General Comments:
I am over 50 and have owned 2x Harleys, 10x Hondas, 2x Kawasakis, 5x Suzukis, 2x Moto Guzzi, from touring bikes (Goldwing, HD Ultra Classic) to crotch rockets (GSXR, Ninja), and several standard and dirt bikes.
I have to say this one is the easiest and one of the most fun to ride. It will do interstate speeds (70 mph), and although it's happier on the back roads (60 mph), it is okay at off roading, although hill climbing is not its strong point. It is not a full out MX'er either; it's a trail bike, and is great at that type riding.
It works very well for around town commuting. I made a luggage rack for it from an old Honda rack I had; nobody seems to make racks for this model, but the flat rear fender worked well for smaller items before I made a rack.
It's easy to work on and with the electric start; it's a breeze to get fired up on cold mornings, the carburetion is very good, it warms quickly, and has no issues when first starting out. The choke knob is located on the carb, and is a little hard to find with gloves on, but once found, is easy to operate. It starts easy when warm also.
It has an internal oil filter, which is easy to change. The air filter is a little harder to get at; you have to remove the side covers and seat, but it is a foam element and easy to clean.
Chain adjusters are the cam type, and a little hard to read, but easy to adjust.
It has a side stand switch that kills the engine if left down and put in gear (a good safety feature for older forgetful people like me).
The five speed gearbox shifts smooth, and has decent ratios. I opted for a smaller rear sprocket than stock, as I ride the street more than trails.
It has a good 55 watt headlight that is bright enough, and has a good range & width to see the road.
It's economical to ride; gets around 70 to 80 mpg, and insurance is cheap.
All the controls, turn signals and horn operate easily with gloves on.
The only bad point I can think of is the 1-hour seat; it's a little hard and narrow. Other than that, it's a great beginner's or play bike for anyone.
21st Aug 2010, 10:51
UPDATE: I added a slip on muffler from the flying machine factory (FMF), and it made a noticeable improvement in all around performance, and now it sounds like a thumper! (:-)