AMCN Austest 2013 Sydney Motorsport Park

[Smiffy]

Agree with the verdict. I liked the front end and the tank ergonomics but..........
I bought the kwaki because it was the only one that put a grin on my dial.

[Wattie]

What's the verdict?

[Smiffy]

Honda

[Gosling1]

its already on the newstands tonight !! Just spotted it up at the local servo......after I had paid for the precious guzzoleen...

[Smiffy]

Yep

[fireyrob]

Thanks for the headsup. Dont need to buy it now

[Wattie]

After the track test is was kinda obvious it would win.
The road bit kinda sealed the deal I think?

[Smiffy]

I'm yet to ride either on the track, but on the road, to me the Honda felt the nicest
But I wasn't looking for nice and I don't have any real brand loyalty - 6 bikes from 5 manufacturers in the garage and yes.……the ZX6R and ZX10R is the double up.

[tim]

So Wattie now the mag's out what were YOUR thoughts about riding the different bikes throughout the tests?

[Wattie]

My favorite was the Gixxer.
For me it had best ergonomics and
awesome brakes.
The seat slopes forward and kept you in place without having to hang on too much.
Great boingers (same fork as cbr and zx10)
The cbr was a great ride, seating position and peg position was a bit weird as your feet were more
Forward compared to the others but it was a breeze to ride at pace with a ripper gearbox and slipper clutch setting

The r1 was quite odd to me, it revs really fast but doesn't have a lot
Of top end power. it was geared quite short on the track (manufacturers were allowed to change gearing and Tyres for the track)
The traction control was a real let down on the r1. The light flashed pretty much the whole time the throttle was open, even on the lowest setting.
It felt heavy under brakes, it just wanted to back in everywhere.

The zx10 was crazy powerful in the top end of the revs but the gearing was all wrong. I was in 6th at end of straight but 3rd was too high for the back of the track. To I fast you had to be in 2nd and just rely on tc to keep you going forward. With traction on the least obtrusive setting, it didn't catch wheelies, so you can imagine exiting corners in 2nd and 1st (t9)
The suspension was odd, the front and rear didn't seem to compliment each other. The rear was soft and front firm.
Tc was ace and abs didn't annoy me too much.
It is a rocketship for sure, but hard to manage on track.


On The road I liked the zx10 more than the track, it's tc was great up the putty bends, and not
Worrying about using the top end power made it a more relaxing ride than the track.

Gixxer and cbr were great roadies as expected after the track day.
The r1 is geared way too high. Anything under about 6k and it is rough on acceleration. But keep it spinning around 8k and its heaven. no vibes are anything. Problem is 2nd gear at those revs and you are over the state limit almost.
The r1 was an ass burner when riding slow too.

And yes, my brain was shagged by the end of the test. Talk about information overload! So much to take in.

I started the track day on the japs, then moved to middle class then onto the top class. So i was lucky to ride the bikes in full order.

[tim]

Cheers Wattman you're my hero

[Smiffy]

Oh yeah, forgot about the cbr pegs. Felt like a tourer riding position.

[Wattie]

Nothing rearsets won't fix

[Glen]

Nice work Wattie. Just bought it at the Airport. Got 3 hours on planes to kill

[ducati_paul]

When you get back Glen Wattie will sign your Boobies