I had one out today, obviously proper roads with no traffic to mention.
Now...My only recent experience of a new bike was the R9T Scrambler, I had this from 2017 until I fucked off in 2021, loved it, apart from the suspension, which I did eventually dial in to be satisfactory, the seat was always going to be a masochistic thing for me...It was fucking purgatory. So my experience of new bikes is obviously limited, I am an old duffer who likes boneshakers it seems.
Anyways my true passions are V Twins and V 8`s.
So got on the Hornet today in the town of Castelo Branco, nice day 20C, dry, blue skies...Headed out to the mountains from whence I came.
It was very good around the town as I left, slow 50KMH limits everywhere and it was a delight to ride, no surging, fluffing or anything like in sport mode, so left it where it was, in sport mode...I was impressed by the TFT thingy in direct sunlight, no difference to when I got on the bike in shade, so that is good, very good...The sound was glorious, V Twinish, no, pure V Twin! (weird!)
So out into open country and the thing was just fucking sublime, smooth, powerful, predictable...Now I am not used to these 200BHP bikes, but I have to question....200BHP, that must be like taking crack cocaine with heroin...I would be dead in a week or less!
This thing howls as you give it the berries, it fucking loves it and with traction control on, it still lifts the front wheel...I am no wheelie merchant, but turned it off and scared myself shitless...But I reckon because the power delivery is so linear and full on power through the rev range you could become a wheelie master, it really is that smooth and predictable...Powering out of corners was satisfying and braking going in was equally predictable and satisfying, very good. You can pre set the engine braking, so you could fine tune it for a familiar route and have an utterly brilliant ride...
Suspension was adequate for my 83Kg mass and the seat was comfortable for the duration...I have a one hour arse and it seemed to cope with this fine and being a shorty fucker at just over 5`7" there was plenty of room for me to move around and ample leg room for my stumpy little 29" legs
...I can flat foot the fucker as well, not something I can do with any of my other bikes, especially the DR800! But I like a challenge.
How it looks...I think we can all agree that it looks like shit, it really does...But once on it, you can`t see it, mirrors were good as well and with minimal vibrations you can actually see what is behind you without having to grip the bars tightly to minimise vibrations, because there are not any!
In conclusion....I just fucking ordered it in Branco ( White) with a quickshifter, as it is worthy of one.
I will either be dead in the next 12 months, or looking forward to the accessories that will inevitably become available for such a brilliant bike to make it a little better.
Go ride one.