Guess What I Bought Today?

[HowardQ]

Then again,
how are you getting on with the Blade you just bought?

Have you managed to get out on that yet?

[GRFalco]

Go on then. Have a stab in the dark.

Luminous dildo?

[Falcorob]

Then again,
how are you getting on with the Blade you just bought?

Have you managed to get out on that yet?

Sold it . Didn't click with it. And I missed the V Twin oomph.

[HowardQ]

How many times did you ride it?

Then again I know what you mean, now I have the Falco and the 2002 ZX9R bought in January, it's an interesting comparison.
The Kwack is a lot better bike than I expected and much more comfortable than I thought it would be for an old fart like me.
With the Falco, you get that hit of torque low down, just don't get that on any IL4 I've ridden. This makes it real fun from lowish revs.
The kwack engine has surprised me as it just spins up like a turbine from under 3k and carries on to 12k with no obvious dips, it is just relentlessly picks up and gets stronger. You do get the big hit much higher up the revs at the same time as that glorious Kawasaki howl from the ram air, but it is approaching 9 or 10K by then and silly speeds.
The Falco's torque hit is lower down so it's there on every overtake without trying, plus it still has another kick higher up the rev range, so the fun is always there.
The Kwack is probably easier to ride slowly and is ballistic if you want it to be, anybody need 175 top whack these days.
Nice to have two great bikes that are both classed as sports tourers these days, with very different characters and power deliveries.
I expected to get a Blackbird or a Blade myself until I saw the Kwack and probably would have enjoyed either one.
Then again the Falco will always be the number one for me.

[Falcorob]

I've had 2 ZX9's and loved them both. In fact, if I hadn't chucked the 2nd one down the road I'd still have it. They're that good.

Agree totally about the engine on both bikes. The Kwaks is much stronger higher up the rev range and is capable of propelling it at ludicrous speed. But it's a big pussycat in towns and villages and you can pootle about in a big and inoffensive gear without upsetting the locals. It's also, in my opinion, slightly more comfortable than the Falco.

However, the Falco can be hustled along at a respectable lick and has much better brakes. It also has the low down grunt that the 9 hasn't and will ultimately handle a little better at speed.

The Falco has it all day in the 'going to the garage for a minute dear' stakes though. And it'll always pull a bigger crowd at a meet due to it's relative exclusivity.

There's something about the Falco that's hard to pin down. It's something that you either get or you don't. My son wouldn't have one even if you gave it to him for instance. Maybe it's a proper Marmite bike?

Who cares. I happen to love mine. And at the end of the day that's all that matters whatever you ride.

[Falcorob]

Well I was supposed to take some more piccies today but ended up just riding her instead.

Sorry and all but fun first, duty second.

[HowardQ]

I was out on the Falco yesterday, had a great run.
It was the first proper run this year on the Falco, as I had just had one run out on crappy roads and been out on the 9R the other 3 or 4 times as it has heated grips.
I was starting to wonder about the two bikes, as the Kwack is a new toy and I have enjoyed it much more than I had expected, also slightly more cumfortable than the Falco, especially with those heated grips. Set off up our road and the Falco seemed very loud and was vibrating quite a bit at low revs on a cold motor. The 9R is on a standard can, the Falco on titanium race cans. Thinking to myself "the neighbours would probably prefer the Kwack". Started to feel more at home as I got to the A57, passed a couple of cars using the low down torque that makes it so easy, quicker and easier than the 148bhp ZX9R.
Five miles or so further down the road I have a massive grin and I am thinking, "I love this F***ing bike"!
I went down through Ollerton to Newark, then to Gainsborough, didn't want to go home so did a loop around Willingham, that some of you might remember, still didn't want to go home, but the sun had gone down and I was missing the heated grips by now so eventually got back.
It must be I just like Marmite.
Still expect the use the 9R quite regularly as it is a great bike, and a bit of a change, but this has just re-affirmed my view that the Falco is a very special bike for me.
Will never get rid, as long as I can still ride,