I was really sold on the sound and attitude of the cruiser, but the riding position of the bike really wasn't working for me...so I went into the Suzuki dealer and started talking to the salesman about what the best price he could get me on the Bandit was...it was a 2009 old/new stock, so I thought I could take advantage of the incentives that Suzuki was offering and dicker them down...but they were still $2000 higher than I felt comfortable parting with...so out the door I went...got onto my GS500 and rode away...(they wanted the same price for the V Strom...atleast the Strom was a 2010 and they only had the one)
So I was really thinking that my new bike for 2011 season dreams were over...then I stopped into the Yamaha dealer...they had a used Kawasaki Versys on consignment, so I went in to see the bike. I had sat on it in the fall and it was a nice fit, but something about the bike just didn't work for me...I can't put my finger on it, but I just didn't have any passion for the bike...
Well, I can put a finger on it...it was parked right next to it...and now it is parked in my garage...
Yup, 2006 Yamaha MT-01...I sat on the bike, and that was it...I went home and told the wifey that I was going back the next day to buy the bike...they were eager to get that bike off the show room floor (could have something to do with having two more to sell yet...)
I bought the bike on April 30th, 2011...and I have put on over 2,000kms so far...
The bike is a total beast, and that is what I have named the bike "The BEAST"...the torque is incredible. Would I have been just as happy with the 650cc bikes that I was looking at...probably, but now that I have this bike...how can I ever get anything without the torque...WOO HOO...
The only real down fall of the bike is that it isn't for everyone...that really isn't the big deal, it's when/if I ever want to sell it, I will probably have trouble finding a buyer...so I will ride it until it dies...problem solved...
Everytime I start the bike, I get a silly grin on my face...and when you are riding and play with the torque of the bike...it's hard to describe...electric motor type of torque, any gear, any time...just a huge wave of torque...but after riding the GS500 with the redline at 11,500rpm, it took some getting used to the 5,500rpm rev limitter...slammed into that thing a few times on my first couple of rides...I now think of it as my cruiser...one that can turn and stop really, really well...really well...
Anyway, here are a couple of shots I took of the bike and a video that I made on the first full day of ownership...rode it over 500kms that day...
I hope you like the pics and video...I know I like seeing them...
Later.
