CHASSIS
Fork dive is virtually non-existent and the Showa
front end tracks and rolls in to the corners
arguably better than an R9T (my prior cornering
favourite). At the rear fully adjustable Ohlins take
care of tracking. I found the ride pretty firm on
gnarly B-roads, and some work with preload and
damping may ensure more comfort. But I found
that great stiff swingarm unit to be rock solid, no
matter how grim the potholing and lumpiness.
On poor roads a little vibration occasionally
travelled up the bars, shifting forward to increase
my arm angle, and bent elbows, eased the issue.
On warm dry roads the Supercorsas heat up
quickly and behave like a gluestick and with the
ABS offerings in various rider configurable
modes, railing corners is never less than
exceptional. The bike wheelies willingly with rider
modes switched off, while transitions to Rain,
Road and Sport are clear and easy to accomplish
on the road, at the dash and left hand.
The new TFT dash offers everything from lap
timing to SMS messages from your connected
mobile, but I didn’t want to detract from the ride
experience and left music out if it. With four
display options and contrast and colour highlight
selections the display can be made to suit
anyone, and it has to be the easiest menu to
navigate so far.
Cornering is quite simply, extraordinary. Simply
put – in my experience I found I was able to use
lean angles that would have previously caused
teeth-chattering concern, with ease and calm,
and during my test days, in every corner I
seemed to have more time, and several choices
of location, position and exit.
There is no substitute for personal experience,
to tell whether a motorcycle is good, just good
for you, or world beating. Among a myriad of
bikes I have ridden two naked street motorcycles
that can directly compare; with road behaviour,
depth of power and braking, cornering ability
KIWI RIDER 55