Thread: Futura - First real ride report

Maybe I should have titled this "Where have you been all my life?"

Just as a quick refresher, I picked up an '02 RST-1000 a few weeks ago. Between monsoon season and domestic obligations, I haven't ridden the old gal save for a few trips for local errands.

Well, father's day rolls around and the wife says "go ride a while". Can't turn that down.

This bike has the most comfortable stock seat I have ever sat on. I had heard stories about the legendary comfort but I am now a true believer. It wasn't a long trip - only about 100 miles or so, but after that short amount of time on my 929, I would have started to feel the burn. The longest stretch I ever did on the CBR was 330 miles and I had to spend the rest of the day laying flat to recover. None of that with the 'priller.

Heading out, it's all slab for about 15 miles and the bike does well. Minimal buffeting around 18-wheelers and plenty of power for passing.

Departed the interstate and headed west around the Lake Conroe area. Again, bike is superb on two-lane and is very comfortable and stable, even in the crosswinds on the long bridge that crosses the lake.

Turned into Sam Houston National Forest for some sweepers. One thing that I noticed about this bike is that it either takes a more pronounced lean angle to turn or maybe I am just sitting higher on the bike than my previous sportbikes and it's an optical illusion. Either way, not a problem - it just sticks out in my mind for some reason. There were some rain showers that came through earlier this morning and the roads were still quite damp. I'm sure the bike would have held the turns with exponentially higher speeds than what I was riding but I didn't want to push things too much.

Handling is very intuitive. The bike goes where you think it. No compression adjustments on the suspension but you can adjust preload and I'll have to play with it a bit to find the sweet spot.

Stopped to gas up just north of Conroe, which is probably the only place in Texas (or on Earth for that matter) that Harley riders actually know what an Aprilia is. Saw a couple of 1%'ers at the gas stop and chatted with them for a bit. I was surprised at that since I've always gotten the "looked down upon" routine from cruisers while on a sportbike. The Aprilia seems to draw a different response. First thing I hear is "not many of those around" and then the conversation turns to reveal that these guys are riding to Beaumont to see a buddy who is incarcerated.

Headed home and got rained on during the last mile to the house. Not much rain protection but that's why you carry a suit this time of year. Unfortunately, I was on the last stretch home and decided to just get damp.

Long story made short, I absolutely love this bike. When I picked it up a few weeks ago, I had to ride it home in an absolute deluge. This was the first chance I'd had to ride it in the dry (mostly) and on roads other than slab or arrow-straight two lane.

The hardbags are excellent. I love being able to throw a rainsuit, hat, cell phone, ham sandwich, whatever in the bags and rock-and-roll.

Even though it was only a short ride, I can tell that I could eat up the miles day after day with no worries.

The love affair has begun

I'd like that, but I'm currently "between bikes." I am in the market, however, so it shouldn't be too much longer before I'm riding again. After swearing off sport bikes for a few years, it looks like I'm gravitating back to a CBR. I wish Honda would hurry up and announce something about a magical new 1000 so I can get a great deal on another 929.