The deed is done, the Boss has been bought

When the the Duchess first saw the gixxer, she told me it was a male and definetly looks like the Boss bike. so he has a name already.
The deal all went smoothly, very sad to see Bo go. She was a good ole' bike that never let me down. I hope I have done the right thing.

Very nervous, very excited. The engine is *very* tight, definitley needs to be run in. The brakes too, they were alarmingly bad when I set off (in the olbigatory rain and rush hour traffic), but after a couple of 80mph to 0's thaey start performing. The engine note, even through the toblarones is very crisp and sporty. It definitely changes direction easier. The rear spendies sometimes over reacty to sharp bumps. To early to tell why or even if that will even out-I have only done 40 miles

I plan a quick Dorset trip prior to Marrakesh, but before that I am going to put on the goodies.

God I love the smell of a new bike. If you could bottle it, you could make a fortune.

I am an idiot.

I clean forgot that we are going away to Marrakesh for a shoort break, so very little riding will be done, plusI need to make sure the beast is *very* well locked and alarmed.

I have ordered a few bits and bobs to start making it more my own. A tail tidy, get rid of a few tons of PVC, a pair of trick exhaust hangers (gets rid of footrests, and a bit of weight saving) and a new black screen (the bike only has a small one, that I doubt I will be flat on the tank looking through.

Dosh date and bike swap

Never thought how complicated buying a bike can be. Main complication is insurance swapping from one bike to another, this had to be done at a specific time. So I have arrange to pick the bike up next friday at mid day. This means I *must* arrive before mid day otherwise my old insurance will run out. I must also leave after mid day on the new black gixxer. But before this can happen I have to get a cover note to the dealers so he can tax and register the beast.

My own test

Okay, so thanks to some pretty good advice on the Forum and a thorough rethink, I tested the new R1, the GSXR1000 and 750.

First the R1-sooooooo disappointing. I could barely detect any difference in a positive way, but definitley some negs. The fueling is bad at below 5000 and throttle responce slow. There were times when it felt lke the ECU on the fly-by-wire was reading its emails rather than givng the bike instructions. Very underwhelmed.

750 is really fun and surprisingly loud. Very revhappy too. But I miss the grunt.

1000, seems as quick as my geared down R1 but with a bit more torque, plus I am smitten by its handling. You can change lines easier, and he bike feels narrower across the sadle so you can hang off with much more ease. Trouble is I hate the end cans-titanium and chrome flairs that stick out alot. I have got very used to underset exhausts.

Mmmmmm. Maybe just maybe I will plump for the Gixxer.

The definative test

The Duchess bought me a copy of Superbike magazine. It has the "definative test" on the new crop of litre missiles. I read on expecting that all my preconceptions will be confirmed. Trouble was the test was not quite as definative as billed....

I registered with the Super bike forum, I will let that continue the story
Tidal force test - surely must be wrong

First sight

I have now not only seen the new 07 R1, but also done some horse trading with my local dealers. One of whom have offered a very good price for my old bike.

There are some things I don't like about the look of the new R1 -the extra Catalytic converter, and the change to the clocks, but the rest looks great-particularly in black.

I should book a test ride, but the last change from 01 to 04 was brilliant. This *has* to be as good again. The press continue to rave.

The Duchess gives approval

After some fairly general talk about how much money is involved, the Duchess approves. Here I have to put in a pretty positive word for my wife, as she was the one who suggested I bought my first R1.

I never thought I really needed a bike larger than a 750, and R1's are royalty. When I described it like that to her, she told me I really should have one. I have noticed this is not the normal response wives have to bike buying. I am a lucky man.