Back from (day 1 of) Daytona Bike Week...

[neebelung]

Mornin all.....

WOO HOOOOOO.... we (Chris, Sterling, Beefcake and I) were all in Daytona for bike week yesterday. As always, freakin spectacular weather - about 80, breeze in the air, sunny... just gorgeous.

Even though the event technically started last Friday, weekdays at the speedway (which is where we spent the day) are surprisingly non-chaotic. We got there by 7:30 a.m., and I managed to get in five demo rides (normally if you can squeeze in three in a day, you're doing good)....

Typically Kawasaki is the only manufacturer (of the major Japanese brands anyway) to bring out sport and supersport models (due to insurance reasons). But to our surprise, Yamaha brought out the R1, R6 and R6S this year (WOOT!). Buell also had the 1125R, however due to the way Buell schedules their demo rides, you basically get to just stand in a line at their booth for hours and WAIT to get on one.

I managed to ride the R6 (daaaaangerously fun), the R6S (love it), the ZX10R (WAY love it), the new Ninja 250 (so much fun!) and the Buell XB9CX (wouldn't ride it if they gave it to me for free). I'll work up ride reports and post up pictures from the speedway later on; and we're heading back down tomorrow night for the Kawasaki party at Hooters (last year was a blast!)

[Mule]

Originally Posted by neebelung

Mornin all.....

WOO HOOOOOO.... we (Chris, Sterling, Beefcake and I) were all in Daytona for bike week yesterday. As always, freakin spectacular weather - about 80, breeze in the air, sunny... just gorgeous.

Even though the event technically started last Friday, weekdays at the speedway (which is where we spent the day) are surprisingly non-chaotic. We got there by 7:30 a.m., and I managed to get in five demo rides (normally if you can squeeze in three in a day, you're doing good)....

Typically Kawasaki is the only manufacturer (of the major Japanese brands anyway) to bring out sport and supersport models (due to insurance reasons). But to our surprise, Yamaha brought out the R1, R6 and R6S this year (WOOT!). Buell also had the 1125R, however due to the way Buell schedules their demo rides, you basically get to just stand in a line at their booth for hours and WAIT to get on one.

I managed to ride the R6 (daaaaangerously fun), the R6S (love it), the ZX10R (WAY love it), the new Ninja 250 (so much fun!) and the Buell XB9CX (wouldn't ride it if they gave it to me for free). I'll work up ride reports and post up pictures from the speedway later on; and we're heading back down tomorrow night for the Kawasaki party at Hooters (last year was a blast!)

any pics???

show us your bewbies!!!!!!!

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by Mule

any pics???

show us your bewbies!!!!!!!

Lots of pics (I'll post em later - left the camera at home)... but none of my bewbies.

[Trip]

no pics, BOOOO!!!

[DLIT]

How tall are you, Nee?

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by DLIT

How tall are you, Nee?

5'8", 32" inseam.

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by Trip

no pics, BOOOO!!!

Sorry... I'll get them up tonight... we got up at 4:00 yesterday morning, so by the time we got home last night, all we could do is go to sleeeeeeeeeep.

[DLIT]

Originally Posted by neebelung

5'8", 32" inseam.

Okay, just wondering because the R6 sits pretty high up. Interested to hear your thoughts. What were you able to test-ride it on, the track?

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by DLIT

Okay, just wondering because the R6 sits pretty high up. Interested to hear your thoughts. What were you able to test-ride it on, the track?

It was tall actually, very tall. I didn't know if maybe having the suspension set properly would help with that maybe a LITTLE bit

Nope, test ride was just street, though we were able to get up to about 92 mph through a couple sections.

Frankly, I LOVED the thing (taking off from the first traffic light, I was literally giggling in my helmet), but I think it's PURELY a track beast; way too agressive/compact of a riding position to try to ride it daily/on the street.

[DLIT]

Originally Posted by neebelung

It was tall actually, very tall. I didn't know if maybe having the suspension set properly would help with that maybe a LITTLE bit

Nope, test ride was just street, though we were able to get up to about 92 mph through a couple sections.

Frankly, I LOVED the thing (taking off from the first traffic light, I was literally giggling in my helmet), but I think it's PURELY a track beast; way too agressive/compact of a riding position to try to ride it daily/on the street.

Were you able to get it past 12k RPM? Thing pulls like mad at that point. the power kicks in around 9k and once 12k hits, you're gone.