NewNiceMrMe Posted July 27, 2016 Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 1 hour ago, Busby said: Unfortunately not - the Ape has found a new home. Why? Out of interest, I mean. Was it not the bike you expected it to be or is it just a case of fancying something newer and even faster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted July 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2016 1 hour ago, NewNiceMrMe said: Why? Out of interest, I mean. Was it not the bike you expected it to be or is it just a case of fancying something newer and even faster? I don't ride enough to ever justify owning two bikes - certainly not two bikes that are similar in nature. There was a consideration of keeping the RF as a track bike but the cost of doing that outweighed the level of use it would see. It's too special a bike to turn into a track tool and then rarely get to use it whilst running the risk of large, un-insured bills! Plus there is the obvious value to unlock out of it which will vanish as it sits there in the garage under track fairings. Bike wise it has been the greatest bike I have owned and I am 100% sure that I will miss it for a long time. But I did it, enjoyed it, had the howl of a V4 intoxicate me and now it's time to try something else. I know for certain that the H2 won't be anywhere near the fun to ride on a twisty road and that it won't be as usable/friendly in town or in traffic. BUT, when you get a stretch of road in front of you then nothing in the world is going to feel like winding the H2 up and the chirping of the supercharger is going to be a joy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted August 2, 2016 Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 I came here for an update on the new bike - I assume you are jail at the moment. I hope prison food is at least agreeable. Please let us know how your ride prior to your arrest went. Cheers. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 Ha ha ha! So far I have only seen 6/8k on the rev counter and it is already absolutely mind-glowingly quick! I already feel as though I'll need a Wookie co-pilot to get anywhere close to its true abilities. I managed a few hundred miles before going in for the op on Monday and I had a smile on my face for every single yard of those miles. The greatest complicate I can pay it is that it does not feel like a heavier bike than the RSV4. It obviously doesn't tip in as quickly but handling wise it feels a lot like my 2011 Fireblade - very solid, very predictable and very confidence inspiring. The only time you feel the weight is under braking. The noise of the supercharger is absolutely amazing amazing. You find yourself playing with the throttle to induce the chirping noise. God only knows what it will be like once the running in miles are finished and I can light the boost gauge right up to the max! Power delivery and pure shove is like nothing you have every experienced. Hitting 6k and then shifting through the gears to sixth sees the revs barely drop with each change and the shove forwards is the same in 4th, 5th and 6th gears as it is in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. My head hasn't got to grips with it yet. The power is utterly relentless as you go through the gears and the traction control is lighting up in 3rd gear in a straight line at less than half the revs that it can push out! That little orange light has blinked more in 200 miles than it did in 4'000 miles on the HP4 and RF. And that's not from being ham-fisted with it at all - just rolling on the power as you come off islands sees it going nuts. I think it would be unrideable without the electronics due to the amount of torque it is throwing down. The rear tyre certainly isn't going to last long! Attention wise it has been a bit of an eye-opener. I stopped for fuel on Sunday and was there 20 minutes. Parking up in Broadway saw a crowd of people around it taking photographs and asking questions. All nice attention though and I'm happy to talk bikes with anybody so it's quite nice. My only concern will be leaving it somewhere as the negative part of me says it's only a matter of time before somebody starts messing with it or trying to sit on it, etc. It still feels a bit odd to actually have it in the garage and it seems to have a real aura about it. The service from Kawasaki has been impeccable too. They have sent me all kinds of stuff along with a letter to say thank you for buying one and explaining how it is hand built in a special part of the factory by two master mechanics who check each others work after each section is put together. They are so confident in the build process that the bike does not need to be ridden as part of the PDI - I rode it away with the clock showing 0.0 miles which was very special! Bad news is that I won't be riding it again for around a month now but that gives me a chance to get the paint protection film applied and to fit the SC project when it finally turns up. I have put the Akra on for now and it looks good in the flesh and has saved a mountain of weight over the can it ships with. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 2, 2016 Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 Great little insight into first impressions with that beast. Lucky fecker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted August 2, 2016 Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 I've just been through the multimedia on the Kawasaki website. Then I looked at the FB video Scotty posted. Shit the bed or what? Oh and I am devastated you've gone for the colour scheme you have and not told them you want that all chrome/mirror version that they have in the multimedia section of the website. "Not only am I going to go past you like lightning, I'm going to blind you like it does too." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 The guy in Scotty's video doesn't even appear to be revving it out in each gear either! The paint work on mine still has a mirrored finish to it but is darker than last years and has bits of glass as flakes. The desired effect was a clear night sky apparently! The darker paint means that it doesn't have that same chrome effect as the 2015 model - which looks incredible in the flesh by the way. I've tried to upload a pic where the sun has caught the paintwork well but picture upload doesn't seem to be working at the moment: There was a problem processing the uploaded file. -200 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 2, 2016 Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 1 hour ago, Busby said: ...chrome effect as the 2015 model - which looks incredible in the flesh by the way... You may find this interesting: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 It's bonkers to think there is a layer of pure silver in the paintwork. I'm not sure the local chips-away bloke would be a lot of use if it got scratched! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) Which paint protection wrap are you going for? Edited August 3, 2016 by JonC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 The guy that has always done my bikes and cars is going to come over for a few days and work out what will be best. Suntek leaves the cleanest lines but he says it doesn't last very well. The 3M stuff is quite thick so will be difficult to get a good finish against both the dark colour and the angled edges. Then there is the Xpel self-healing film which is meant to be awesome but am not sure how good it will be on the bike. The plan is for him to come and see the bike in person and then have a chat about what will be best suited to it. I 100% trust Tony though and he has made a brilliant job of everything he has done for me in the past. On the RF, he spent two days measuring and plotting the patterns to make sure he got the edges perfectly aligned to the patterns on the bike so you couldn't see them at all! https://www.facebook.com/tonyjamesdesignsltd/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 The XPEL self-healing film is fantastic - wanted it on the M2 but the pre-cut kit is a mental price. I know it won't be to everyone's taste but XPEL Stealth leaves an awesome statin finish, totally transforming the paintwork. Gives everything that BMW 'frozen' paint look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 53 minutes ago, Busby said: https://www.facebook.com/tonyjamesdesignsltd/ Very impressive work. A must have for a prized SS bike. An R1, in the gallery, the owner had a special room built in the garden to house his (now protected) pride and joy. Loving that . I've a naked (or hyper naked as Yamaha refer to it ), so could only wrap the tank! Rather that than those fugly tank bags! I assume the USD's can be wrapped? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 I'd definitely recommend him - and it would be worth it on the MT even if you just got the tank, lights and front mudguard done. Makes it loads easier to clean too as he put layers of GTechniq 'stuff' on top of the film so flies, etc just wipe straight off. The XPEL stuff is super cool AB. I'm hoping that's what will work best to be honest just for the coolness of it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) This is a good watch too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rskzk1cfe18 Edited August 3, 2016 by Busby 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 To be honest, I'm not sure I could justify the spend as its detailed every Sunday without fail. Headers are like new, too, 3000 miles later. That said, it wouldn't be much for tank only.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Tank only would be hardly anything - adding the front mudguard would be worth it imho as that's the spot that tends to get the biggest hammering. Lot's of measuring today and thinking about how to best do certain sections. He's really thinking about how to best do it to protect it from people messing with it too. He reckons people running their hand down the tail section or leaning over it could happen a lot so is ensuring that all the angles sticking out have film wrapped around rather than having edges meeting there. Tony will be back next Wed/Thurs/Fri to finish off and actually apply all the film so will update with some pics at that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 1 hour ago, Busby said: Tank only would be hardly anything - adding the front mudguard would be worth it imho as that's the spot that tends to get the biggest hammering. Lot's of measuring today and thinking about how to best do certain sections. He's really thinking about how to best do it to protect it from people messing with it too. He reckons people running their hand down the tail section or leaning over it could happen a lot so is ensuring that all the angles sticking out have film wrapped around rather than having edges meeting there. Tony will be back next Wed/Thurs/Fri to finish off and actually apply all the film so will update with some pics at that point. Front mudguard isn't painted, but yes, see your point Impressive detail/professionalism from this Tony fella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2016 I genuinely can't sing his praises enough. He has made a fantastic job of anything he's ever done for me and often does extra bits for nothing just because he thinks it will be better. The fact that he spends time afterwards putting on layers of G Techniq coating is a real bonus too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 Just seen a stat I wasn't familiar with : 0-180mph in 800 metres. Whilst the mixing of units of measure irritates, it doesn't stop my laughing at such a stunning fact! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 As far as 800 metres? We'll have to see about that........ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 Looks as though my ability to post pictures (at least ones less that 1.5Mb!) is back so here's a couple. Just got a text to say a parcel from Milan is being delivered tomorrow - that's the SC Project and regardless of how much discomfort I am in following the operation, that fecker is getting fitted tomorrow 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted August 7, 2016 Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 Really love the wheels. Similar to the MV ones. I gotta say it's now screamingly obvious why you're changing the can!! Is that a tail tidy that's been fitted? I'm assuming so but if I'm wrong this next bit won't make sense : who don't manufacturers do this as standard?!?!? Altogether looking sweeeet 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 7, 2016 Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 I assumed you were a lot taller and older Utterly glorious bike. Needs the SC for sure 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 The wheels are a bit of a work of art and having the single sided swingarm gives you a proper look at the rear one. A few people have been switching them out for carbon fibre ones but I think the stock wheels look better. Yes it has the tail tidy fitted. The reason for the huge plastic efforts from the factory is a rule about the rear tyre not being allowed to be the rearmost part of the bike I think. Therefore they put massive number plate holders on so the plate stretches further back. Hopefully DPD will be here early tomorrow and I'll post up some pics once the can is on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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