All My Beneficiaries Rejoice!

Overpaid Slacker · 03-28-2005, 02:42 PM

I really resisted as long as I could... but in the end, I'm just a man:

Sorry for the stock photo, but it really does look EXACTLY like that, and it's 350 miles away right now. I essentially stole it from a buddy of mine, so if I survive my fascination with it (whether that's 2 weeks or 2 years) I should still be able to sell it for what I bought it for. rationalize rationalize rationalize ...

I could've picked up a nearly perfect '04 R1 for slightly more than I paid for the Mille, but this is plenty fast enough and handles better than the R1. ZX-7, RC-51, Daytona, GSXR 1100 ... I rode them all and just liked this the best. If I could've found an Agusta MV for a few dollars more, it might've been a different story.

Strange thing about this bike is rolling off the throttle in 1st gear has to be done very gently... otherwise the rear end jumps not unlike a shaft-drive bike.

Now I want it not just to get warmer, but for the roads to clear up!

JP

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Wow. Sweet!!

5axis · 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
I could've picked up a nearly perfect '04 R1 for slightly more than I paid for the Mille, but this is plenty fast enough and handles better than the R1. ZX-7, RC-51, Daytona, GSXR 1100 ... I rode them all and just liked this the best.
JP

curious as how you are "feeling" the better handling? Both the R1 and Gixer had more flick&stick than my riding talent could test. I tend to prefer a heavier, deliberate front end and a little softer tail so I can feel it squrim a bit before things get too exciting. (light compression damping and rebound)

Ps that bike's colors would almost match my leathers, all it needs is a bunch of scuff marks

Keep it right side up

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

What's your blood type? How's your liver? Kidneys? Dibs!

Eric Coffey · 03-28-2005, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 5axis
curious as how you are "feeling" the better handling?

Just speculating on OP's opinion, but I would guess the frame has the most impact in the "feel". The RSV frames are renowned for being extremely strong, light, and torsionally rigid. It is one of the best balanced (in terms of weight distribution) bikes on the road as well. Nice Score OP!

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Beautiful. I'm naked these days, but if I survive that maybe I'll move up to a liter beast...and Italian at that.

Joeaksa · 03-28-2005, 06:15 PM

Just enjoyed a ride today. Wear a good helmet, gloves and jacket and remember that they are out to kill you on a bike!

JoeA

BlueSkyJaunte · 07:43 PM

B!tchin'!

I rode the Falco during my sportbike testride phase and it was a hoot. The Mille should be a hoot^2!

Congrats!

grudk · 03-28-2005, 06:31 PM

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will be lookin' for you out there...

304065 · 03-29-2005, 05:59 AM

Wow. Thatis taking it to a whole new level.

Just make sure your beneficiaries stay beneficiaries and don't become heirs. (Says the aircraft owner)

Overpaid Slacker · 06:39 AM

5axis -
First off, I'm not an excellent/experienced rider. Most of my saddle time was on a 500cc Yamaha for a year in South Africa/Lesotho (and they actually are out to kill you there).

A group of friends are the wheelie/endo/watchtower knuckleheads, and through them I've tried a lot of bikes. One of these guys buys bikes that have been laid down and fixes them -- I mean really, actually fixes what needs fixing -- and then resells them. So he's got a couple of scuffed panels that I'm putting back onto the bike for the first few weeks of my ownership. Seriously.

Having ridden a bunch of bikes, I felt more confident leaning the Mille down (and not to knee-scraping angles) and she felt "nimbler" and very stiff. I will have to get used to the front brake "bite" on the Mille, which was very different from the other bikes.

The R1 has insane power; it just keeps on pulling in every gear... I don't need that. It's not like the Mille is under-powered (130hp) but it's more set up as a handling bike, which is what I wanted. In professional hands, any of the bikes I tried could be world-class, but the Mille felt like a scalpel more than a chainsaw and the hardest core riders I know said they'd take the Mille out if it was a day full of twisties.

Thom -
Dunno if you want the organs responsible for removing impurities from the body... having high-functioning kidneys and liver might turn you conservative.

JP

lendaddy · 03-29-2005, 06:33 AM

OS,

Between you and Motion I could live one hell of a vicarious life!

FWIW, I threw a leg over one of those at a bike show here a couple weeks back and my life flashed before my eyes just from that

Enjoy, and dibs on all U of M memorabilia

304065 · 03-29-2005, 06:35 AM

Quote:

A group of friends are the wheelie/endo/watchtower knuckleheads

The Jehovahs Witnesses have a motorcycle club for old Harleys???

Drago · Drago's Garage

JP...that's a hell of a bike ya got there. Excersize due caution and you should be fine...and always assume the cagers can't/don't see you. Also, invest in good quality protective gear.

Overpaid Slacker · 03-29-2005, 06:59 AM

Drago -
It's funny you mention "invest" b/c the protective gear that I'm looking at is not cheap. I still think I got a heck of a deal on the bike, but the total, all-in price, including helmet, gloves, leather jacket and steel jeans pushes me up nearer to market price on the bike.

sigh. pay to play.

JP

Rot 911 · 03-29-2005, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
Beautiful. I'm naked these days, but if I survive that maybe I'll move up to a liter beast...and Italian at that.

Todd, what did you end up getting?

gaijindabe · 03-29-2005, 07:09 AM

Route 28 is waiting! See you for lunch JP.

Overpaid Slacker · 03-29-2005, 07:15 AM

Amen, gajindabe -- I've spent a lot of time the past few weeks up on 28 and 30 (a buddy's parents have a home and 50 acres in Fleischman's). Once I get some confidence on this bike, I'll be frequenting those roads!

JP

5axis · 03-29-2005, 04:23 PM

Most of the modern sport bikes can be dialed in to your riding tastes, the trick is knowing how.

this will get you pointed in the right direction

http://www.sportrider.com/tech/suspension/

Go get some saddle time and be safe enough

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-29-2005, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Drago
..and always assume the cagers can't/don't see you.

Here in AZ you have to assume they're AIMING for you. Because they are. I can think of at least three distinct times when I've had a cager attempt to run me off the road or hit me from behind.

All hail superior power-to-weight ratio....