I just brought home a new 2015 Black & Cranberry R3T [it was a dealer leftover at a fire sale price - there is still one available]
I will need to watch my speed as - it is entirely too, too easy to be at 70+ mph on a 55 mph road, without even thinking.
-Yes you will, but then again, I find even on a Suzuki SU250 that I have to watch my speed. Might be a personal problem I must address someday.
First impressions:
** Cornering is nice - the bike seems to want to 'right itself' when coming out out of the corner.
-Yes it does with a little bit of throttle. I love that.
** Slow speed maneuvering seems OK. I had to catch it when doing a hard right turn from a stop. With the additional weight, it just makes the handling slightly different. A couple hours on a parking lot around cones should help.
-See above, giving that little bit of throttle seems to help me stay upright with both the added torque and the gyroscopic effect of spinning metal parts.
** I have a Triumph America and the additional 275 lbs compared to that bike really makes the ride smooth out.
** The wind screen is way too short. Will have one from Clearview ordered by the time bed time gets here tonight.
** The seating makes the driver sit higher - the driver sits on it and not in it. This changes my shoulder and arm positions. May need to look at risers in the future. Not necessarily uncomfortable, just different.
** I can really feel the heat from the engine on the legs. It will be nice in the late fall and early spring, not so much now.
-It does help a bit. but when the temp drops below freezing, I don't seem to feel any benefit until I stop at a red light. It does help to warm up my hands while I wait for the light to change.
** It is hard to be fair and judge the seat but it is not as bad as the America but I can feel some parts of the rear that I did not feel before. The custom Seth Laam seat on the America made a world of difference, it would like do the same on the R3T.
-You may want to try a BeadRider on your seat. I have one and think it is an awesome bit of kit for warm weather riding as it keeps the bum dryer and has help with circulation.
I did hear some noise at slow parking lot speeds I am not used to. Not certain if this is transmission noise or the shaft drive.
A tachometer would be nice.
-Does it sound like crickets? If so, that is the injectors and is normal.
Hitting the starter button is definitely different than on a smaller bike. The shaking as it fires reminds me of watching NHRA Funny cars. Once all that weight starts moving, it reminds me of NHRA Top Fuel cars.
-That stater button sold me on the bike. Feeling the beast come alive for the first time is a rush, at least for me.
All in all I am excited about my morning 55 mile commute. It should be entertaining on a couple of the twisties.
So far I am excited to be an owner of a R3T!!!