6000 mile review

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
10/02/2020 at 20:33 • Filed to: None

Brakes - 7.5/10

They work just fine! Plenty of bite, good modulation. There is no ABS, which for a first motorcycle... I’m okay with? It’s good to know the limits of your equipment. Brakes are linked, which means when you squeeze the front brake lever, you get about 70% front brake and 30% rear. Hit the rear brake and and that ratio is reversed. I’ve had no issues with the system, although it doesn’t seem popular with the more experienced riders or track junkies who want complete control.

Suspension - 6.5/10

Let me preface this by saying I’m not particularly knowledgeable on suspension adjustments. I started with Honda’s stock setting, then bumped up rear preload by one notch (some kind of castle nut setup with 6 or 7 distinct levels of preload).

It’s fine. It handles moderately rough roads well enough, but seems to lag behind when the pace picks up. Even the smallest mid-corner bumps upset the bike significantly. Fork seems a bit undersprung for my 200ish pound self.

Ergonomics - 8/10

Perfectly comfortable when upright, but I’m unable to get the exact position I want for the real sporty canyon carving. See, when I slide back in the saddle, my knees are too far from the tank to grip it properly. If I don’t slide back—I can grip the tank how I want—but my torso feels to far forward when in a tuck. I normally just find a position in between those two extremes.

I think I’d also like pegs that were a tad more rear set, simply to help make attack mode feel even more natural.

Engine - 9/10

Sounds incredible. Plenty of torque in the early rev range, but reaaaaaally bursts into life around 5000rpm. A 3.5 second 0-60 might not be fast by modern bike standards, but for something that I can take cross country and commute in, it does the trick!

Throttle is very ubrupt. Not in a bad way, but this is very much a bike that rewards a steady right hand.

Transmission - 8/10

Honda has long been known for their steller manual transmissions, but truth be told... I’ve never bought into it. I’ve driven a lot of 90's and early 2000's Hondas, and the shifter feel has ranged from bad to fine. Going from a 300,000 mile Miata to a mint condition EK hatch, I was absolutely floored by how terrible the Civic felt in the shifting department. Tons of slop, poor clutch feel, components seemingly made out of rubber... And I was comparing to the stock Miata experience!

I’m happy to say that Honda has their shit together when it comes to the bikes. It’s a bit notchy, but you get a satisfying *KURCHUNK* with each gear snapping into place. Warm or cold, the shifting experience is universally great. Absolutely no issue finding neutral either, which a certain Italian motorcycle manufacturer still struggles with decades later!

Bonus features - 6/10

Storage. There isn’t any. Okay, you have a section under the passenger seat that can hold a few Toothbrushes, but that’s it. You’d be forgiven for thinking I’m talking about a naked bike, but I’m truth, Honda’s sport-tourer is just really lacking in the storage category.

No cruise is expected on a bike from the late 90's, but the lack of a gear indicator is a bit of a drag. Auto-canceling turn signals would be wonderful, but again I think that’s only recently become commonplace on bikes. PO added aftermarket heated grips which are an absolute godsend. The tachometer is an old-school needle front and center, as it should be. Same with the speedo. A million times better than the garbage digital gauges on half the new bikes where the tach is basically unreadable, because it’s in some strange format. Another plus is the temperature readout is given in actual units Fahrenheit. Modern ninja 400? You get five bars. Useless.

There’s also a choke, despite bring a fuel injected bike. I suppose this could be useful down the road with winter coming, but for now it just means my neighbors always know when I’m heading off to work.

Value 10/10

For $3k I got a low mileage example in absolutely perfect condition, in one of the most expensive bike markets in the country. Add over $1000 worth of touring bags, a handful of professionally done mods like the handwarmers and power ports, and the most thorough service records this side of a helicopter, and it’s hard to imagine finding a better value.

Total - 55/70

All in all, I’m very happy I picked this up as my first bike. Hopefully I’ll still be saying that after I schedule the overdue and expensive v alve clearance check! Now excuse me while I go look for winter tires...

DISCUSSION (14)

kleeBRZ > AestheticsInMotion
10/02/2020 at 20:58

great feedback!

tucking over the front wheel is supposed to be so motogp right?

rear sets can also be replaced with adjustable aftermarket ones too right?

Sounds like you’re pretty close to your ideal bike on the first try! how’s the fuel tank capacity for you?

BrokenMostWeeks > AestheticsInMotion
10/02/2020 at 21:02

It was super interesting reading when you first got this bike... as your first bike.

My neighbor has a VFR that is his daily, and I get goosebumps every time he leaves out on it- DAT SOUND!

Excellent choice and glad you’re having such a blast with it

AestheticsInMotion > kleeBRZ
10/02/2020 at 21:09

I get about 180 miles per tank. Either my gas gauge isn’t calibrated correctly, or something is going on to reduce fuel economy because it sounds like 210-230 is more common, with some documented cases in the 250 mile range.

One of these days I'll ride the bike until it runs out of fuel to see if the issue is the gauge calibration

AestheticsInMotion > BrokenMostWeeks
10/02/2020 at 21:10

I really want to find someone to ride my bike while I'm just sitting down outside, listening. I want to know how it sounds to the general public lol

BrokenMostWeeks > AestheticsInMotion
10/02/2020 at 21:58

If I were lucky enough to call SEA home, I’d be more than happy to assist!

Regardless , rest assured us peasants on the public side are quite jelly of the glorious sounds that bike makes haha

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > AestheticsInMotion
10/02/2020 at 22:26

It might be a personal thing but I’ve never felt any better trying to grip the tank with my knees even with the jeans or rain gear . Normally for sporty cornering riders are just sort of scooted back a few inches from the tank.

I suppose it depends on how much grip your seat and gear has on the surfaces. Tank grips can help a lot if you’re just doing armour jeans.

I’ve never really had an issue with the leathers, I find my inside foot is the foundation of stability for banzai cornering. My ass and outside leg get planted when I get it roll locked and I know the toe slider won’t hit the deck before my knee.

YMMV

OhCrikeyTheRozzers > AestheticsInMotion
10/02/2020 at 22:38

Glad it’s been such a good bike for you—still a looker in red and an outstanding value. Cheers!

shop-teacher > AestheticsInMotion
10/02/2020 at 23:00

That's a lot of miles in a relatively short time. Sounds like you chose well :)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
10/02/2020 at 23:42

Same way I feel about my subaru. I like when other people have driven it and I stood outside, it sounds great. Especially since I dont really hear it at all while driving it myself thanks to windows, a roof, and some sound deadening (compared to the miata).

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion
10/19/2020 at 15:46

Are you still interested in a monster at some point?

AestheticsInMotion > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/19/2020 at 18:47

I will own a Monster at some point. No question. I don't know if I want the VFR and a monster at the same time though. Seem to fill similar roles

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion
10/19/2020 at 21:06

I’m thinking about selling mine. If you were interested it would be yours. Not totally sure on selling it, but I have financial goals that would be accomplished much faster by selling, and I find myself riding the AT all the time and the Monster just sits.

AestheticsInMotion > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/20/2020 at 18:25

Oh man. You know how much I love your Monster, but I reaaaaaally can’t justify buying a bike.

I hear you on the financial goals part. There are days when I’ve had the thought of selling the Honda and commuting on bicycle. Or even—

*Sh udder*

P u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion
10/20/2020 at 21:21

That’s the answer I expected lol. If you change your mind at some point in the next year I’ll almost certainly still have it. I don’t need to sell it for my goals . And I do still love it. I just figured I’d throw it out there.

Bicycle commuting is great, and I would totally do it more if I lived closer to work. Highly suggest it, increases health and decreases fuel/maintenance costs to nothing!

Bad influence time... Sell the Honda, and buy my Monster! With everything that’s been done on it in the last 1500 miles it’s basically a new bike!

Actually, I would be sad. But better to be safe knowing it goes to a good home than some rando from craigslist or whatever.