So it was a nice day. Rode my F6B up to a dealer to ride the 18 Wing Tour. It was a blue 6 spd manual. They didn't have a DCT for me to try. They had one in a crate and said he'd call me when it was ready for an extended test ride. Not sure what that means to them as the very short test ride I got to do on the Wing and the Eluder was just a tease. I took the Wing out first. Rode only like 5-8 miles in a loop. I was able to get it up to above 70 in one portion, but it was a short ride over all. I like what I got to try. It is definitely lighter picking it off the side stand. It definitely has the impression of a smaller bike becuase of the obvious things like the fairing. It feels pretty nimble. But that's about it. When I got back there was also a Yamaha Eluder there to ride. Same loop. I could see the apeal in one respect. Definitely a different animal with the V-twin. But in my short ride I did hit the rev limiter without even trying. It seemed very smooth over all. Definitely ,though, wouldn't be my pick. But I like the styling.
I left there and went to another dealer who sells Harley and BMW motorcycles. I had stopped by there during the week a couple weeks ago and said I'd be back. The guy got the bike out of the show room and said "I'm turning you loose", with no other instructions. I took the bike immediately onto the interstate and just trying to get aquainted to this new ride. I noticed it did seem to get buffeted around a bit easier than my F6B does from trucks etc... I went about 20 miles to an area where I knew I could cut loose a little in some twisty roads. The bike is a hoot. Has a good deal of power as most already know. However, that power, while being smooth and fairly broad, isn't as linear as our flat 6s. It required a bit more judicious shiffting to keep her sweet. But when you do that, she gets up and goes in a hurry. Without even really trying, I felt the front wheel pop up through the first 3 gears. I tried to repeat a little but the traction control took over.
My biggest issue with the K1600B----- I wanted to really love it. However, having been on it for a hour or so, I realized that ,for me, the handlebars really needed to come back a bit, and I guess on this B, the seat is a little lower than say the GT which puts a little more bend in my knees than what I would find comfortable for an all day ride. My left knee was starting to complain . This B had the optional forward floor boards, which are nice, sort of. With the handlebars where they are, putting your feet on the floorboards feels a little awkward to really be a comfortable alternative.
There is a riser kit from Helibars that will bring the bars back 1.25" and up 1". That might be the solution. They cost $89 which isn't too bad considering I paid $800 for my handlebars on my F6B. But then there is a whole lot more to those than some blocks and scews basically.
I headed back with over 65 miles tested on the B. Turns out , I could have been out for as long as I wanted. Here I was thinking I needed to get back. He said I could go bacl out if I wanted. I was ok. Sat on a GT and I think it felt better in the seat foot peg relationship, but I think that's because the seat is a little taller.
I got on my F6B and you know I immediately thought, boy, this bike is sure comfy.
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