Discussion
Well I must say I wasn't ever in my wildest dreams looking to buy one of these and then there it was. The Honda GL1800 C-F F6C 
Disappointed that I can never buy another new ZZR, and had many sports bikes / tourers over the years, this piqued my interest. I started off on Honda as a kid and have not had much of their machinery other than a flit of Blade's in the 90's and a classic which I finally sold two years ago. I've thinned out my classic fleet of Suzuki two-strokes from the 70's and now seeing so much empty space in the log cabin I searched again for a bike I'd never had.
I like torquey bikes, had a plain Jane GL1000, a GL1100 the same, an ST1100 and then the Pan ST1300. The ZZR has torque but using it will get you into serious trouble as you watch the numbers clime. What I was ideally after was a torque monster. I considered a V-Max, Rocket 3 and even a fully dressed Wing. However I don't take pillions and couldn't see the point of lugging half a caravan behind you if you are never going to use it. From behind it's like a perfect size 10 BUT...
..with big tits at the front
So Friday night after a few (far too many beers!) I started to look at the Goldwings and Baggers, but decided against it as if I wanted to do serious touring miles I would take the ZZR. Then I realised the un-laden F6C is just the engine and little else.
There were two for sale, a 14 plate with 3500 miles (still for sale) and this one, a 2015 model with 4100 miles. Looking closely at the pictures this one was £500 more but far cleaner and a year newer. What is 600 miles to this engine? Negligible! I sent an email enquiry to a dealer based in Northampton who I've never done business with. I asked if we could have a deal and they called me Saturday morning. One owner bike with just over 4000 miles, full HSH. Described as "as new". I paid him with a transfer at 10am, they put a years MOT on it by 11.30 and they delivered it from Northampton to Heathrow by 15.00!
Tax is £8 a month and insurance was the shocker as it's the same!
So what's it like? It's fun
I've done around 100 miles on it since yesterday. At first I was struggling with feet-forward position after a couple of years muscle memory with the Zed. Now I'm already used to it. Due it being a flat six the C of G is really low. You site quite low in the seat too which helps the pendular affect when you enter a corner. It's very chuckable and it belies its weight of 750lb. It turns in really nicely and is totally predictable.. planted is an understatement. There is little equipment, no USB charger, not even traction control. Coming out of Windsor I accelerated and the back stepped out giving me the "Woa where you going" moment but it was easy to catch and the roads were greasy after light rain. It pulls like a train, the gearbox is nice and smooth and I found myself grinning riding it which is what its all about. Honourable mention for these guys for getting everything sorted in the same day.. really wasn't expecting that.
If you asked me I'd buy one a few weeks ago the answer would have been a solid no. Now I'm thinking about summer next year and "cruising"
Disappointed that I can never buy another new ZZR, and had many sports bikes / tourers over the years, this piqued my interest. I started off on Honda as a kid and have not had much of their machinery other than a flit of Blade's in the 90's and a classic which I finally sold two years ago. I've thinned out my classic fleet of Suzuki two-strokes from the 70's and now seeing so much empty space in the log cabin I searched again for a bike I'd never had.
I like torquey bikes, had a plain Jane GL1000, a GL1100 the same, an ST1100 and then the Pan ST1300. The ZZR has torque but using it will get you into serious trouble as you watch the numbers clime. What I was ideally after was a torque monster. I considered a V-Max, Rocket 3 and even a fully dressed Wing. However I don't take pillions and couldn't see the point of lugging half a caravan behind you if you are never going to use it. From behind it's like a perfect size 10 BUT...
..with big tits at the front
So Friday night after a few (far too many beers!) I started to look at the Goldwings and Baggers, but decided against it as if I wanted to do serious touring miles I would take the ZZR. Then I realised the un-laden F6C is just the engine and little else.
There were two for sale, a 14 plate with 3500 miles (still for sale) and this one, a 2015 model with 4100 miles. Looking closely at the pictures this one was £500 more but far cleaner and a year newer. What is 600 miles to this engine? Negligible! I sent an email enquiry to a dealer based in Northampton who I've never done business with. I asked if we could have a deal and they called me Saturday morning. One owner bike with just over 4000 miles, full HSH. Described as "as new". I paid him with a transfer at 10am, they put a years MOT on it by 11.30 and they delivered it from Northampton to Heathrow by 15.00!
Tax is £8 a month and insurance was the shocker as it's the same!
So what's it like? It's fun
I've done around 100 miles on it since yesterday. At first I was struggling with feet-forward position after a couple of years muscle memory with the Zed. Now I'm already used to it. Due it being a flat six the C of G is really low. You site quite low in the seat too which helps the pendular affect when you enter a corner. It's very chuckable and it belies its weight of 750lb. It turns in really nicely and is totally predictable.. planted is an understatement. There is little equipment, no USB charger, not even traction control. Coming out of Windsor I accelerated and the back stepped out giving me the "Woa where you going" moment but it was easy to catch and the roads were greasy after light rain. It pulls like a train, the gearbox is nice and smooth and I found myself grinning riding it which is what its all about. Honourable mention for these guys for getting everything sorted in the same day.. really wasn't expecting that.
If you asked me I'd buy one a few weeks ago the answer would have been a solid no. Now I'm thinking about summer next year and "cruising"
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