What is a "sport truck"? I'm not really sure, I've always had 4x4s. After I sold my last 4x4 Tacoma, I spent the next 2 weeks driving a 2006 RSX from our used car lot, so I thought that would provide me with a good frame of reference for evaluating the X-Runner, which I was determined to get my hands on. I figured that its low height would make it easier to load bikes and that its lack of winter grip would not be an issue for the next few months before I sell it and get something else.
I think that "traditional" sport trucks are more like "muscle trucks". Take the biggest engine option, smallest wheelbase and a low 2WD chassis, mix them with bold styling and a sporty wheel/tire combination and you end up with a modern-day muscle car... a sort of hooligan vehicle for assing around and laying blackies everywhere. Oh and it has a box you can throw stuff in. Dodge seemed to have started this with the "Lil Red Wagon" of the 70s and continues today with the "Rumble Bee" package and the now discontinued SRT10 Ram supertruck. Ford went this way with the Lightning as well.
There has been another category of compact sport trucks which used a similar formula, only in a smaller more economical package. GM arguably started this with the Syclone and its modern-day counterpart, the Colorado/Canyon Xtreme. (?)
Toyota took a slightly more focused approach with the X-Runner, placing the emphasis on handling. The expected components are present; biggest engine option, smallest chassis, loud styling. But the X-Runner goes one-up by including a lowered, stiffened suspension, extra bracing in the frame, and a super aggressive 18 inch wheel and tire package with sticky 45-series Bridgestone Potenzas.
The X-Runner comes one way... loaded with the 4.0 six, 6-speed manual, sport seats, cd changer, ground effects, dorky fake hood scoop, in-bed power outlet and so on. Your only options are colours, and only three at that. Black, red and blue. It sports the "access cab" configuration with a 6 foot box.
Using the (base model, not type-S) RSX as a frame of reference for handling, the X-Runner really hits the mark. It hangs on to freeway onramps with way more grip than any truck deserves. You can hang the tail end out if you try, but only for an instant and it pulls itself back in line. It holds a line accurately and predictably and the steering is laser-precise. The ride is a bit rough but not irritatingly rough, and bumps in mid-turn don't upset it. Toyota claims that their benchmark for handling was the Nissan 350z... as absurd as that sounds, after driving this truck I believe that claim. The X-Runner handles very well, and not "for a truck".
The 4.0 litre motor is awesome... It makes lots of grunt down low and pulls cleanly to the red zone without running out of breath. The standard TRD exhaust sounds mean and makes a nice rumble, but it might get a little annoying on a long trip. Accelleration is impressive, and again, not just for a truck. I'm confident that it could take on most full-size V8 trucks and a lot of rice rocket cars in the stoplight drags, though I haven't had the opportunity so far. This engine feels like it's producing a lot more than the claimed 236hp.
Which brings me to my single major gripe with this truck: the transmission. It's simply the wrong box for this vehicle. It's the same 6-speed that's used in the 4x4 Tacomas with what feels like the same ratios. First is way too short; great in a 4x4 when you're dragging your buddy's truck out of a mud hole but frustrating when you're trying to drive smoothly and/or quickly in the city. And second gear is too tall. With the short first gear it seems like you have to shift almost immediately to second as soon as you've let out the clutch, but then as soon as you're in second the revs drop substantially and the engine will almost bog at lower speeds. The next 4 gears are all so close together they almost seem interchangeable... The engine has lots of torque, so why did they use a 6-speed when 5 properly spaced ratios would have worked fine? Again, the 6-speed makes sense in a work horse 4x4, but not in this sport truck. Making things more frustrating, the clutch is heavy and requires a strong push, and the flywheel is too big. The lever throw is long and truck-like. Gear changes have to be slow to be smooth, and downshifting is especially annoying. It seems that when you open the clutch, the motor (which is already holding too many revs from the heavy flywheel) momentarily increases its speed, making it difficult to judge how much "blip" is needed on a double-clutched downshift. I don't know if this is a built-in feature to the electronic throttle, but it is annoying. If I had to identify a plus to this box, it is easy to change gears without the clutch if you can get the revs right.
So in a lot of ways this is a brilliant little machine. It's just that the 6-speed gearbox takes away a lot of the "fun to drive" factor. I dare say this truck would be more fun with the 5-speed automatic. I still like it, and maybe I'll get used to the transmission over time. It's an exciting little rig and yes, it is easy to load a motorcycle.
Last edited by phobe; 06-16-2007 at 11:45 PM.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
-Dark Helmet
Crime ain't sumfin you should do. It's sumfin you should don't.
-Ali G
Lobster tail and Beer. Tree o' my favorite tings.
-Newfie Proverb
I'm about a block back from my 90' left hand turn and the light goes green. No traffic so I drop the CBR down into 2nd and pin it. 10000RPM comes quickly and I slide my butt off the seat a bit to prepare for the turn. The bike tips over as instantly as I can think it and I'm carving the corner. The back tire starts to slide a bit and the front follows, skipping slightly across the pavement. I stick my left foot out, motard-style and plant my heel while keeping the throttle wide-open and gently feathering the clutch . With a little help the bike rights itself and I carry on down the "straight" up to the next turn. I am laughing out loud in my Shoei. I have not exceeded 25 mph.
I buzz around downtown, weaving around manhole covers and pot holes not because I'm afraid to hit them, but because the weaving is fun and effortless. The bumps that I do hit are easily soaked up by the cushy but satisfyingly firm suspension. I don't make any sudden stops but I jam on the front disc brake a few times, just to explore its limits.. The stopping power is a little above "satisfactory" but I suppose that a rotor or caliper any larger would probably overwhelm the 80-series front tire and its dime-sized contact patch.
I don't try to "race" anyone, because that's dumb and immature but mainly because I'd lose... but I easily get the jump on cages from a stop on a double-lane. Those not "in the know" probably think it's a real supersports motorcycle. It looks just like a 600RR but in 7/8ths scale.
The 125 sounds like a small ATV with it's single liquid-cooled piston thumping up and down. It holds its own in city traffic with more than enough power to get out of its own 250 pound way. It starts up with an adorable little "chirp" and settles into an almost imperceptible idle, but is gratifyingly loud with a burly airbox honk and a thump that sounds like it's coming from a much bigger piston. The motor seems in many ways "industrial" in that it is low-performance (2 valves only) and simple. There is no oil filter, only a screen. It holds about a quart of oil and about 2 quarts of coolant. And while simple, it also displays some high-performance tendencies, like the very obvious powerband when it hits 7000RPM and pulls eagerly past 11. Very slight uphills require a downshift or two or three from the 6-speed gearbox, which is smooth and can be shifted effortlessly. Which finger would you like to use for the clutch? Even your pinky could pull it in... and the engagement takes place in only the last 10% or so of its travel.
I putt-putt past a local bike hangout and notice a few familiar faces so I pull in to shoot the shit. There are lots of interesting 2-wheelers present; a 502 Boss Hoss, some stretched-out chromed-out drag Busas and ZX-10s, and a gaggle of Ducatis (the local club was having a little "cruise night") including a pair of decked-out 1098s, a handful of heavily customized Monster streetfighters, and even a pristine red Mike Hailwood replica... (and enough Termignoni pipes to build a small carbon-fibre and titanium raft)
But I am the superstar. Everyone gathers around the baby 'Blade... er... the 600rr is the baby 'Blade so I guess the 125 is the fetal 'Blade...um, they make a 250 too I think... call it the ovum 'Blade... and bombards me with comments and questions:
What is that?
How much was it?
Can I sit on it?
How much did it cost to insure?
How much gas does it use?
Can it wheelie?
Is there a race series yet?
How fast can it go?
Cool!
I want one!
The CBR125R makes everyone smile, even just looking at it as it just begs "play with me!" A few guys sit on it and giggle with glee... they seem to sense how much fun they could potentially have on it, in spite of the fact that it has about 10% of the horsepower of most of their rides.
I hang around for about a half hour and head off on my merry giggling way. I hit a few curvy lanes coming out of the downtown core and make my way to the freeway.
The light goes green and I pin it onto the on-ramp. The sun is starting to set and there are no cars so I go into a tight racer's tuck and nail it. I pull the engine to redline in first... second...... third.........fourth..............fifth........... ...... I'm still on the ramp.........I hit the superslab............fifth........................ ...sixth.....oop, back to fifth..........................sixth.............. ..................... I'm up to about 70 miles per hour and rushing up into traffic. Actually, I'm not really gaining at all on the Plymouth Sundance a few seconds ahead. I stay in my tuck and the road slopes downhill slightly... I momentarily see 80 and now I'm getting close to my exit so I roll off and sit up. Oops that dropped me down to 55. Shift to fifth, fourth..... fifth and "accelerate" into the off-ramp. It's all about momentum with this thing on the highway; maintaining it, that is. THis type of behaviour on my 1000RR would have me in the suburbs already, or in jail, or embedded in the back of a Fruehauf highboy.
The CBR125R could get you into trouble... I guess. But not very much trouble. I've never had more fun on a motorcycle which was travelling so slowly. This is the perfect street bike for a trackday rider or racer. I'm looking forward to running it at Grattan next week... I think it will help me immensely with my form.
I'll follow up next week.
Last edited by phobe; 06-20-2007 at 12:37 AM.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
-Dark Helmet
Crime ain't sumfin you should do. It's sumfin you should don't.
-Ali G
Lobster tail and Beer. Tree o' my favorite tings.
-Newfie Proverb
sweet!! those are some of the best reveiws ive ever read... both the truck and the new CBR125R sound great!! i might have to go buy one of each after reading those!!!
Updated with truck review. I've only put about 50Km on the 125 so far but I will post a review once I've evaluated it more thoroughly. So far, it has done nothing but put a huge smile on my face.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
-Dark Helmet
Crime ain't sumfin you should do. It's sumfin you should don't.
-Ali G
Lobster tail and Beer. Tree o' my favorite tings.
-Newfie Proverb
Speaking of which, Carey Hart's semi trailer burned to the ground just a few miles from MMP on the freeway yesterday evening.
The only thing the driver was able to save was the little pit four wheeler that was at the very back. The bikes, gear, spares, everything, were reduced to ashes.
I'm sure he'll have someone offer a spare bike so he can race the Supermoto event, but he is a very nice guy and it sucks to lose all your stuff like that.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government.
I saw one at the local stealership in person for the first time last week. They do look like fun although the tires share the same width as a pizza cutter
Unless you really "Need" a new exhuast, I am sure that will clean right off once it is cold. My sister once burn the whole rubber heal of her boots on my F4. Once it was cold I could peel it off, then polish it.
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
---Leonardo Da Vinci
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Originally Posted by CBR929RE
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