Finally got the chance to take my new CBR650R out for a day-long spin and had a blast! When this bike sings, it’s like no other one I’ve ridden: it has a two-tone whistle of an induction noise, and since it doesn’t have too much torque down low, I was able to hear it a whole lot more than the whistle of the Ninja 1000SX that this replaced! Switching to a smaller bike was definitely the right choice for that reason alone, but it was also much easier to get on the side of the tire because of its lighter crankshaft.
The route was one of my favorites: Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Port Townsend, atd Whidbey Island, but this time along the Pioneer Highway to spend as little time on I-5 as possible. There were so many other people out riding both motorcycles and bicycles since this was the best weather we’ve had in quite some time! One interesting rest stop was at The Rex in between La Conner and Conway, where there were motorcycles parked as far as the eye could see for a fundraiser barbecue for the owner of The Rex.
I’m celebrating the return of Spring with a new Honda CBR650R! (Album)
After selling my Ninja 1000SX because I realized that it wasn’t the right bike, I did a test ride on this exact bike at The Brothers Powersports in Bremerton on a stormy day a couple weeks back, then later that night I put a deposit on it. I had the shop put some comfort mods on the bike (heated grips, quickshifter, top case rack, frame sliders) over the past week and then took the bus and ferry last Friday to pick it up, which took forever because I had to wait an hour for the ferry! I did have to ride home with a backpack on, which wasn’t fun, but I got it safely home and then spent all of Saturday started putting more mods on it (GPS charging mount and adjustable rearsets because my long legs were cramped). It was kind of a bummer missing out on the nice weather Saturday, but with the bike all buttoned up, I’ll be able to any upcoming warm weather! Even better is that I bought it out of pocket and don’t have to deal with financing!
On the ferry ride home Friday, I ran into the same lady I saw when I headed home from Bremerton after test riding the bike. Her name was Loki and she was headed with her partner Isaac from her home on the Olympic Peninsula to Seattle to teach circus performers.
(I realize my eyes were closed in the photos. Bummer!)