behaviour ... but it doesn ’ t come . It all seems so , just , normal . The pace picks up as I gain confidence in the 1990 hairy-chested 1100 – but I can ’ t help wondering if this is where it bites ? The bike is rolling on freshly scrubbed in Pirellis and the rear shock is a shiny gold Ohlins . I ’ d already heard tell that the Slingshot models were different beasts when fitted with modern tyres – the 1989 K wore the first radial tyres ( Michelin ’ s A59X M59X combo ) – and I ’ m hoping that ’ s true . Relaxing into the ride , I start to notice the engine . The air / oil-cooled five-speed lump is grunty . It ’ s a little vibey compared to modern
engines , and feels very raw . There ’ s a slight grumble through the bars at 100km / h , around 4400rpm . Just around here is when the engine really starts to pick up , picking up again at 6500rpm , surging the bike forwards , through to the 11,500rpm redline . There ’ s a claimed 143hp in that 32-year-old 1127cc lump . That ’ s still seriously quick . There ’ s not the same sense of urgency that comes with a modern , shortstroke 1000cc sports motor , nor the searing top end , but the way the engine makes its power works well with the five-speed gear box . There ’ s plenty of torque everywhere , all the time . This is a bulldozer of a motor , surging towards the horizon with a sense of inevitability ...
KIWI RIDER 77