying for petrol to just having a chat.

    gennewgear1

    I have been told I look like an instructor but I don’t really think it’s a problem, infact I think it’s cool!

     
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