Only a few more hours!!!

[roguegeek]

Ok. Is that why Kawi cleaned up with the 636 last year when they've almost never come close? Every year is different it seems and 2006 is more important to me now because I'm picking up something this year.

[makenzie71]

636 = not a 600...

[roguegeek]

You're definitely right about that. I would have been wrong if I said that. Unfortunately, I didn't ask about that. The 636 is included in almost every 600 shootout, which is what I am asking about.

[makenzie71]

...and, aside the addition of a bike that doesn't qualify as a 600, they've been the same for the last decade.  There were fewer "real" comparos last year than there were the year before...and so on.  Don't count on any good comparos of entry-level supersports until July or August when all the new stuff is on the slowroom floors.

[jbeaber]

I got the call, the bike is 100% ready for me to show up.  I also asked them if it was possible to ride it before the final signature and they are going to let me.  I can say no and all paperwork will be ripped up.  Not that I expect to say no.....  Also, they are cutting me some sort of deal on a helmet.  My current one gives me a headache after about 30 minutes.  Shoei is the only one that doesn't seem to do that.  And, as they are getting full MSRP, I asked if they could show me a little love on the helmet...  2 hours!!  Day cannot pass fast enough!!!

[roguegeek]

I'm envious. Serious, that must be a great feeling right now. Once again, I hate you.

[scratch]

And, it's not raining today!

[jbeaber]

The weather is a pleasant shock.  I was too hot wearing my textile jacket with its liner on the way home.  Bustin out the perforated leathers for the ride home from the dealership.  Ride home in style!!  Leaving as soon as the gf appears with the car, unless she decides to ride as well....

[pandy]

Waiting patiently for the report...*tap*......*tap* *tap*.....
















*tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* 

[jbeaber]

Paperwork takes time.  But the baby is safely in the garage.  Wow....
We pulled into the dealership and there it was, right in front of us.  The yellow just is incredible in the sunlight.  We walked over and pet it for a bit, then dealt with all the business crap.
So, hopped on it and started to go out of the driveway and, stereotypically, damn near dropped it!  In my leathers it is a bit of a reach to the ground.  I did manage to right it before it went over.  Took her for a little spin around the neighborhood, with permission to return the bike if I decided I didn't want it.  Yeah....  Right....
Then took her home.  It is tough to deal with that whole under 5 K RPM thing.  I had 16 or so miles of highway, just kept moving it through gears while trying to go highway speeds.  Body position isn't bad.  It is more aggressive than my old GS (I had an 89 with clip ons), good workout on the legs.  I definitely was riding conservatively.  The tires had 3 miles on them when I hopped on and they needed to get scuffed up.  It seems to handle nicely, but right now it is hard to really judge.  Turned easily, felt very lightweight once it was moving.  I am incredibly eager to see what she does once I can let her loose.  The dealership recommends I do take it above 5; Triumph's recommendation is more geared to bikes designed to rev at lower limits.  I'm going to keep it in the general recomended range. 
Did I mention it is incredibly beautiful?  Didn't realize steel braided brake lines were stock.  Oh, and we saw the graphite color...  Still does nothing for me...  And I decided not to sleep in the garage, but it was tough....
So, some pics....

[roguegeek]

Very nice. I'm actually quite surprised you came back to show us pics. If it was me, I would have forgotten all of ya losers and went riding. I definitely like that color for the 675 over the other colors. All this does is make me more motivated to pick up a 600 soon.

[roguegeek]

Quick question. How tall are you and how are your feet on the ground with both legs down?

[jbeaber]

5'7", 30 inch inseam.  In my leathers I can get the balls of my feet down, but not solidly.  In jeans, much more solidly down.  I had the little hiccup the first time I got on the bike, but had no more problems after that, including backing up the bike.

[roguegeek]

Sound like a tall seat. How much space between the back of your heel and the ground?

[st8racin]

Very sexy looking bike! 

[jbeaber]

It'sa bit tall.  I can still back it up.  I hit a dead end on my test ride and had to turn around.  Also, if you think about it, at stop lights I just put down one foot much of the time.  It'll take some getting used to, but it isn't bad....  My leathers are also quite new.  It will improve as they breakin more.

[john]

The whole break in thing is a waste of time.  I beat the crap out of Annes zx6r and my z1000 after about 20 miles.  I figured that after 20 miles if it didn't blow up then it's good to go.  Neither burn oil, and both run strong.  I suggest wicking it up on short rides and allowing it to cool down -a few good heat cycles and it's all set.  Don't torture yourself on the whole break in thing.  It never netted me anything doing it by the book.

[pandy]

Hot, HOT, HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    I would have slept in the garage!!!! 

I'm not usually a big fan of yellow, but that's a pretty awesome yellow. I can't wait to see it in person!!!!!! (Does it count as leghumping if the bike is one's object of affection?  )  ....hmm...... Shouldn't there be a BAGS ride *before* the May 20th Spring Carb Day!!?? 

Beeeeeeautiful bike, jb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

P.S. Be sure to look around when you come to stops. I kinda tippy-toe it on my SVS, and I'm always on the lookout for oil slicks and paint when I come to a stop, cuz no doubt I'd be the one to find 'em and drop him for all the world to see...  I have no problem keeping the shiny side up when everything's dry, but I'm extra, extra careful in this rain and where oil slicks might gather to terrorize me.... 

P.P.S. Ok...small group ride....you and your lovely lady, myself and my better half...scratch??? 

[Jake D]

That is so hot.  I would love the 675.

What is it about dealerships that make people wanna drop bikes?  Just happened to me the other day.

I was in a dealership looking at a new ZZR and a 650R the other day.  So I am talking to the dealer and I get permission to sit on the 650R (not as roomy as I imagined).  And then I get off and go to put it back on the kick stand.  Nearly dropped the damn thing!  Had to yank it up right before it hit the ground.  I have never done that with my GS.  It is just like, wtf was that?

The dealer was cool.  He said that last week a guy knocked over a ZX10R and it fell off this loading ramp about 4 feet onto a side walk.  Uhg. 

[jbeaber]

I think a lot of the accidental drops is the insane paranoia of sitting on someone else's bike or your own brand new toy.  Now, here is the true demonstration of self control...  It is a beautiful day out here today.  I wanted to ride her to work today, but we couldn't find the disk lock.  My gf isn't paranoid abouther bike being snagged during the day, and I prolly shouldn't.  It's on a busy street in a moto parking lot.  I left the 675 home today and used her bike.  She is grabbing a disk lock for me today. 
When I pulled int the lot last night and the bike was sitting in the sun...  My God...  It has some sparkle to it in the paint and it was stunning.  Another weird/funny aspect.  Last night we got it home and were taking photos.  A car pulls over to gawk at the bike. Turns out it was a friend of ours who had no idea who it was when he pulled over.  We ran over and chatted a bit.  What is really weird is that he showed up at the dealership where I grabbed my GS on the day I bought it....  He just seems to surface every time I buy a bike.... 
Pandy, let me get her through a bit of her break-in before we plan a ride.  The tires had 3 miles on them when I hopped on and I need to gently wear in the edges.  Funny, I wasn't this nervous when I got brand new tires on the GS.......