Is your R3 a "first step" bike, a "downsizing" bike, or a "just right" bike?
Mods, forgive me if this has been specifically discussed but I've had mine for a month now and have ridden over 100 miles each weekend, really enjoying the R3.
My background was small-bore off-road bikes as a teen, ridden WFO all the time so my bike handling base skills were okay from jumping, berm shots, whoops, and plenty of crashes. I also raced BMX and mountain bikes in expert class, dabbled in road racing and snowboarding and commuted for a few years on a couple of Vespas.
The Vespas sold me on the idea that you can have a blast with not much horsepower if you ride well. I bought the R3 because I wanted the nimble, fun feel of a small bike but with better acceleration at higher speeds, better brakes, and more stable handling than the Vespas. I tried a couple of "real" sport bikes: a Ducati Monster 620 and an MV Agusta Brutale 750s, but the Ducati just didn't fit me right, while the MV Agusta felt like pure sex, fit me perfectly and had the suspension and brakes and handling of my dreams... but one slip of the wrist leads to very serious consequences with 127HP.
The R3 was purchased with a "We'll see" attitude. I might love it, I might like it, and I might feel like, after a few rides up in the twisty roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains, that I should revisit the Italian beauties. So far I love the R3! The engine is just right: keep it over 7,000RPM and the acceleration and shifting are smooth and quick enough to have a blast as long as you're not drag-racing an R1. Light but stable handling, it looks great, and it really has an agreeable personality.
It's not perfect. The brakes are a little vague feeling, and the front suspension seems to be undersprung while damped right, while the rear feels like the rebound damping is too light but the spring rate is about right. The tires sometimes seem a little squirmy when I lean hard but that's probably just my own caution. I'd like the bars a LITTLE lower and am undecided as to whether to just flip the clip-ons while staying above the triple clamp or get the Woodcraft R3s. Finally the rear fender is an abomination.
It adds up though to me thinking this is going to be Option 3, a keeper. I got it so cheap that even sinking $2000 into braided brake lines, better levers, clip-ons, stiffer fork spring and 15w oil and a new shock I have a bike I really like that does just what I want. How about y'all?
1) First step, and expect I'll get a 600 or bigger in a year or two
2) Seasoned rider who likes a fun, compact, practical bike
3) This seems just about right!
Mods, forgive me if this has been specifically discussed but I've had mine for a month now and have ridden over 100 miles each weekend, really enjoying the R3.
My background was small-bore off-road bikes as a teen, ridden WFO all the time so my bike handling base skills were okay from jumping, berm shots, whoops, and plenty of crashes. I also raced BMX and mountain bikes in expert class, dabbled in road racing and snowboarding and commuted for a few years on a couple of Vespas.
The Vespas sold me on the idea that you can have a blast with not much horsepower if you ride well. I bought the R3 because I wanted the nimble, fun feel of a small bike but with better acceleration at higher speeds, better brakes, and more stable handling than the Vespas. I tried a couple of "real" sport bikes: a Ducati Monster 620 and an MV Agusta Brutale 750s, but the Ducati just didn't fit me right, while the MV Agusta felt like pure sex, fit me perfectly and had the suspension and brakes and handling of my dreams... but one slip of the wrist leads to very serious consequences with 127HP.
The R3 was purchased with a "We'll see" attitude. I might love it, I might like it, and I might feel like, after a few rides up in the twisty roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains, that I should revisit the Italian beauties. So far I love the R3! The engine is just right: keep it over 7,000RPM and the acceleration and shifting are smooth and quick enough to have a blast as long as you're not drag-racing an R1. Light but stable handling, it looks great, and it really has an agreeable personality.
It's not perfect. The brakes are a little vague feeling, and the front suspension seems to be undersprung while damped right, while the rear feels like the rebound damping is too light but the spring rate is about right. The tires sometimes seem a little squirmy when I lean hard but that's probably just my own caution. I'd like the bars a LITTLE lower and am undecided as to whether to just flip the clip-ons while staying above the triple clamp or get the Woodcraft R3s. Finally the rear fender is an abomination.
It adds up though to me thinking this is going to be Option 3, a keeper. I got it so cheap that even sinking $2000 into braided brake lines, better levers, clip-ons, stiffer fork spring and 15w oil and a new shock I have a bike I really like that does just what I want. How about y'all?
1) First step, and expect I'll get a 600 or bigger in a year or two
2) Seasoned rider who likes a fun, compact, practical bike
3) This seems just about right!