After spending last fall refiniing the suspension and handling on my 496 to maximize performance in the roots and rocks that I ride, I tried a little bit of faster riding this last weekend. I went to a local (private) riding area with a 3+/- mile HS / MX / GNCC / WORCS type course, each lap takes about 10 minutes to complete (very similar to an ISDE special test). The course surface ranges from some silty/clay to loam or almost pure sand. Parts of the course are groomed flat with no berms and some areas are whooped out sand. I hammered out quite a few laps and that course, often resting for a minute and then attacking it like a special test, I soon found out that the bike is nothing short or amazing at special test riding. The stable chassis was effortless to ride even in loose sand whoops, yet carved inside lines or railed rut/berms where they existed. The harder that I stuffed it into the turn, the faster I came out. I had been watching a couple of the younger fast guys (on 250 2Ts) ride the course and they were hitting all the doubles and blasting the berms and going fast so I took off to follow them. To my surprise I could and passed them very quickly when they had troubles negotiating corners or other such obstacles. I rode with them for 2 laps, letting them by before jumps (I hate jumps and fear being landed on by a crusty punk). Hmm, maybe it's time to go racing again, but a 41yr old on the line with the AA riders? :yikes:
Bottom liine, I like my bike, but most of you knew that before reading this post.
Bottom liine, I like my bike, but most of you knew that before reading this post.
