As the Moto Guzzi is in for its 1st service Paul Dedman http://www.pauldedman.com/ lent me a Aprilia 750 Shiver to use while he has it in. What an awesome little bike! Very light, very flickable, the engine although not hugely powerful has a lot of torque from very low in the rev range and will accelerate you up to 100+ MPH with no drama at all. Quoted figures is 75BHP or there about's and it feels it, my 600 puts out 109, but in a completely different way, in that all the power is at the top end, where the Shiver doles it out lower in the range and then gets a bit breathless when hitting high RPM figures. The bike is crying out for a straight through pipe as the stock item severely quietens what feels like must be a wonderful sounding engine underneath it all, down to the pops and bangs on the overrun! Mono wheel antics are perfectly viable, even with the lack of top end power, due to the engine torque and the (conformable) seating position. There are 3 power modes for the bike, quite why when you only have 75 BHP to play with, it makes sense with something like a 197BHP S1000 for example, but unless your a complete novice you wont ever take it out of the S mode. The brakes are superb, one finger to rapidly bring the thing to a stop, and the feedback is great. The little fly screen keeps buffeting down more than you'd think, and as before its a comfy bike to sit on. Perfect for new riders, more experienced would probably prefer the Tuono, if that¹s the style your after. Only real critism is that at very low revs the throttle response is a little snatchy, so a little clutch dragging is required, but other than that - a great little tool! -- Gavin. For the fast road: Suzuki GSXR600K1 For the slow road: Moto Guzzi Cali For the track: <gone> For everything else: Citroën Berlingo Twitter: http://twitter.com/gavin_wilby Blog: http://eekafreek.com
It apparently it is mapped to be thus. Not performed one intentionally yet but had the front end a bit light a couple of times. I put it on to 'T' when the lad is riding pillion as it smooths the low revs throttle repsonse. Quite so. A taller screen fits on very easily for long distance work I'm told. And old gimmers who want something a bit lighter and definitely cheaper, See comment above - but even in 'S' a bit of practice from years of hill climbing soon tames it. Haven't got round to dropping the front of mine a tad which is supposed to cure the slight tendency to run wide coming out of bends. Also talk of a narrower rear tyre on the latest models which helps sharpen it up a bit. I'm greatly looking forward to taking mine to Pahnd Island in June. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
Ah cool - Im gonna try and meet up with whoever wants to again [1] this year - maybe Ill see you when your over. [1] Was privileged to meet Ogden and Ginge last year. -- Gavin. For the fast road: Suzuki GSXR600K1 For the slow road: Moto Guzzi Cali For the track: <gone> For everything else: Citroën Berlingo Twitter: http://twitter.com/gavin_wilby Blog: http://eekafreek.com
Ill tel you what it cant do though, it seems to HATE fast corners. Out on it today, and come flying into Windy Corner, which is smooth, flat and open, it flatters most bikes. The Shiver tied itself in knows, weaving all over the place - not nice at all... -- Gavin. For the fast road: Suzuki GSXR600K1 For the slow road: Moto Guzzi California Aquila Nera For the track: <gone> For everything else: Citroën Berlingo Twitter: http://twitter.com/gavin_wilby Blog: http://eekafreek.com
Were the tyre pressures correct ;-) Oops. They are inclined to run a bit wide. On advice from a euromoto list person in Italy I'm going to let the forks through the yokes a bit, however, that might even accentuate such behaviour. I must further explore the envelope on some familiar territory round here when the spring arrives. Didn't seem to bad back in November. I know how well the Voxan used to go round there, including riding round the outside of someone taking the racing line on something much sportier on the face of it. Most surprised they were. So I'll be able to make a direct comparison in June. Perhaps I'll fit a steering damper before then. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
Very small voice. Checked the back and it needed an extra 25psi putting in it - felt much better today. Ill be having a quiet word on the supplier. -- Gavin. For the fast road: Suzuki GSXR600K1 For the slow road: Moto Guzzi California Aquila Nera For the track: <gone> For everything else: Citroën Berlingo Twitter: http://twitter.com/gavin_wilby Blog: http://eekafreek.com
Phew! <Cancels order for steering damper> -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
