JQL
Growing old disgracefully
Review - Honda Crossrunner
Today (5th November, 2011) I had my Deauville serviced and Honda at Montlhery gave me a Crossrunner for the day. So here are my thoughts on the Honda Crossrunner.
This bike, after the Deauville, is light! I mean really light. It seems to have little or no weight at all. This is not a bad thing but a good thing. She is also very quiet after the wind noise from the Deauville.
The V4 engine is amazing, torquey, revs easily and, because of the lightness of the bike, makes it all too easy to reach the speed limit without noticing. The throaty noise from the exhaust is also very nice. This is the best thing about this bike. I would buy it just for the engine! Please, please Mr Honda put this engine in the next Deauville (keeping the Deauville?s shaft drive of course).
The Fairing does keep most of the wind off you and the little screen does quite a good job as well. Because of this there is almost no wind noise ? BLISS after the Deauville! Unfortunately it doesn?t do such a good job in keeping the muck off you. The seat height is about the same as the Deauville but, because she is much lighter, it felt much easier holding her on the balls of your feet.
The Controls are a little different from the Deauville with the horn button and indicators reversed so I kept pressing the horn when I wanted to indicate or cancel the indicators. The throttle is very responsive, the (hydraulic) clutch light and easy to use. The handlebar grips, I thought, were a bit thin ? I prefer the Deauville?s.
The Instruments are all LED and took a little getting used to. There isn?t a temperature gauge, just the temperature displayed in degrees C. I thought the rev counter display could have been a little larger.
Seating position is upright which I liked a lot. The foot pegs are much further back than the Deauville?s, more in keeping with an off-road bike. I didn?t have a problem with them and my knees didn?t complain. The seat itself didn?t seem to fit properly when I was on the bike with a large gap at the front where it meets the tank. I?m about 200lbs so maybe it?s designed for someone a lot lighter.
Handling was excellent. The Scorpion Trail tyres gripped the slippery French roads well and really inspired confidence. No buttock clenching moments when going round some of the corners. I just wish the Deauville was as sure footed.
The $64,000 question ? Would I buy one?
If it had Shaft Drive, YES! No question about it especially because of the fantastic V4 engine. You can add a bigger screen, wind deflectors and luggage etc. so it would suit my needs. But, as it has a chain, probably not.
Today (5th November, 2011) I had my Deauville serviced and Honda at Montlhery gave me a Crossrunner for the day. So here are my thoughts on the Honda Crossrunner.
This bike, after the Deauville, is light! I mean really light. It seems to have little or no weight at all. This is not a bad thing but a good thing. She is also very quiet after the wind noise from the Deauville.
The V4 engine is amazing, torquey, revs easily and, because of the lightness of the bike, makes it all too easy to reach the speed limit without noticing. The throaty noise from the exhaust is also very nice. This is the best thing about this bike. I would buy it just for the engine! Please, please Mr Honda put this engine in the next Deauville (keeping the Deauville?s shaft drive of course).
The Fairing does keep most of the wind off you and the little screen does quite a good job as well. Because of this there is almost no wind noise ? BLISS after the Deauville! Unfortunately it doesn?t do such a good job in keeping the muck off you. The seat height is about the same as the Deauville but, because she is much lighter, it felt much easier holding her on the balls of your feet.
The Controls are a little different from the Deauville with the horn button and indicators reversed so I kept pressing the horn when I wanted to indicate or cancel the indicators. The throttle is very responsive, the (hydraulic) clutch light and easy to use. The handlebar grips, I thought, were a bit thin ? I prefer the Deauville?s.
The Instruments are all LED and took a little getting used to. There isn?t a temperature gauge, just the temperature displayed in degrees C. I thought the rev counter display could have been a little larger.
Seating position is upright which I liked a lot. The foot pegs are much further back than the Deauville?s, more in keeping with an off-road bike. I didn?t have a problem with them and my knees didn?t complain. The seat itself didn?t seem to fit properly when I was on the bike with a large gap at the front where it meets the tank. I?m about 200lbs so maybe it?s designed for someone a lot lighter.
Handling was excellent. The Scorpion Trail tyres gripped the slippery French roads well and really inspired confidence. No buttock clenching moments when going round some of the corners. I just wish the Deauville was as sure footed.
The $64,000 question ? Would I buy one?
If it had Shaft Drive, YES! No question about it especially because of the fantastic V4 engine. You can add a bigger screen, wind deflectors and luggage etc. so it would suit my needs. But, as it has a chain, probably not.
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:frown: