One of my brothers is involved in a small way with a Honda dealer, Hunt's Motorcycles in Manchester [Click HERE for Hunts website]. A couple of times a year Honda have a road show where members of the public can have a spin on the latest models. The week of 13/14th February was this years event. It bloody cold to begin with, however the cold was kept out by my new long-johns I got the day before in Ashby. Highly inelegant but toastie warm. In contrast the afternoon was almost balmy at 9 degrees, until the sun started heading for the horizon. Blue skies all day and very little wind. My brother had asked me to come along and help marshal the ride outs. It is strange that some people think they can turn up and trash other peoples bikes. When you have 170 brake horsepower on tap that is very fast and dangerous on ordinary suburban roads and even on motorways. I have something of a reputation and my job is to discourage folks from tearing off on the bikes. I know a few of the top brass that do the roadshows so whilst we waited for the shop owner to turn up we had some blokish banter. A very refreshing change of pace from work especially as we help the butty van to get positioned and they were quick to get the brews and bacon butties on.
My brov was keen for me to have a spin of the new VFR1200F. Which I did. I did not get on with it at first. As the day went on and speed went up the VFR really showed where it was best and that is at higher speeds of motorway or fast "A" roads. There was loads of torque, completely neutral steering and very stable. The colour coded, integral panniers were rubbish considering it meant to be a touring bike. I guess that is the compromise for the styling and massive exhaust. The trouble is the Pan European still exists and each time I had to ride it I felt right at home.
The Gold Wing was a laugh. I cannot take it seriously. Everyone plays with the toys and forgets about riding which might be the point. It is very comfortable and the heated seats and grip were very welcome in he early morning. It is the physical size that gets me. H and I were talking about bikes and she said she liked the freedom. I questioned freedom. H said the idea you can filter in traffic, the quick acceleration, park in small spaces, always get on a ferry even if you turn up last minute and in that sense I think she is right. The Gold Wing does not tick all those boxes.
We had someone stall a Fireblade and fall off at zero miles per hour. Brov directed traffic, I picked up the bike, made him and bike safe then got it started again. I drove it back, the wally got to ride the DN01 which is 800cc twist and go. He got the shock of his life back at the showroom. The waiver he signed meant any accident had a £1000 excess. He scratched the exhaust, alternator cover, bar ends, levers and some other bits pieces. The bill came to £1200. It put a bit of a damper on the day for a few hours but we soon brightened up. He was a berk and obviously though he was better rider. Stalling one thing. Stalling and falling off is quite another.
It was good to talk bikes for a few hours and generally have some blokish banter. On balance the Pan is the all round bike to have. But for weekend blasts and the occasional long run I would not have a VFR but would have the CB1000RR instead. The CB is fast, nimble and stable. It has a good seating position, not too sports bike cramped although being naked the weather protection is minimal but I guess that is the trade off. the VFR is heavier but could do longer journey's with ease but the weather protection is that much better than the CB. The CBR600 and CBR1000 are too focused as sport bikes and far too fast for the road. The other Honda's marques don't register with me. Models such as Hornet, Deauville, CBX, DN01 and latest niche Honda, the Fury [Click HERE for a picture]. It is just wrong but folk buy them. I have no idea why.
I have never bought in the American dream. We are European by geography and British in outlook. Where USA uses brute strength the UK use engineering and brains and much the same can be said for the Japanese. I cannot reconcile riding a Harley wearing denim and leather like a bad boy Hell's Angel but trundling round UK cities or trundling in groups round the country "A" roads. It must be a life style thing but why pick the USA? I could see the point in the US of riding Harley or other chopped or semi-chopped bikes in wide open spaces of the US or on California Pacific Highway but shows a sign of weakness to buy so heavily into USA culture and do it part time in the UK, accountant by day - Hell's Angel wannabe on a sunny Sunday.
I have ridden many Harley's but they do not make sense. They are brash; mechanically unsophisticated, technically better than they were, it has to be said but that is not saying much, woeful handling but then they are not designed for corners and bobbins brakes. What message are putting out. Like Ferrari's it is a cry for help or someone trying to project an image but as anyone knows there is a way to project a wealthy image. The price tag for a top of the range but standard offering is nearly £20,000. The sky is the limit for the extras.
All in all a splendid day out. Perhaps next time brov can persuade Hunts to let him and his buddy Murph run the show. Hunts and Honda chaps have no real clue how to manage the ride outs. I am not complaining, I got to ride for free and was fee and watered all day and it was sunny. What more can you ask for?
