Pat Bergin
Reviewed: 06 March 2013
Brilliant all-rounder. Well-built, good-looking, fast and comfortable - but perhaps just lacking a bit of soul
Instantly feels "right" as soon as you sit on it. Will not disgrace itself on a track day and is equally as good touring or scratching. The single-sided swingarm and cool clocks look great - get rid of the big end can and replace it with a nice aftermarket item and you have a really good-looking bike. The build quality is proper Honda too, solid and reassuring. Exudes quality and competence.
Perhaps a bit jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none? The standard can is pretty ugly too (much the same as most modern bikes though) - worth investing in an aftermarket item IMHO. For its all-round competence and ease-of-use, it is a better bike than a Tuono, a Brutale or a Monster but although it is a cliche to say it, it lacks the "soul" of the Italian bikes. Performance is decent enough but not jaw-dropping and although it is certainly good-looking, it is not drop-dead gorgeous.
A very, very good package. A bike you can use for just about anything you want, track day, tour, Sunday blast or daily commute - it will take it all in its stride and will look good doing it. It is not perfect though. It is harsh to criticise such a class act but a Tuono will tweak your adrenal gland more and a Monster with a pair of Termignonis will tug at your heart in a way this bike cannot match. It really depends on what you want out of your bike though and this one really does tick a very large number of boxes.
