It was with some trepidation that, the Rapide having arrived from Australia, I got ready to set off for the MOT today (the long way round).
Since the 1970's I've grown up a bit and now regularly ride a Ducati 851, Honda CBR1000 and Harley Softail.
How would a 50+ year old machine fair against benchmarks like that.
Well - I'm amazed. Whilst the engine is freshly rebuilt and so running in for the next number of miles, and the bike is newly rebuilt and so, on the way to its first MOT, on an unfamiliar bike I was always going to be taking it easy - but it was simply wonderful.
The engine is superb, torque just endless and the chassis soaked up the A and B roads I used from Gerrards Cross to Henley, then onto Reading, through to Oxford and back through Henley again - it ran superbly, handled in a confidence inspiring way and was just a joy to be trundling along at 50/60 MPH on such a lovely sunny day.
So, it over delivered my expectation, I loved every minute of the first 90 mile ride (long way for an MOT!) and it passed too!!
I'm looking forward to the summer hugely. Roll on run-in being completed.
Cheers
Stuart
Since the 1970's I've grown up a bit and now regularly ride a Ducati 851, Honda CBR1000 and Harley Softail.
How would a 50+ year old machine fair against benchmarks like that.
Well - I'm amazed. Whilst the engine is freshly rebuilt and so running in for the next number of miles, and the bike is newly rebuilt and so, on the way to its first MOT, on an unfamiliar bike I was always going to be taking it easy - but it was simply wonderful.
The engine is superb, torque just endless and the chassis soaked up the A and B roads I used from Gerrards Cross to Henley, then onto Reading, through to Oxford and back through Henley again - it ran superbly, handled in a confidence inspiring way and was just a joy to be trundling along at 50/60 MPH on such a lovely sunny day.
So, it over delivered my expectation, I loved every minute of the first 90 mile ride (long way for an MOT!) and it passed too!!
I'm looking forward to the summer hugely. Roll on run-in being completed.
Cheers
Stuart