I had some funny observations about Harley riders and their stereotypes while waiting in line for service, and I wanted to make sure any negativity (real or perceived) doesn't creep it's way into a write up.
That said, the demo ride was entirely too short also. So I really can't give it a fair assessment.
I was negatively influenced by the amount of people that treated the bike as if it were some mythical beast that breathed fire and couldn't be trusted as far as one could spit. While it's great and safe practice to give ANY bike it's due respect. The amount of well wishers and do gooders that stopped by to give me my last rites as I suited up in front of the bike provided a buildup that didn't have a payout.
I found the torque to be lacking. Your Lightning will provide you with more excitement from light to light. I don't know...I've assembled some parts and had my Uly dyno tuned to shift the torque curve even farther to the left so I'm providing roughly 70% or so of my usable torque right off idle. No kidding. I've mapped out the belly in the torque curve from 2800-3800 rpm so it pulls like a freight train straight on through to 5500. So yeah...I'm kinda spoiled in that aspect.
The torque curve on the 1125 seemed to be linear. I twisted the throttle, it would move. However, the wheelies I was warned about never seemed to appear. I'd pay a little line out to the ride captain, and then reel him in, but it wasn't "scary" fast like everyone warned me about. I was surprised at how smooth it was though. I'll give it that. I did briefly wind it up past 7000 a couple of times and the bike flashed it's intentions to me, but still...very manageable.
Comfort....I'm 6'2", and I thought I fit very nicely on the bike. Again, the ride was too short, but I could see I could "fit" on the bike. "Fitting" and being comfortable for extended periods are two different things though. I noticed some hot spots flaring up right quick right in the bend of my butt at the top of my thighs. It was definitely from a thin seat pad. A Corbin or Sargent seat would probably provide the proper fix. Other than the pressure on my wrists, which is par for the course on that type of bike, the riding position was good, but again, it'd benefit from a trip to the Corbin factory.
I captured some sound and video for y'all, but apparently, it didn't save on my phone. I found the sound to be very anemic and bland. Certainly, not the imagination capturing, soul stirring sound you get from the Thunderstorm family.
Handling was crisp. I had to again play out some line to the ride captain, and then weave or negotiate a corner at my own pace in order to evaluate the handling. I found it to be superb, as is expected on a Buell, but of course, it would benefit greatly from an hour or so of adjusting it to my weight.
Personally, myself, I'm gonna wait on this one. If I find a used one in a few years down the road, at a greatly reduced price, I'd add it to my garage, but as it stands, I can't see it in my garage now. I'm still gonna look at the Kawasaki Concourse.
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