bic_bicknell
Well today I picked up the H2c and spent all day dodging the heavy thunder storms, hail stones and black clouds riding about Surrey in a cloud of blue smoke! I'm ashamed to say that despite the better part of 40 years in the relatively climate controlled USA the, almost perfect, original chrome got a good introduction to the British weather on it's first day with me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVzUG6W ... e=youtu.be
I'll write up my first impressions later tonight but honestly I have got the biggest smile across my face for a long, long time.
But in a nutshell....
The engine, powerband, torque is not awesome like a modern bike. It's not intimidating at all. I guess it was fast in it's day but it is still deceptively fast though. Before you ask, didn't try wheelying it yet, need to make sure everything is sorted before stuff like that It will be much better with the carbs balanced and maybe a look at the jetting as chopping the plugs suggest it's running a bit rich. Gearbox is beautiful and slick. So used to a quickshifter now I kept on forgetting to use clutch on upshifts and it does't mind a bit.
The handling is far better than I remember it to be and nothing like the bad press/urban myth. It's under sprung at the rear and under damped everywhere. But I will get it fettled and the fact that I had to return home midday to tighten up the really sloppy head bearings was not going to help first impressions either!
The brakes are............absolutely, terrifyingly shit! OMG the front is like two finger do nothing, whole fist slows the bike down gradually. There is no sense of actually stopping when you want. Rear brake use is mandatory and I'm glad I never totally lost the knack of dual braking techniques. I'm hoping the pads are new and might be bedding in somewhat. Otherwise it's off the the forums to ask for help.
But all this is irrelevant. This bike is just great to sit on and razz down country lanes enjoying the sound and smell. Not had mirrors on the SD for ages but with them on this bike again you can look behind and just see a cloud of blue smoke filling the space between the hedges and tarmac! At traffic lights it smokes and burbles and generally puts the fear of God into cage drivers and the lift off when the lights turn green is awesome. This bike was built for drag racing.
Anyways, the SD has a serious competition in the garage for certain situations and needs.
As Kawasaki say, "Let the good times roll"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVzUG6W ... e=youtu.be
I'll write up my first impressions later tonight but honestly I have got the biggest smile across my face for a long, long time.
But in a nutshell....
The engine, powerband, torque is not awesome like a modern bike. It's not intimidating at all. I guess it was fast in it's day but it is still deceptively fast though. Before you ask, didn't try wheelying it yet, need to make sure everything is sorted before stuff like that It will be much better with the carbs balanced and maybe a look at the jetting as chopping the plugs suggest it's running a bit rich. Gearbox is beautiful and slick. So used to a quickshifter now I kept on forgetting to use clutch on upshifts and it does't mind a bit.
The handling is far better than I remember it to be and nothing like the bad press/urban myth. It's under sprung at the rear and under damped everywhere. But I will get it fettled and the fact that I had to return home midday to tighten up the really sloppy head bearings was not going to help first impressions either!
The brakes are............absolutely, terrifyingly shit! OMG the front is like two finger do nothing, whole fist slows the bike down gradually. There is no sense of actually stopping when you want. Rear brake use is mandatory and I'm glad I never totally lost the knack of dual braking techniques. I'm hoping the pads are new and might be bedding in somewhat. Otherwise it's off the the forums to ask for help.
But all this is irrelevant. This bike is just great to sit on and razz down country lanes enjoying the sound and smell. Not had mirrors on the SD for ages but with them on this bike again you can look behind and just see a cloud of blue smoke filling the space between the hedges and tarmac! At traffic lights it smokes and burbles and generally puts the fear of God into cage drivers and the lift off when the lights turn green is awesome. This bike was built for drag racing.
Anyways, the SD has a serious competition in the garage for certain situations and needs.
As Kawasaki say, "Let the good times roll"