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Wow! So, today I finally got to test the new CB1000R. I got to the dealers about a half hour after they opened and there was noone else there so I managed to get a 40 min test ride (around town, motorway, and country lanes). Then, later in the afternoon, I went back and test rode it again (this time only a 10 min one). Here's my thoughts:
Initial impressions:
+ It's tiny! I am not tall (176cm) but even I could get both feel easily down. It feels more like a 600 than a 1000cc bike!
+ It looks great! The details look just as good as an Aprilia.
+ The LED-light under the headlight looks much better in person than in pictures.
+ The black is a metallic black that sparkles in the sunlight.
+ Ergonomics are very similar to a Speed Triple; with a slight forward lean. A very natural position. The pegs are in a sporty but relaxed position.
+ The display is easy to read (or rather; the speedo is, and the revs if they are above 2000rpm, and the fuel gauge, everything else is a bit too cluttered to read whilst on the move).
[edit; forgot this comment] + The exhaust looks kind of bulky in some pictures but in person it looks much smaller and matches the rest of the bike well. [/edit]
Around town:
+ The clutch is light and easily modulated.
+ Not that you need it! This bike pulls cleanly without protesting from under 2000rpm. Perfect on slow roundabouts (which I could take in third gear!!!), and in traffic, etc. I never used the clutch once in any corner except for pulling away from lights! (And I am addicted to slipping the clutch in slow bends!)
+ The on/off fuel response is quite simply spot on! Some might wish for a more instant punch but I loved the user friendly response of the engine.
Motorway:
+ It is very windy! Much more so than my R12R.
+ The front wheel feels a little light over 120kph, but let's face it; you need a screen if you want to go faster. I tested up to about 160kph and though it was windy and a bit light it was still stable and safe.
Country lanes:
+ The bike was as much at home here as in town.
+ Suspension was great out of the box and I am sure could be improved to suit my weight.
+ The bike wasn't at all upset by bumpy sections of road.
+ It begs to be ridden fast though so hold on to your licenses!
+ No need for gear changing - I just stuck it in 6th and rode the torque curve! At least down to 50kph!
What can I say that's negative? Well, only two things:
- The gear changes are somewhat vague and rubbery, sometimes I was unsure if I had actually swapped gears. This may be because I am used to the agricultural gearbox of the BMW though. However, I never once missed a gear change so I think I would get used to this.
- The standard Honda indicators are foul. The bike is so sleek and compact they look huge. I will definitely swap these!
Finally, the test bike had ABS. The conditions were too perfect to test the ABS but the brakes themselves were very good.
So, am I buying one? I'll tell you after the pictures...
YES!
I have contacted one potential buyer for my BMW and as soon as it's sold I will be ordering myself a CB1000R in black, WITH ABS - partly because the brakes were so good, partly because they actually looked ok without the radial calipers, and partly because the non-ABS bikes won't be delivered until August but I can get an ABS bike in July!!!
Initial impressions:
+ It's tiny! I am not tall (176cm) but even I could get both feel easily down. It feels more like a 600 than a 1000cc bike!
+ It looks great! The details look just as good as an Aprilia.
+ The LED-light under the headlight looks much better in person than in pictures.
+ The black is a metallic black that sparkles in the sunlight.
+ Ergonomics are very similar to a Speed Triple; with a slight forward lean. A very natural position. The pegs are in a sporty but relaxed position.
+ The display is easy to read (or rather; the speedo is, and the revs if they are above 2000rpm, and the fuel gauge, everything else is a bit too cluttered to read whilst on the move).
[edit; forgot this comment] + The exhaust looks kind of bulky in some pictures but in person it looks much smaller and matches the rest of the bike well. [/edit]
Around town:
+ The clutch is light and easily modulated.
+ Not that you need it! This bike pulls cleanly without protesting from under 2000rpm. Perfect on slow roundabouts (which I could take in third gear!!!), and in traffic, etc. I never used the clutch once in any corner except for pulling away from lights! (And I am addicted to slipping the clutch in slow bends!)
+ The on/off fuel response is quite simply spot on! Some might wish for a more instant punch but I loved the user friendly response of the engine.
Motorway:
+ It is very windy! Much more so than my R12R.
+ The front wheel feels a little light over 120kph, but let's face it; you need a screen if you want to go faster. I tested up to about 160kph and though it was windy and a bit light it was still stable and safe.
Country lanes:
+ The bike was as much at home here as in town.
+ Suspension was great out of the box and I am sure could be improved to suit my weight.
+ The bike wasn't at all upset by bumpy sections of road.
+ It begs to be ridden fast though so hold on to your licenses!
+ No need for gear changing - I just stuck it in 6th and rode the torque curve! At least down to 50kph!
What can I say that's negative? Well, only two things:
- The gear changes are somewhat vague and rubbery, sometimes I was unsure if I had actually swapped gears. This may be because I am used to the agricultural gearbox of the BMW though. However, I never once missed a gear change so I think I would get used to this.
- The standard Honda indicators are foul. The bike is so sleek and compact they look huge. I will definitely swap these!
Finally, the test bike had ABS. The conditions were too perfect to test the ABS but the brakes themselves were very good.
So, am I buying one? I'll tell you after the pictures...
YES!
I have contacted one potential buyer for my BMW and as soon as it's sold I will be ordering myself a CB1000R in black, WITH ABS - partly because the brakes were so good, partly because they actually looked ok without the radial calipers, and partly because the non-ABS bikes won't be delivered until August but I can get an ABS bike in July!!!
