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Buell Forum » Tale Section (Share your tales of adventure here.) » Archive through October 17, 2006 » Last Wednesday I booked a test ride on some exotica.

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Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 05:11 pm by Rocketman

Last Wednesday I booked a test ride on some exotica.

Three Cross Motorcycles were having an Italian open day this Saturday. They sell Sachs, Cagiva, Moto Guzzi, Benelli, Ducati and MV. In the case of MV, they are the UK's official importer.

The shop is situated in a purpose built and modern unit in Ringwood, Dorset,the reality of which means they couldn't be further away from my home town if they tried. They're about 5 miles from the seaside of the glorious South West of England. Any further away and I'd have been out to sea. Depending on which route one takes, about 300 miles from my home.

I'd booked a few rides last Wednesday, my first at 2o\c then 3o\c then 5 o\c. If you're ten minutes late, tough, you lose your slot. I'd set my alarm for 6 30am Saturday and true to form I slept in. I rolled out of the juice station at five to nine on the 916, leathered up, carrying nothing more than a disc lock and a pair of shades. Heavy traffic on the A63 but after 13 miles it's motorway. The M62, M18 and M1 motorways offer a continuous ribbon of tarmac for 120 miles until the turn for Oxford. The main route to Oxford is all but motorway type roads anyway so I covered the first 150 miles or so in a couple of hours. Yes I was pegged for a lot of the time!

After Oxford it was a few miles to Hungerford, a quaint old English market town; then the real hard work started. After Hungerford you have to make your way to Salisbury,then Ringwood, just north of Poole. Twisting switchbacks, narrow tree lined roads and blind bends are the order of the day; old world villages, many with thatch roof houses and cottages, old pubs and tranquil streams dot the journeys route. Sometimes the odd caravaner blocked the road but not for long before the 916 got their measure. I was on a mission, those first couple of hours eating the easy miles, this was the hard part of the planned route, three hours of which might not prove enough if the roads are more unpredictable than first thought.

I needn't have worried though. I arrived in Ringwood, hot under the leather, with nothing more than half a tuna sandwich and a bottle drink in me, and after three fuel stops, with a half hour to spare. I'd made it. 302 miles clocked in bang on 4 1/2 hours.

I presented myself to the staff at Three Cross only to learn that my chosen ride had broken. It wasn't a problem, there were others, but I'd have to wait until 5o\c to test ride what I really wanted to ride. That in the end was rather fruitful as it turned out. Meanwhile I had an hour and a half to spare. I relaxed with a couple of bottles of water, met some of the other folks who'd turned up for rides, and I took in the vast amount of stock on display, several MV F4 750's and 1000's, two Agostini 1000's at Ł21500 a piece, one sold already, a host of Ducati's, Multistrada, SS, Monsters of every denomination, 749's and 99's galore, Cagiva V Raptor's including the special edition one dripping in carbon. The Sachs range included that funky 50cc thing that looks like an overgrown mountain bike. If I was a kid I'd want one! There's also a host of Benelli triples there too, and damn cheap at Ł8000 each, and their street fighting brother the TNT is well represented too. In fact it's nearly 3o\c and there's a TNT awaiting my presence right outside the door.

Three TNT's and a Brutale were the four bikes on this session. The shop guy asked us not to overtake but hang back if you wish to go fast. First impressions when I get on the TNT, the bars are wide and flatter than I prefer perhaps, the key is buried down a hole in the front of the petrol tank thus the key is rather weird. No big deal. I crack her into life and roll off. My feet seem like they're tucked under the engine but they're not. In truth she's pretty comfortable, perhaps helped because the whole bike feels soft. On the open road it wasn't long before I was opening the throttle in anger.

Man that triple motor pure howls like only a triple can, except you've never heard a triple like this. It barks at you like a Formula 1 car on song!

Was it a nice bike? The TNT is not much more than Buell money over here. It is well put together and typically Italian - read quirky. The instrument binacle is a nice touch too. Digital information and a nice style in fitting with the bike. The bike itself looks great in the flesh and it would be hard to find anyone that could knock it for its good looks.

Well what does it go like? It goes like hot snot. It handles great, holding a line and changing a line. The suspension is soft but seems well suited to the roads we were on, handling road imperfections well, she never got out of shape even when I tried upsetting her a little. That said, I didn't try that hard of course. I did try hard to give it some though, and I did enjoy it a lot. Fast, yes. Good handling and comfort and I'm sure would make a practical bike. How fast it goes top-end I don't know, but it didn't feel faster than I remember my S1W. In fact, it felt like a nice bike, very easy to ride, not requiring muscles and brawn to haul it around. Not my kind of bike then, but I'm sure the TNT would satisfy many. The sound of that triple is addictive! Time to take her back.

I spent the next hour or so chilling out. Took in the clothing department. Bought a super Ducati top in there, and acquired a cool Brutale poster.

It's 5o\c and the time has come. Ever since November 1999 when I cheekily climbed up onto the MV stand while no one was looking,and sat on the display Brutale, I've wanted to ride. I've spoken with several MV dealers, even waited for one to get me a demo bike on stock, and waited....and waited....and waited, and nothing happened. I visited the Road and Racing Show in London's 'Ally Pally' two January's ago, just so I could get a picture of me sat on one. Well, no good buying a bike you look a prat on is it! I went to the Northwich and watched Mark Potter, MCN's editor, win the Thunder Sprint on one. I talked to him about the Brutale, as I have done others who've been fortunate enough to ride one. They all share one thing in common, they absolutely raved about the thing. How very quick it was. How it handles as good as the best super bikes the world has to offer, and you know what, it's all true. The Brutale is a superb handling bike. Confidence not needed. An absolute peach to ride and ride in anger. There's nothing I could attempt to tell you that hasn't been told better by professionals already.

Well actually there's a couple of things. The Brutale is a mean beefy looking son of an Italian gun. Its presence in front of you is awesome. If it had a bad side to look at, it could only be the view looking at the front corners from a distance. that said, no way in any shape or form is the Brutale a bad looking bike. This is indeed one of Massimo Tamburini's finest, and it shows in all the minor details.

But there is one thing that Tamburini couldn't design into the Brutale, a certain amount of meanness. To be fair, it's not his fault really. He didn't design the motor. Ferrari helped do that, and how well they did. It's an in-line four of Italian design, and very good it may be, but it feels Japanese. I wasn't expecting this. It didn't have a raw edge. It didn't shake or vibrate as such. At least not enough to add real character to the motor. It was pretty gutless below 4 grand. Of course, once it was on the boil it was bloody fast but was it as fast as some had lead me to believe. Actually it wasn't. It might do 155mph top on a good day and get there rapidly but its characteristics didn't enthrall like I was hoping they would. Overall a great bike, but at Ł10500 not worth selling a 916 and an S1W for.

Yes I found out what I really wanted to find out about the Brutale. Would I like one? As a primary bike I'm sure I'd be more than happy, did I mention the humungo power wheelies, but I'd be left wanting a powerful Buell S1W as my ultimate bike.

You know what disappointed the most about riding the Brutale? I couldn't help feeling the motor was, despite all its capability, wheezy and highly strung, and more than anything it didn't feel like it was pulling my arms out of their sockets. I know that's a well phrased expression never really to be true, and I agree, I've ridden a good few fast bikes. R1, Blade Busa etc, but never have I really had my arms wrenched as hard as the expression suggests.....until now!

At all costs, if like me you're a speed freak and speed runs in your veins rather than blood, sell your children, sell your wife. Hell, sell everything, including your soul to the devil if it means you get to ride an MV F4 1000.

2nd gear, about 30 - 40 mph, twist that throttle to the stop, and I mean to the stop, and you will have difficulty hanging on. I'm not kidding. This bike leaves you behind. It has simply gone from under you unless you're quick. The F4 1000 really does want to pull your arms off. It power wheelies in 3rd fer chrisakes, as you're exiting the corner hard.

Having ridden my 916 300 miles to get there that very morning, the F4 1000 felt very familiar. I got on it, and within an instant I felt like I'd owned it forever. It's a hell of a lot smoother, and easier to ride than my 916. The F4 needs no hustling to get around a corner. It's planted and behaves impecably. This is a serious missile on two wheels, and I loved it. I loved it that much, it put me off the Brutale the instant I rode it. What the Brutale lacks completely for me is that physical raw feel that I love in a motor. The thousand motor has it in buckets. It vibrates. It feels very sharp, but more importantly, it feels alive. It's a real bag of guts, blood 'n' all, and you really need to hear the thing on the pipe, or should I say those superb looking under seat four pipes.

I liked every bike I rode. I actually rode the Brutale twice in the end, and I especially loved trying to power wheelie it off the throttle in 2nd. I enjoyed slowing it down from high speed fast, making the rear slide from side to side.

As for the TNT, on the second occasion I rode the Brutale, one of the shop guys on a TNT got away from me as we both waited for a car to turn right. Despite my efforts the Brutale could not gain significantly on that mile long straight. Nice bike both. The MV F4 1000 was a revelation in power and performance. No one could not like this bike.

6.30pm Saturday, one new Ducati top squashed under the 916's single seat unit, I headed home. Arriving at 11.30, less traffic on the road and a slightly more motorway orientated route, despite a good 30 minute stop for food and another three fuel stops, I'd had the hammer down all the way and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. 598 miles on the clock and another 60 or so test driven miles on two Brutale's, an MV f4 1000 and a TNT, I was fair whacked. Man did I enjoy those two Worthington's creamflows in the local when I got back.

Conclusion - I don't want a Brutale!

Rocket

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R1DynaSquid

Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 05:43 pm:

Fella I know just bought an MV F4 1000. Supposed to have it with him when he comes up here in 3 weeks. Hoping to score a ride on it & see what all the fuss is about.

Rocketman

Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 06:32 pm:

Hoping to score a ride on it & see what all the fuss is about.

Sounds like you're gonna moan whatever - as usual Dyna LOL. It's everything a race bike you're R1 is not. That's not to beat down your R1 at all. In comparison to an MV F4 1000 you're riding a very fast sports tourer not made in Italy, which should give you a clue.

Rocket

Sandblast

Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 07:14 pm:

Uh-Oh

Sandblast

Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 07:24 pm:

Here you go Dyna

Jerry_haughton

Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 07:41 pm:

Rocket, there are many reasons i'm glad you're still around, and reading your vivid words above - and the ability of those words to place me in your leathers for a few moments - is one of the reasons.

great stuff, what a weekend for you!

Denise and i just got back from about 120 miles on the Thong, no big deal, just a slow, easy putt up into the Sequoia's for lunch and such.

the S1W glistens these days - i've finally got the cosmetics about detailed to perfection. no bolt-on's, mind you (save for the V&H), just the factory bits mostly, but most of them fettled and filed and sanded and rubbed and polished to a jewel-like lustre.

after binning the thing last year in BattleTrax (sigh, for the second time), the original tank showed some pavement scars, and our friend Al at American Sport Bike scored me a deal on an NOS "Manta Ray" tank, which glows like a Molten Orange pearl in the southern California sun.

as usual, the Thong drew a crowd as we were leaving the Ponderosa. i think every employee there, along with several patrons, were flocked around the bike, asking questions and the like, and flattering in their comments and compliments.

EVERYBODY wants to hear it run (including me), and EVERYONE smiles when it pops off (including me). we left calm and easy, no theatrics. (which are better left to pros, anyway. Court, you available? ; )

)

the run down the Kern River Canyon was as sedate as the up-run, but satisfying in a way that's hard to put into words. the S1W is not the world's best sport-touring mount, but still excels at a ride like today (even two-up, with the Twintail option), and the bike seemed not the least disappointed that i never put the whip to it today. it knows it's time will come.

again and again.

Rocket, i know it's been a long, often bumpy ride. i'm amped that you're still in love with your White Lightning, and as a fellow owner i can easily understand why.

thank you again for your words, and i hope my feeble attempt to reciprocate gave you some pleasure, too.

did you see the pix of the MV F4 i took on the way back from Laguna Seca? sadly, i don't remember if it was the 750 or the 1000, but, regardless, i do know that i was bitten by it's beauty and brilliance.

ride to lean,
Ferris

ps: oh yeah, the videos are cool.

Rocketman

Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 10:22 pm:

Well thank you Ferris. I did see your pics on the other thread. I'm not certain I know how to tell the difference yet between the two models but I think that's a late 750 as in the one with the later 750 motor. You can see it has the later silver wheels. That's the only give away. I know the F4 1000 has titanium pipes so they didn't paint them black like they did on the earlier 750, but I'm not sure whether the later 750 has ti pipes too. Oh well.

I'm glad you liked the Sunday sermon. As you know, it represents a very small portion of a mini MV adventure.

Everywhere I went I was met by people offering their hand. In a filling station somewhere on the M1 a bloke was admiring the 916, wanting to shoot the breeze about when he use to ride.

Thrashing through the hidden villages of Wiltshire I came across a rider on a Bostrom rep 998. It looked great riding along side. The rider was wearing red and blue Alpinestar leathers and their latest fast looking streamlined boot. Slimmer than I, he looked every bit the part. I thought I was in trouble when I overtook him. About 70 miles later he rolled up at Three Cross. I couldn't help greeting him with a 'I beat yer'! He was a nice guy, about my age too. The Bostrom was one of several 916 genre Duc's he'd owned, an by far the best he reckoned. He'd gone to ride the F4 1000. When I caught up with him later, he'd loved it. Not in the biblical sense of course.

I got friendly with another guy there too. He'd turned up on his Kwak ZX9R, only finding out the event was happening that morning. He lived about 10 miles away, so it was no big deal for him to get there. He was bowled over to get the opportunity to ride the TNT. It didn't disappoint either. He wanted to buy one.

I met two other guys in a service station in Salisbury. They weren't traveling together yet they both came over and we shot the breeze for 15 minutes whilst I took on water and laid on the pavement. The guy on the new Sportster had owned three Ducati's it turned out. He'd binned two, without serious injury to himself, but the same apparently could not be said of the Duc's. The third Duc he'd owned was stolen from him so he thought someone was trying to tell him something. He went from sports bike to Sportster and said he was loving every minute of it. Good for him I say. We laughed when I told him I'd gone from two Sportsters and a Buell to a 916 at 43 years old, and I too was loving every minute of it. The guy on the R6 wished he had a Sportster and a 916. Poor sucker LOL.

Another cool moment I had, I'm cruising at about 110mph heading east out of Oxford on the A43 towards the M40, on my homeward journey. I saw two distinctive light patterns in my mirror. Obviously two bikes. They were catching so I knew they were interested. When they got real close, we were all in the outside of three lanes, I gunned it. I hit 140 odd before slowing for traffic in our lane. This went on for about 10 miles, me holding the commanding position, until I decided to see what I was dicing with. As the first bike came past the rider gave me a look over and a thumbs up, obviously impressed at the 916 and its stylish pilot <grin>, so much so that I was distracted by his gesture and didn't pay attention to what just passed me. When the other bike came by I recognized it instantly. It was nothing other than a silver Kwak ZX12R. As for the other bike, I could see it was 1997 registered and looked every bit like a Bandit 1200 with flat street fighter bars. No way did a Bandit 12 just come past me at over 140 mph, so i set about trying to get along side again for a closer look. Every time I tried it was like showing a red rag to a bull, and off we all went again. The ZX12 was equal in acceleration up to all the speeds we reached. The Bandit though, it had the legs on me. Only just, but still enough to stop me getting along side. Every time he opened it up it bellowed out loads of smoke. The pipe was loud on it too and I could hear a free breathing right old rasp coming out of her. Eventually I used the traffic to get alongside and then it became obvious. Sitting in that Bandit 12 was a big block, though I couldn't make out who's. The big oil cooler up front should have given it away. just in time I peeled off north onto the M40. They went the other way, never the Twain....

I had another surprise on the way home. When you hit the M18 there's no fuel on the motorway except for one service area that's about a quarter of a mile off the motorway. Consequently I always plan to get further toward home before I need my last fill-up. The 916 is kind of new territory in this respect. I've not really worked out where that amber fuel light lights up. After 20 miles with it bright I bottled it and peeled off for fuel at this alien service area. I sat and had coffee and chilled for a short while. There I was, sat at the table all on my own, except for about three people working there, when I spots a packet hanging on one of the pegs. BEEF JERKY! You're kidding. I've never seen Beef Jerky in this country, that is until now. You bet I bought some. Brought back memories of my time with a mountain man in Colorado. Only 35 miles up the road from here, I might go back for more.

Rocket

Reepicheep

Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 09:18 am:

Great story Rocket! I got to see an MV in person visiting a friend in Germany. He ended up buying the Cagiva Raptor that was beside it. The MV really is a wonderful bike to just sit and look at.

The Raptor was neat as well, but more in a "bang for the buck" way then a "thats a work of genius" way.

The fact that you can now buy used S1's around the states here for $4000 US (about 20% less then the price of a new R6) is just amazing... and terribly tempting.

(Message edited by reepicheep on August 02, 2004)

Bomber

Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 09:52 am:

those MVs are soooo sexy . . . .. .. everything you'd ex[pect from an Italian scoot!

Rocketman

Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 12:51 pm:

I know what you mean about cheap S1's Bill. I've seen the odd one here advertised around Ł4000. Once saw one for Ł3800. That's around half the price of a new one in 1998. Those who bought imports before mid to late 1997 probably paid between Ł10000 and Ł12000 depending on who imported.

In the end it's all relative. Your dollars are pretty similar to our pounds in terms of our respective environments. Lucky for me I could probably pick up an S1 in the states for about Ł2300, a real bargain then, where as if you come over here with dollars you're gonna be screwed down to the floor!

Interesting you saw your first MV in Germany John. The first limited edition Agostini F4 1000, a very exotic piece of kit, has just been bought by a German millionaire. In collusion with the guys wife, MV had Ago ride it to the blokes house whilst the lucky fella was celebrating his 60th birthday with a garden party. Apparently, he broke down in tears, as I probably would if Ago rode one to my house.

Whoa, just wait until the F4 1000 Tamburini is finished. If I splash out thirty grand maybe Ago will ride it over LOL

Rocket

Blake

Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 03:29 pm:

Great tale Rocket. I gotta go for a ride now!

Rocketman

Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 04:45 pm:

I'm glad you liked it Blake, and thanks for the 'Tail Section'.

I think it's fair to say this 916 has breathed new life into me. It's what I've been missing for some time now.

I find myself liking this bike a great deal. Don't get me wrong, it's a bloody chore getting ready for a ride, and it's a bloody chore filling the thing up too. Takes me about ten minutes to get the 916 out of the garage, me in leathers and boot's, then close and lock the door, fire up Duc, put lid and then gloves on, but I assure you it's worth it. Half the problem though is those Alpinestar GP gloves. They're breaking in well, despite the blisters on the throttle palm of my hand after this weekend LOL, but getting them on takes a good minute or so, and even longer getting them back off again. The thing is, you can't ride a 916 in anger if you've not got the right gear on. Simple as that. The 916 is a typically encouraging machine even on a poor day. Anyway, it's lit my fire and I enjoy owning her. Imagine a life with a S1W as well. Must pull my finger out soon. There's work to be done in them their Yorkshire hills.

Thanks again.

Rocket

Court

Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 08:49 pm:

Rocket:

I've been a fan of the MV Agusta since they came out. I have three friends that bought them and love them.

They are truly one of the sexiest motorcycles ever made.

Your words, irrespective of the current "target bike" are always fun to read. Thanks for the great read!

Court

Rocketman

Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 09:39 pm:

Well thank you Court. You should ask your friends for a ride on the MV.

I've been fired up for a long time about the Brutale, as most know. It wasn't that it disappointed, it was the fact it didn't feel like a vicious beast despite those hunched looks suggesting so. Having a day or so to settle down, and regain blood flow to my arms, i've had time to think. To think about what I took on board. To think about most everything I've read about the Brutale, and I remembered one test I'd read where the Brutale came out top against the TNT and S4R, but all bikes were great in their own way, and the writer of said article concluded by stating the Kwak Z1000 might not be the most exotic bike in this class, but it blew them all into the weeds. I'd agree with that. the Z1000 impressed me when I rode one. When that Brutale 1000 finally shows its face, it might well be the best thing since sliced bread. I can wait!

Rocket

Henrik

Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 10:54 pm:

Thanks for the stories guys. Great reading : )

Rocket; you may have tried, but how about soaking the gloves and wearing them until dry? Of course, you being in England, you've probably gotten soaked plenty, fine Brit weather and all that : D

But that sometimes helps them stretch and contour a bit.

Henrik

Davegess

Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 11:11 pm:

Rocket, great review. I got a chance to ride a Brutale and if did pack a kick, and made a great sound when it hit the power band. My license woudl be gone in short order however, it seems like you need to ride it really fast to make it really feel like something.

Rocketman

Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 05:49 am:

Henrik, a good friend told me of that tip already, but you're right, the English weather prevailed!

Damn Dave, I thought I'd be the first and only BadWeBer to have kicked the Brutale into life. You dark horse you LOL. I agree with you though, it needs winding up before it does the exciting thing. The thou motor will make it proper scary. So, just what it needs me thinks. Will it happen?

Rocket

Rocketman

Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 08:42 pm:

Wow, reading what I wrote back then, how things have changed.

I think I could sell my S1W now, but the 916, oh no!

My goal though, still remains to own a Brutale, and to keep the S1W and the 916.

Rocket

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