OK, here is the promised first impressions report, ~120 miles in 2 sessions, rural back roads.
The pros: [up]
Handling: Set up the suspension per the manual for my weight. Light and nimble. Once I adapted to the riding position, it learned quickly to go where I wanted it to. No knee dragging for me yet.
Performance: Runs like a bear - once I'm up up 4500 rpm+. Smooth idle and cruise, none of the aberrations noted by others to speak of. Or I've ridden enough crap in the past that I don't notice them
Brakes: Holy crap. Wow. Plenty, thanks.
The cons: [down]
Brakes: Holy crap. I need a front rotor. Heavy application late in a right-hander (my worst side) startled me enough that I made every rookie mistake possible. Tremendous shudder that gets nothing but worse with pressure. The prior owner alluded to the possibility in spite of new pads. Rotor and underwear on order.
Performance: OK, the 9 is no torkster, I can accept that. But this bike has nothing from 2-4k rpm WOT. It's not blubbering, it's just flat. Remapping needed? AFAIK this is an out of the box race ECM (CB060 - I checked). Still learning the ECMSpy thing and it connects, but I haven't loaded and looked at anything yet.
Noise: Pipe - no problem. Airbox - yikes. Never having ridden with my head in a carb, I was surprised. At steady cruise, just a slight increase in throttle unleashes this ungodly howl that only diminishes with more or less throttle. Earplugs now in jacket pocket.
Ride: OK, we've all seen the road seams and no one likes them. Uncomfortable on any bike. I rode through 10 miles of fresh ones prior to repaving. Brutal. Just brutal. I don't know if any suspension tweaks might reduce the pounding, but this was without a doubt the worst 10 mile ride I've had in recent memory. I finally wised up, slowed down, and road the shoulder out of the mess.
Clutch: Releases fine, cable adjusted fine. Way too much throw to engage. Anyone make a handle with a deeper dogleg? Otherwise, I'll take one of the spares and make one to suit me. Way too much reach for my comfort.
Summary: I'll keep her a while.
Flame suit on
