It was "Honda Day" here in Madrid, and they offered almost his full range of bikes for testing. I was interested in trying a "crotch rocket", that in spite all I have ranted about them, are lurking me lately. The CBR600F is less radical than the CBR600RR, both in riding position, engine response and looks, so I rather have something "tamer". Well, I don't mean I plan to buy it neither soon nor a distant future, but how many chances do you have to try one?
Apart from a bad organization -no indication of the test itinerary, no clear indication of what the expected behaviour should be, no clear signs of who was the group leaders-, it's a bike I would like to have anytime. The riding position is awkward compared with our old bikes -or any naked bike for that matter-, and in city the wrists support a lot of the weight. It's nimble and well balanced, so no problem with it at the stoplights. Once on the open road, twist the wrist and off you go. That sound of the engine revving is addcitive. I didn't want to push it hard for several reasons: it was my first time so I didn't trust myself, it was not my bike so I wanted to treat it with care, and I didn't want to be caught by a radar. After the test ride, many people was asking for an empty slot to try more bikes. I would have liked to try the CB1300, but as I was not a prospective buyer I decided that maybe somebody more interested could have the chance. Unfortunately, the place was full of moochers trying to get a free ride on any bike.
My CB750, the granny of all of them, just caught a couple of glances. I guess many of the people there didn't know what was it. Only one of the test ride organization asked me how old the bike was. It was clear it was a Honda, but I doubt they knew what was it.
After a cold soda it was time to go home, and at the same moment another shift was ready to go. The test ride run in the same itinerary that I needed to take to get back home, so I just went with them -this time without the Honda vest-. As I'm used to my bike, had no trouble keeping up with them and I'm sure many of them were astonished on how such and old bike could keep up with those new bikes.
Raul
