Wednesday 24th June - Bye Bye Harley, Hello Buell!

Well, after a manic week at work, which will see me taking over the 11-3pm weekday slot from the legendary Emma Scott at Kerrang on July 13th, I am glad to report that I will be able to get back to updating the diaries daily, and oh my goodness have I got some cool bikes in store over the next few weeks.

The Harley XR1200 is probably one of THE most fun bikes I have ever ridden, it look so basic, but with its nimble handling and epic engine....and of course THAT noise, it was just great to get on and ride, so I was sad to see the lovely man from Harley turn up today and ask for the keys back.............sniff sniff.........but to be fair he did bring me something pretty special in return.......the Buell 1125R!

Buell are to Harley, what Ferrari are to Fiat, they are there racing division, and turn out these incredible race machines at the forefront of technology, then whack them on the road. I know I was pumped about riding the Harley, with all of the tradition and ethos that brings, but secretly I wee'd a little bit when I found out I was getting a Buell, these bikes are just so rare, and if I do ever see one out and about, they always look so stunning!

So I was pretty chuffed they gave me the full on race version, and straight away you can tell by looking at it it's very different. For a start check out the front discs, they run around the inside of the front wheel and mean you don't need excessive spokes on the wheel, or even a second disc, and more than that, they look well cool!!

Also the exhausts are tucked away under the bike, and are really neat, I like that, like I like the racing fairings that really like something straight of an old school track bike.
I suppose I should get on the bike! I didn't have a huge amount of time to take out the bike today, but I managed to get out and give it a blast, and its blooming ace! The engine is like a V Twin racing tuned buzz saw, with so much torque and power on tap, plus after riding the Harley, I can't tell you how much more responsive and natural it is to get back on a racing bike, and boy is this a racing bike.

It is so smooth through the corners and under braking, that it gives you confidence to really give it some; this is a bike that wants to be ridden!!!! That big old front disc certainly does the job, and the braking effect is so efficient it feels like an extension of the thought process.

It's quick too, and because of that V Twin engine, creating that awesome racket from those stubby exhausts (as I said, think of it as some kind of atomic buzz saw) which is such a contrast to the high revving notes of a 4 cylinder bike......it sounds savage, like some kind of manic chainsaw, but really gutsy, and for some reason this really made me feel like I was taking the thing around Donnington!

I can't believe how much this bike feels like it wants you to ride it, it's just feels so balanced and right, which is I know something that Buell pride themselves on, getting that rider racing experience just right.

Bring on tomorrow!