Today was one of those fairly unusual days when Polly and Miss November have both had a decent run. Like, over fifty miles each.
Which of course invites further comparisons.
The W800 is just
such an easy bike to ride. Everything is easy to use. For example, the clutch - it's light, take-up is predictable and smooth, hardly ever needs adjustment, certainly one of the best on any bike I've ridden. And everything else is similarly easy. Throttle is smooth and predictable, brakes . . . well, I'm sure you get the drift.
The handling is easy as well, though at the moment I'm having
doubts about the rear Kenda tyre. Feels very odd, especially at low speeds. I think I said this before but it feels as if there's a front tyre in there. So this afternoon, having been out in the morning on the XS, took the opportunity to go for a couple of errands with the W800 on the same back roads where the six-fifty does most miles. Just to see how the two bikes compare.
That odd feeling from the handling recedes from attention after a few miles at road speeds. It's still there, and becomes more noticeable when we're back in town & village speed limits. Maybe I'll change the rear tyre for summat else? But all-in-all, the W800 handles well doing the job it's built for. Both bikes let you feel secure tackling a
rider's road - hills, bends, variable surfaces, light traffic, the odd sprinkling of junctions and other hazards. Just to keep us on our toes.
It's faster than the XS - well it's newer, larger displacement, higher geared, more torque. But real-world faster too - on familiar roads, you often find yourself going maybe 10 mph more than on the Yamaha. Of course, if you really want to go faster, the XS will do that but always feels like it's working harder. Maybe it's because heavier engine internals are more reluctant to spin up? Vibrates more too.
Does this makes the Yamaha sound lacking? Not as good as the Kawasaki in any department? No, that would not be fair.
I really like the feel of a heavier-flywheel engine. When we're out and about on Scottish Borders roads, the XS fills the rôle of gentleman's motorcycle very well. Normally, when we're not in a hurry, just one gear will suffice for quite long stretches. Top gear is fine for speeds down to about 40-ish without feeling like the engine is being lugged. Sounds good, only a little bit louder than the Kawasaki, but more of a
pulse. More character too, whatever that is?
Parked in public, both get attention. In a good way. I think the questions go on for a bit longer with the Yamaha. People sound incredulous that Miss November is forty-three years old.
Of course, you know this comparison won't reach a conclusion. If it did, I'd probably feel I ought to
sell one of 'em. Steady on . . .
