What I noted with real
pleasure was how
smooth it was. At lane-
splitting low speeds it
was flawless. At 100km/h
it was seamlessly
chortling along at a
shade over 3000rpm
AMERICAN MUSCLE
The engine, which is not the Victory Octane or
the Scout variant, is its own unique sunbeam.
It’s thick with easily available torque, like a
linebacker cracking quarterback spines. And
while it only revs to 9000rpm, it revs lively and
willing, and you can really feel some urge start
to kick in over the mid-fives. Or you can just
leave it in third or fourth and surf the fat wave,
man.
The fuelling is pretty good, but I noticed some
vague anomaly getting sharply on and off the
throttle in moments of sublime madness. Like
I said, that English pendejo wasn’t hanging
around. There was no hunting at low speeds,
and it pulled clean and very hard when I
needed it to, so I’m thinking maybe it was just
my unfamiliarity with the unique way the FTR
went about its business.
I only rode it for 160-odd kms, and I would
certainly like to spend a lot more time on it
before making any major calls.
But what I noted with real pleasure was how
smooth it was. At lane-splitting low speeds it
was flawless. At 100km/h it was seamlessly
chortling along at a shade over 3000rpm.
The brakes are great (the rear is one of the
best I have ever used), the handling is stable
and precise, and the Sachs suspension is
actually pretty special. None of the potholes I
rode into upset it or tossed me off my line.
I imagine it would only be improved by
some fettling.
The side-stand is fine – but getting to the
bastard is unnecessarily awkward. Another
joint in my foot would have been helpful at
hooking it out of its hidey hole.
It was also kinda tight getting your hand to the
ignition key tumbler.
And the engine gives off a bit of heat. This was
noticeable in the traffic crawl coming out of
Santa Monica. It’s nothing intolerable. You just
feel the warmth. But these are really niggles.
I have adored bikes with far more issues than
these little foibles.
KIWI RIDER 103