Nice day to Ride

Message

silverstrom · #1 Post by **silverstrom** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:01 am

The weather here has been crap for weeks. Cold and wet followed by wet and cold. Finally got enough decent weather to get out for a while today. I don't live near any world famous scenery, but I am surrounded by forest and it's beautiful here at this time of year. Nothing like a ride on a V4 to clear the mind.

South_Oz · #2 Post by **South_Oz** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:10 am

Nice bike nice weather and nice scenery. Ya cant ask for much more than that.

Im yet to ride a V4 but when I win the Lotto im going to buy one.

Dave

2smoke · #3 Post by **2smoke** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:02 am

Looks like a nice day out there. Glad you got a chance to get aquainted with the beast. A couple more weeks left and its over till spring.

silverstrom · #4 Post by **silverstrom** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:54 am

Beast is an understatement. This thing actually frightens me and I don't scare easy. Well done Colin. Just a brilliant bike. Thanks buddy.

Can't wait to get my hands on your current project. Should be an interesting comparrison. Sure to lead me astray once again.

aaronmvrider · #5 Post by **aaronmvrider** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 2:12 am

ok how long have you had this..... i have seen you lurking on the 500 side .... sneaky....

what airbox and stuff are you running...

gammaguy21 · #6 Post by **gammaguy21** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:13 am

Some great pics of the new bike.
Was a great day for a christening ride.

The 500 looks fantastic!

silverstrom · #7 Post by **silverstrom** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:24 pm

aaronmvrider wrote:ok how long have you had this..... i have seen you lurking on the 500 side .... sneaky....

what airbox and stuff are you running...

This deal started many months ago. I was waiting for the engine to be rebuilt and the bike got here just recently after the break-in was completed. Totally stock and will stay that way. Runs amazingly well and pulls like a mule. Just a well sorted example of a great bike.

The other one I have may be rebuilt to stock or get modified. Not sure yet. I'm also looking at another 500 project that has been modified some already and needs to be completed. Not sure how deep my interest actually is with that one. Price is an issue.

I'm always looking for bikes and parts Aaron. It never stops. You never know what will show up here next.

silverstrom · #8 Post by **silverstrom** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:25 pm

gammaguy21 wrote:Some great pics of the new bike.
Was a great day for a christening ride.

The 500 looks fantastic!

Thanks Ren. You're first in line to try it out. Unless Dave gets to it first. Lol

gammaguy21 · #9 Post by **gammaguy21** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:34 pm

silverstrom wrote: Thanks Ren. You're first in line to try it out. Unless Dave gets to it first. Lol

petros67 · #10 Post by **petros67** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:58 pm

silverstrom wrote:[
Runs amazingly well and pulls like a mule.
Just a well sorted example of a great bike.

I feel you , I feel you

Petros

silverdream · #11 Post by **silverdream** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:50 pm

Great bike John. The pictures say it all and I dont think it can get better.

aaronmvrider · #12 Post by **aaronmvrider** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 8:19 pm

yes it is a totally different bike to ride and very comfortable ... have you had it pushing along quick through some twisty roads... the 350 is a far better handling bike....

how does the power compare to the nsr400 ????

silverstrom · #13 Post by **silverstrom** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 8:49 pm

The 500 gets power to the road better than the NS400R. The NS has plenty of power, but it feels a lot different than the RZ500. The NS400R is only 387 cc, so in reality not much bigger than the RZ350. The larger displacement of the RZ500 is instantly obvious. The RZ500 is just a brute compared to the NS. Handling feels similar, but I'll have to ride both back to back to be sure. Both have 16 inch front wheels and both are very different compared to the RZ350. The weight of the 500 is easy to feel and I find it actually feels heavier than it is. I can see how getting rid of the stock pipes (anchors) would improve things.

I pushed the 500 hard, but not so much in the twisties. That will take a little time. The NS400R handles the curves very well, but isn't as much fun to ride as the RZ350. It tracks well but I never feel like I'm on the edge the way I do on the 350. On the 350 I have a lot of moments where I say to myself "I can't believe this little bike can do that". Not so much on the NS. I expect it to handle well and it does, but compared to the RZ350 it's a bit boring. It's just too good at everything. I find the 350 very flickable, very agile and light. It is just a joy to ride and is just a lot of fun. Getting it stopped is always a challenge, but that's part of the fun.

It doesn't take much to reach the limits of the 350. That is where the fun is. Reaching the limits of the NS400R takes work. On the RZ500 I think it would be a real challenge for someone with limited skills like myself to reach the bike's limits. So far it just scares the piss out of me. I just can't believe there is so much throttle available. In all gears it just wants to go and go. Right now I don't have the courage to find out just when that stops. I likely never will. It's either old age or the wisdom that comes with it. That just might keep me vertical for another 20 years.

KR-RZ350 · #14 Post by **KR-RZ350** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:06 pm

Very Nice 500 John(wiping drool off keyboard).

Still one of my dream bikes that I would like to own someday.

aaronmvrider · #15 Post by **aaronmvrider** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 11:35 pm

i rode the 500 twice this week.... indicated 9k in every gear on a few quick squirts and still heaps to go... sees over 200kph in a flash... they are very tall geared