Redfish and hppants take a demo ride

[crumpadump]

Guys thanks for the RR. It's always enjoyable to read about someone else's ride this time of the year when the weathers so ****** up here. Very well done and thanks again.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Ah yes, the weather. That SkooterG is one lucky rascal. Friday it was in the high 50s when I got there and the sun was shining beautifully. The '14 Red FJR was glowing. The high that day was mid 60s. Yesterday's low was in the low 50s with moderate cloud cover and highs between 68 and 70. It was better than anyone with a motorcycle had any right to hope for in February.

Of course we had a massive hail storm at 5:30 this morning that dumped about an inch of rain. I need to go see what is damaged but I am sipping my coffee and don't want to get my fuzzy slippers wet.

 

[Burnspot]

Awesome report, thanks for that!

 

[hppants]

Fred - the aftermarket will be flooding the market with FZ-09 goodies, I'm sure. That bike will definitely appeal to mid-life crisis guy that wants another toy in his garage - one that he doesn't have to practice contorsion-ism to ride. Trouble is that mid-life crisis guy is usually fat from decades of 12-oz curls (DAMHIK). One simply has to straddle the tank on that bike if he's really going to push her. My 200 pound fat ass was putting those stock fork springs to the test.

OTOH - I'm hoping that Yamaha sales peeps will exercise restraint before selling this bike to a beginner kid. If not, the lawyers will be pulling the plug on this bike real soon. Sometimes I think the Asians may be on to something - you are licensed for the bike that you demonstrate you know how to ride.

 

[rushes]

Great report.

Thanks!

 

[Redfish Hunter]

You got to ride the beast. Yeah, I rode it too. Perhaps you'll remember my brief ride report from October. I will never forget that ride. The bike is indeed a heavy rascal, but once under way, it seems to lose a lot of weight. It has much stronger acceleration than either the FZ09 or the FJR. I kept asking myself: "Was the front end coming up, or was it still on the ground?" The insane acceleration made me think the front end would pop up any moment, but it didn't. With its longer wheel base, the front end thankfully remained planted. Though I doubt that I'll ever buy one (too much $$ for my blood) it's sure fun to ride one once in a while.

By the way, enjoyed the ride report. Thanks for investing all the time to post it.

Gary

darksider #44

Yes sir, I do remember reading that. Teacher, I always made A's in Reading Comprehension! I completely agree with you on all points. With regards to the weight, well I have been married to Mrs. Redfish for a very long time. I am used to heavy things. I had already ridden the three bikes that were "practical" but since hppants was going for a second demo ride, I went for it.

As my well educated friend Mr. hppants said to me yesterday, "This is the closest thing to Christmas in February we will ever get!" I took advantage of a great opportunity. SkooterG is awesome, but don't tell him I said so.

Nice report Redfish and HPants.
Gotta say, though I love the look of the VMax and would enjoy the speed, after a month or two I doubt I would have the same enthusiasm for it. To one dimensional for me.

Thanks again for sacrificing a morning to do the dirty work for the Forum.

Mark

You are spot on. The riding position is never quite right, whether at cruising speed or parking lot speed. The wind blast against your chest helps but... UNTIL!!! When you twist that right grip, all the engineering that went into the V-Max becomes instantly clear. The chassis, the massive V-4, the exhaust growling roar, and the seating position all become artistic perfection. Everything works in a harmony seldom found in any piece of equipment with that many components. But, its all over in seconds. I will tell you this: Before you twist that grip, have it pointed where you want to go. You are about to get there. I know it does not have the traction to reach its dragstrip potential but it will go from 0 to Death faster than you can say "SkooterG sucks."

How much ugly can you fit in one picture? Me, SkooterG, hppants.

Looks like a whole lotta hubba hubba to me...

You are too kind. I do so look forward to my opportunity to "Ride Bitch" on the back of whatever 3 wheeled contraption you happen to be riding!

I agree, Tyler. I met Scooter at the Orlando Converion Center. He's actually a good looking guy. It's that Scottish Kilt that I can't get out of my mind. It's burned in my vision, forever. I might need to seek professional help... )

Yes, you need professional help. And put the bottle down. No one should ever drink enough to be thinking thoughts like that.

Looks like you two had a fun day putting demo bikes through their paces...thanks for making the sacrifice for us!

--G

Well, it was difficult. Two lesser men could never have handled a job like this. Two strong men would not have had the courage to try. Ordinary men would have been killed. Fortunately, we not only survived, we thrived.

As more and more people ride the ES, the more open their eyes will be to the great advantages it contains! I knew it when I heard about it and was reconfirmed when I took delivery last November. Glad you guys had a great time! How far did you ride to get to the demo?

About 14 or 15 miles. But a surprisingly good variety, very well planned and executed. When I rode the ES I was actually seeking bumps and pavement ripples to hit so I could test the suspension. A shame because that was the only bike I felt completely in control of. I hope you enjoy yours, I am jealous.

So… no one dumped one of the bikes on the test runs? Hmmm… there is still work to be done - I will catch him in Daytona !!!
Great report and thanks for the tip on the roads. Maybe I will see you guys on my spring ride to Monroe?

BTW- I came close to landing an '04 ST before I scored my '05 FJR.

Well, I came close with Mr. Max at about 1 mph. Were it not for my superhuman strength and cat like reflexes... If only I could learn to ride.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Nice stuff, demo days are awesome. Always a few eye openers there. I'd like to test ride the VMax back to back with the Rocket III. The rocket is the only cruiser I've tossed a leg over that was scary to ride. Sounds like the VMax is the same. Fortunately I like the Rocket and they do a crappier job of holding their value so there's actually a chance I could own one.

I don't think we have to worry too much about the noobs snatching up the FZ09. It has far too little plastic and too little resemblance to a real race bike that ricky racer will continue to look beyond the FZ and go for the GSX-R1000.

Nice to see ScooterG taking advantage of a little southern hospitality. How he has no transportation is beyond me, doesn't he have a whole truck full of transportation?

Thanks for the RR, really enjoyed it.

 

[majicmaker]

I agree, Tyler. I met Scooter at the Orlando Converion Center. He's actually a good looking guy. It's that Scottish Kilt that I can't get out of my mind. It's burned in my vision, forever. I might need to seek professional help... )

Yes, you need professional help. And put the bottle down. No one should ever drink enough to be thinking thoughts like that.

I screwed up the quote lines, Redfish. But, my enjoyment of adult refreshments is quite moderate. I stand by my previous statement. Now.... Where the hell did I put the Mad Dog 20/20?

 

[hppants]

Nice to see ScooterG taking advantage of a little southern hospitality. How he has no transportation is beyond me, doesn't he have a whole truck full of transportation?

Good point. I was thinking yesterday that it would have been cool to have Scooter with us riding in the afternoon. R/H and I would have beat the snot out of each other competing for a turn on the ES, though. Come to think of it, I'd probably have the nod. Who wants to ride the ST?

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Nice to see ScooterG taking advantage of a little southern hospitality. How he has no transportation is beyond me, doesn't he have a whole truck full of transportation?

Good point. I was thinking yesterday that it would have been cool to have Scooter with us riding in the afternoon. R/H and I would have beat the snot out of each other competing for a turn on the ES, though. Come to think of it, I'd probably have the nod. Who wants to ride the ST?

That's just mean. In case you had not noticed (Skooter did, I caught him staring!) the riding pants make my butt look big. The ST1300 is wide enough to hide most of that. I would be hanging off both sides of the FJR saddle like a circus bear riding a bicycle.

Jasen, they are not allowed to use the Demo bikes for personal transportation. I am not sure why. Skooter usually rides his personal FJR but with the weather being so volatile this time of year, he opted for a flight instead.

I offered him my ST1300 but he said mean things and hurt my feelings...

 

[gixxerjasen]

hppants followed where I was going. Demo rides for hppants and redfish hunter, and he gets to ride your bikes. Thus, he isn't using them for personal transportation. And since it will likely end up in one or two sales of an FJR, it's all good.

 

[Hudson]

I think you were right stupid to bring Scooter home, Redfish. I wouldn't trust him six seconds alone with the missus. He'd crank up his gigolo charm, amped up by the Axe musk spray, and flash his pearly smile.

Boy's a man-whore, doncha know? How else you think he supports hisself? Certainly not by leading a pack of no-buying Gen I owners around on a test ride, that's for certain.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

He had no hope with Mrs. Redfish. She lives with a first class ******** Artist. There is nothing he could say to her that I have not already tried myself. She can see through his cheap pickup lines and his ****-eating grin.

Of course I was completely surprised to learn that he liked women...

 

[dcarver]

Me thinks a new fjr might be in the dCarver coffers.

As soon as I wear the gen2 out.

Maybe in another 10 years or so.

Nice RR, boyz!

 

[101stpathfinder]

Me thinks a new fjr might be in the dCarver coffers.As soon as I wear the gen2 out.

Maybe in another 10 years or so.

Nice RR, boyz!

Wear the '06 out BEFORE you buy the next FJR. Trust me on this one…

 

[majicmaker]

All this talk about Scooter, I wish I had his job! Lucky *******...

 

[hppants]

...How else you think he supports hisself? Certainly not by leading a pack of no-buying Gen I owners around on a test ride, that's for certain. ...

LOL!!!!! That one goes into the forum 10-best quotes, IMO!

 

[gixxerjasen]

Of course I was completely surprised to learn that he liked women...

That is the trick, sir. You are too busy watching your own ass around him and not paying attention to what he's doing with your wife...

 

[Fred W]

...How else you think he supports hisself? Certainly not by leading a pack of no-buying Gen I owners around on a test ride, that's for certain. ...

LOL!!!!! That one goes into the forum 10-best quotes, IMO!

:lol:

See that right there is the difference between working in Marketing vs. working in Sales: In sales you only make bank when you get someone to buy something.

 

[Top_Speed1]

Excellent writeup fellers. Enjoyed the thread, not sure if I would have the guts to park in a church's parking lot and getting preached to?

I likey 'pants follow-up as well. He thinks like me, and yes, you Gen1 guys need to wake-up and get into the 21st century. -jk, Gen-I, still the best