- martin !
- I need you to explain in DETAIL , your observations about the handling of the HP4 vis the C14.
- Am desperately trying to justify buying a HP4 here and would just like your hands-on opinion about how the bikes differ since I only have the C14 (and plastic-frame'ed FLSTC , ha) as references.
thanks in advance.
.
Pistole, I could babble and drool about it for hours, but in the end: buy it. If the money is there, and you want the best handling, best electronic assisted, and strongest motor possible, this is the bike for you. I guess I don't have to tell you how useless it is for everything else than
riding a bike, whereas a C14 can take stuff, including the misses, and other bikes can ride on all terrain (GS, MultiStrada, KLR, V-Strom), or other bikes can get you through traffic (Vespa, MP3). Yes, a Panigale might look a tad better, but you'll see it in your mirrors anyway from an HP4.
So, handling: at the same speed I can do a slalom with the cones 2/3 of the distance than with the C14. There simply is no mass, and what there is, is low. Steering is aggressive but pleasant. There seems to be no limit regarding leaning. A mechanic explained me that in race mode, the traction control won't act until you reach 53° leaning angle. Fifty-three!!!
Looks: me likes it, except the stupid asymmetric design of the head lights that look like this -->
The side fairings are both left and right beautiful and I like that depending if I look at it from right or left I see a slightly different bike.
Chassis: no words can describe how well this bike is sorted out. At insane speeds (in my book, anything above 120 mph) the "normal" S1000RR pitches when braking or accelerating. The HP4 with its trick DDC is much more taut, yet supple (in relative terms) when driving over a pothole or big street level changes (bridges, for example) or small cracks, like between concrete plates. The steering damper does its job very well and doesn't bother when not needed. I had new tires and there was a hint of wobble at 135 mph that disappeared after 100 miles use.
I had a hard time getting my gear changes right with the quick shifter, but I discovered that it is perfect to change gears on attack mode and not while cruising around. Below 6-8000 rpm it's stiff, but above that is perfect, so when cruising around I just pull the clutch from 1st to 4th. At least in my unit, 5th and 6th got in like butter.
Electronic aids: do not turn them off. Valentino Rossi might be able to survive that, but mere mortals like me will not. This bike will overcome traction in the first 3 gears for sure.
Today I did something interesting: I gave back the HP4 and 10 minutes later I had to run an errand and took the C14. I couldn't believe how hard it was to take it from the side stand on its wheels, and it was a level surface. Of course the weight disappears as soon as you move, but not completely. It still is a great bike and it does so much so well, that I wouldn't sell it for an HP4, but if I had the money I'd add it to the garage. The C14 is mighty comfortable in comparison, but I did a 300 miles stint on the HP4 without much discomfort, but it was my limit. I'm too old, I guess.
BTW, and this is for the little kid inside: parking it in front of the café and watching guys drooling over it --> for everything else there's MC
Please ask me whatever else you'd like to know and I'll try to answer or find out.
