Well, I just rode all the way to Box Hill to see if I could have a test ride on a MT1 because there was some sort of Yamaha roadshow advertising that you could try their range of bikes and watch a load of entertainment, stunt shows etc. Said it was meant to start at 10.00 so I set off on a very sunny morning and got there at 10.15.

Loads of tents, awnings and Yamaha logos everywhere. Not many bikers there yet.
I realised that to have a go on their bikes you had to wear a bright orange jacket and go out in a convoy following a lead rider like CBT training.
Decided not to bother then, thank you very much.
I had a brew and waited for something to happen.
And waited.
A guys walked around the fenced off enclosure testing the PA system.
A tall leggy PR type girl dressed in black leather walked across the carpark. All guys stopped looking at bikes for the duration.
I had a sausage sandwich while I was waiting some more.
And waited some more whilst getting bored.
I watched two guys clean the "Yamaha wheelie machine" with some cloths and cleaning spray.
I took a few pictures to post up here.
I gave up and decided to go for a ride home the long way on good, fast roads.
As I set off it poured with torrential rain that soaked me to the bones and made all the roads wet and slippy.

Sometimes biking is not that great or exciting.

Needs a zero in the right place Bic!

Isn't that picture of a V Max anyway? It's not an MT1/MT01/MTwhatever. It's not what they had for test rides at Box Hill today.

I wanted a ride on the naked R1, cross plane engined thing. I reckon it would have been a load of bollox anyway being an in line 4.

Its not a V-Max, you'll see a chain.

This is the original MT bike, the MT-01, big v-twin based on the Bulldog, the MT-03 using the 660 single was launched at the same time, quite a while ago.

Since the success of the MT-09 & 07, Yamaha have done a 300cc MT-03 and just launched, what you're after, the MT-10. Don't worry, I was in my dealer today looking at one too.

Did sit on it but immediately felt that the bars are a little remote from the top yoke, something where I've always liked about the SD is lack of risers and feeling well connected to the front end.

Will go back next week for a go on it, might look to trade the 'busa.

Yes, that's why I thought I'd like a go on one if there was a chance. Especially as it's like a detuned R1 engine so it's got more low down torque and doesn't rev as high. It's been a long, long time since I rode a 4 and I wanted to remind myself what they were like. But not in a procession of 12 or more other riders wobbling about on all the other Yamaha range. Another time maybe.

The "Baby shit" yellow wheels will need to be blacked out.

And you can hardly overlook the fact that it is one fugly motorcycle....

Wheels look like shit but the blue is growing on me, not your usual UJM.
Why they didn't go down the same route as the MT09 front is strange. It would be far less polarising and I would imagine account for more sales.
Looks like Akro is fast becoming the weapon of choice for a lot of brands.

I test rode one a couple weeks back at Laguna Motorcycles. I was really looking forward to it after all the media hype. The bike had a grand total of 206 miles when I got on.

First thoughts:
The sound is luuuurvly
Seat is uncomfortable, riding position awkward
Not nearly as much low down torque as either my 990 or 1290 (I was also expecting a lot more, Bic)
I kept hitting neutral between 1st and 2nd. The gap was huge. It actually got ridiculous and really irritated me.
I couldn't get cruise control to work. It could have been me who had no clue how to use it but in my mind it was the usability (or perhaps broken already) and I went away thinking it was shit.
I felt I was always doing 10-20 miles above what the speedometer read. I guess that's a good thing on the road.
It didn't tip in quickly. it was by no means sluggish but the initial turn in required effort, and slow riding around town the steering was way too tight. I prefer the loose agile set up of the ktm a lot more.

I have been slightly swayed by the looks over time but it's definitely not in the top 10 best looking bikes at the moment. I was really worried I would fall in love with this bike and would have to cheat on the SD, but alas, it was not to be.

You know, I realise that I keep on posting about trying out new bikes to compare to my 990.

I get things done when I want to. I'm a doer, not a daydreamer. I make things happen.

But I never seem to get the job here done. I don't know why but I suspect it's because of one of three reasons:-

1. My heart isn't in it. Despite wanting to try new bikes I'm happy and satisfied with my Superduke and the old Kawasaki triple.

2. I'm subconsciously worried that I will find a bike way better than than the 990 that I financially cannot afford to implement.

3. The dealerships, manufacturers, sales teams don't make it easy. Somehow there are always things that get in the way of just jumping on a bike and having a go.

If I was trying to sell me a new bike I can think of a dozen ways that I could make it easier or more seductive to turn away from my 990 or H2 but so far none of them have come close.

In the old days (back in the late '70s and '80s for me) everyone had the same Norwich Union insurance cover which were called "rider policies". What this meant was that you were insured to ride any bike up to the cc limit of your policy. So basically you could legally ride any of your mates bikes and they were covered if you smashed it up. So bike meets and every night down the pub you went out and had a go on your mates bike. When the new Yamaha LCs appeared everyone had a go on one. I mean everyone! The old school KH250 riders just had to admit they were utterly outgunned and the Suzuki X7 was officially an also ran. It was a democratic process based on personal experience. It was easy to have a go on a Honda CBX or a Dunstall Suzuki or even having a laugh on a Honda Superdream. I miss those days.

It's sad but true; the good old days are gone. The greater good has been wiped out by the greater eejits.

We will never have a way of life that is simple and with the amount of freedom and responsibility one used to have. I'm not old enough to regale about great times I had in those days, but by the amount of people who tell me the same thing have me convinced I was born twenty years too late.

I suppose one good point is its under 10k !!!!!