Well I have just returned from a little get-to-know-you/run-in-the-motor, ride of around 300klms.
I exited Che` Strika at about 7.30am this morning in order to beat the heat! And it was achieved!
Jumped on the West Gate with a full tank of fuel courtesy of New World Honda (Yeah after all the crunching I did on price and the freebies they gave me, they still filled it up full of premium! ) I intended doing this, as this is one of the areas that I suffered with my 636. I got to Pakenham by the time i realised that I had gone too far, as i intended going up F.T.Gully Rd, and in the back way thru Wandin to Warby. Yeah for sure it's comfy. I sat on $1.40-$1.60 for 15 mins on the fwy to see what the wind effect is and privided I tuck in a little like you do on a sports bike, then it is almost identical in wind protection to the 636, even as an all day thing.
It took me till the top of the reefton spur before I started to really get a feel for how it turns and steers, and what little idiocyncracies it may have. It stands up a little more than a sports bike if you brake while cranked over, but can be compensated with a little opposite bar pressure. It turns into a turn in a completely different manner. I will talk more about it once I really have it sussed as to what it's doing. ATM, it is still an unfamiliar bike, on umfamiliar tyres, so I am treading a little cautiously
I def think a flatter, more squared up set of bars will benefit me, as i think a couple of degrees more forward lean will be perfect for me. So will investigate those next week.
Ground clearance , appears at this early stage to be adequate. I did not scrape my pegs once at all today, although I was probably operating at 3/4 of my normal pace to learn the bike and run in the engine.
I had a play a few times, but as I was on my own, didn't press on too much, as I had no recovery buddies to pull me out of the bushes if neccessarry!
But I can say this. The Hornet has a really nice fat bit of torque and power between 5 and 7 that will not only lay blackies, but spin the arse end up too! But not in a vicious spit you off way, in a gentle, drifting kinda way! Noice!
For any one interested we are meeting at about 9.00am at the corner of Spencer and Blenhiem st's St Kilda on Friday Morning to repeat the two spurs run! Then you can get to check out if I actually did buy a Hornet, or if I really bought a Blade!

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me" Hunter S. Thompson.
There are really only two questions in life. 1.Which way do i go? 2.What is the lap record?