Test Pilot

The world of MotoGP is slow to return since testing has resumed. Not much new and exciting. Phillip's Island was inconsequential as a couple of the key teams did not attend the session.... hence Honda's domination.

I have been taking supreme advantage of my "down time" for the past few weeks. The SV has undergone a few upgrades, and is poised for several more. It has officailly been dubbed the one and only SV1000R in all the land. That's right, the spec sheet on the beast includes a fully integrated exhaust system that will entertain a 3 or 4 bolt flange. She now runs with a couple of Two Brothers cans strapped to her. How you ask? Well, that's a secret, but I can tell you this.. it involves one Mark, one Spazgyver, a welding machine and a grinder...... and, of course, none of it would have been possible without one Steve.



I had a chance to play test pilot over the past few weeks to a couple of different bikes. First up was a 1999 Suzuki TL1000R (Thanks Spaz!!!!). Although the TL and the SV are basically the same machine on paper, I found that this is not so much so on the asphalt. The TL packs a little more punch when you get down to the nitty-gritty. A beefy machine indeed! On the straight, it tends to be a little light in the front end.... all good for a power wheelie (the hottest of the hot!), but the corners are a different story. The SV sticks solid during hard cornering.... get in right, set your lean and throttle out... she'll stick. The TL...... spot your line, set it up, throttle out.... she'll row like an Ivy League team after the gold medal. As long as you know it's coming, it's all good.... loosen up and ride it out. If you are not aware of the "special characteristics" (Have you seen my wiener??), it can surely take you by surprise. All-in-all, though, a fun bike with some interesting quirks.

Round 2....



the 2005 GSX-R1000. Sweet Jesus! First of all, thank you Steve for letting me ride that beast (sorry about the spot on your seat!). We'll address the down-side first... the right peg and I didn't agree. I had to be conscious of my position 100% of the time in order to stay on the ball of my foot and not let it slip back. Other than that.... it was indeed "all that (and the gratuitous bag of chips)". You would be hard-pressed to pry the smile off my face while I was riding it. Light, agile, flickable, and TIGHTLY WOUND.... no matter what I asked of it, it wanted more. The last I looked at the speed-o, we registered 165, and it was still pulling.... still pulling!!! Granted, I consider myself a rookie when it comes to top end. The SV and I visited 155, and it whined and cried as it tapped out. The Gixxer? At a buck 65, it giggled like a school girl in health class. The shifts are smooth as silk.... no effort, two fingers and a tap and you're in. I was, in a word, impressed.... too impressed.

I have been a die-hard Yamaha fan for as long as I can remember. I have said I would not rest until I was straddling an R1... I can only hope that the test drive goes half as well as the GSXR's did. I am notorious for sticking to my guns.... loyal to a fault (if you will), but my head has been turned and it's going to take one hell of a ride to change my mind at this point :)

GAME ON!!!!

Until next time......

Rubb'er Down :)