Here are the things that are most worthy of mention:
Touring
If a fully dressed Gold Wing is the Winnebago of motorcycles, then the F6B is the Lincoln Town Car. If you don’t need the full trunk, or you spend more time on the bike without a pillion than with one, the F6B is a perfect solution. A YouTube reviewer called riding the F6b like “Riding on a cloud...” I’ll buy that analogy. It fits.
Saddlebags
The saddlebags are more than adequate for a couple days ride, and with the factory rack behind the passenger backrest you could carry another soft bag, tent, sleeping bag, etc. One thing the owner did point out was that he had removed the Radio Antenna because it interfered with his big carry bag when it was strapped on the rack. I guess I’ve also gotten used to the fact that my Police bike allows the removal of the key without having to “lock” the bags closed. As I understand it, the F6B does not allow this; you must lock the bags before removing the key. There was one time that I did not fully “click” both latches on the bags even though they appeared closed, and it was VERY nice that the digital dashboard warned me of this before I went to start the bike. Very cool.
Seating
I have absolutely no reason to change out the factory seat. I know there are many, many options out there for aftermarket seats, but seriously, coming from a solo-seat police bike, this “park-bench” of a factory seat was just wonderful. After about 9 of my 12 hours spent in the saddle, I did have some butt-warming going on, but less than I had expected and still far more comfortable than any other seat I have spent any real time in. Thank the designer of the human race… every butt is different.
Windscreen
As I understand it, the bike had gone through a couple windscreen options before settling on the Madstad Roboknob Smoked Windscreen System (I believe this was the 11 inch version). I never adjusted it from the position that the owner had it originally in, and frankly I never had the desire. This two-tier, adjustable windscreen pushed the wind up and over my head and created no unreasonable turbulence or buffeting. At 70 MPH out on Highway 5, I found myself riding with my modular helmet open, and could lift the internal sunshade without my eyes watering at all. Although I never did so (in hindsight I should have, just to test the theory) I probably could have initiated a phone call on my Sena 10R Bluetooth and no one would have known I wasn’t sitting at home at my desk. At one point I looked down at the zipper fob on my jacket, which is usually flopping about in every direction, and it was hanging there as straight as the tinsel on a Christmas tree. It was truly like riding in a bubble.
Handlebars
The owner had installed handlebar risers. I do not know (nor did he) how much lift or shift these differ from the factory bars, but it felt to me that they were moved up and back at least 2-3 inches from stock. Personally, these bars were too far back, and a bit too tall for me. I am only about an inch taller in stature than the bikes owner, but for me the bars left me with too much bend in my arms and made me feel like I was operating a walk-behind rototiller, instead of the natural forward reaching (not forward bending) feel of comfortably operating a motorbike. In the few moments I have spent seated on an F6B at the dealerships, I find the factory position to my liking.
Additionally, the owner had a few pounds of accessories hanging off the handlebars as well. On the left side, a controller for heated gear (jackets, gloves, vests, etc.), a RAM X-Mount phone holder and stretch thingy, a stick-on USB outlet that had lost its stick and was flopping about. On the right side, a Radar Detector that had to be mounted high enough to see over the windscreen; and a ThrottleMeister cruise control that would not release completely and was best to be avoided. Not being a fan of handlebar clutter, I would have gladly exchanged all of this for the factory electronic cruise control that is standard on the new models. My phone connects to my helmet with Bluetooth, and I don’t desire any other distractions hanging from the handlebars. Just my opinion, to each his/her own.
Brakes
Okay… Linked Braking is the Dogs paws!!! Having come from the world of inter-cranial brake control (where you get to decide how much brake in front or rear is enough), I can really appreciate the feel of the Linked Brakes of today. None of the front end dive just because you chose to grab the right lever a bit aggressively, and no more rear wheel skid if you stomp on the pedal a bit to quickly (though I admit that both of those were very useful back in my off-road riding days). This machine had no problem shutting down very quickly and in a very straight line.
Handling
In a word… Amazing. Very low center of gravity. A noticeably heavy bike, but not unreasonably so. There’s no reverse, but I didn’t find that a problem at all. Both feet can plant firmly on the ground for most people, and pushing back is easier than pushing forward given the pegs and saddlebags. Obviously some forethought into parking and not nosing into some downhill situation is in order, but I guess I’m still young enough to not worry about reverse yet.
Performance
From Single-Cylinder Thumpers and Two-Strokes, to Twins, and V-Twins, to Straight Fours and V-Fours, I’ve owned and ridden many, but this Six-Cylinder Flat is just flat incredible. Smooth, powerful, low-end… quick, throaty, high-end… they both come together to form the ultimate power plant. I found the factory exhaust to be wonderfully quiet, and yet loud enough to let you know you are on the throttle, but not your neighbors. My kind of sound.
Center Stand
After a few street bikes with center stands, you learn the secret… Stomp Firmly, Lift Little. This was true of the F6B as well. Always, Always, start from the side stand, it won’t be in the way. Push the center stand down with your right foot until it touches the ground, then push the bike with your right knee away from you until the other side of the center stand contacts the ground. Now stomp firmly down with your right foot on the stand, lifting your left foot completely off the ground and putting your entire weight on the stand, if any additional lifting needs to be done, now is the time… just remember, by lifting your goal is increasing the weight you are putting down on your right leg. Very soon the stand should come over-center and the bike will be on the stand. I had no problems getting this 800+ pound bike onto its center stand. Now put the side stand up… you don’t want it banging on the ground when you ride off the center stand.
The Rental Concept
I know there are many who say, “No way… no stranger is riding my baby.” And I fully understand that. If I should eventually purchase the F6B of my dreams (and this ride put me that much closer), I too, am not sure I could hand the keys over to someone I don’t know, and haven’t ridden with. On the other hand, there are some who have mentioned that they would actually buy a bike with the intent on renting it and making a little money… obviously these people would not have the personal attachment that most of us have with our machines. And that too, is understandable. But for me, being able to rent a specific bike for a day, and not just take some 10-minute demo ride with a salesman leading the way, was awesome. I could enjoy the bike at my pace, and wherever I wanted to ride it.
A Note to Kevin, (the bikes owner - and as I found out, a member of the forum here),
Again, I want to thank you for sharing your bike with me. I assure you, although I did put it through its paces, I did not abuse your bike in any way. In fact, I guess my riding is quite conservative these days, because even though you pointed out the possibility… I never once scraped a peg in a corner. Your machine operated flawlessly and on at least two occasions while stopped at an intersection I was told, “Nice bike!” I thanked them as I know a proud owner, such as yourself, would have done. Not only did you allow me to ride your motorcycle, you allowed me to spend a day reliving some memories and revisiting some places from my youth. My first post back to my wife and family was to tell them that “my face was exhausted from grinning so much.” I sent pictures home to my wife of the places we grew up together, the school we went to (high school sweethearts), the homes we lived in, the Hotel Del Coronado, where I was fortunate enough to take her to her Prom. I had Pizza at a restaurant I hadn’t been back to in 35 years… and it was just as good as I remember it being when I was 17. I can’t tell you how much I needed this. Thank you.
Final Thoughts
I gotta find somebody 340 miles closer that will rent me his bike!!!
940 miles (car-bike-car) in 34 hours was a bit of a stretch, but...
Yeah, I'd do this again in a heartbeat.
Jim
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Originally Posted by Dave Ritsema
