Update #1
Thanks for all your very positive responses and welcomes.
I've just returned from putting the first 100 miles on the new Kumho.
Janine was out, it's a glorious sunny day, so I finally had the opportunity put some miles on it solo to get used to the 'feel'.
The softness and silence of the ride I found very dramatic. We have a length of road between Kissimmee and St. Cloud that always gets a comment from the rear, it's abysmal, the surface is rutted, and grooved like a tire test track ought to be, imagine the ripples you see on sand dunes in the desert (Think Lawrence of Arabia) made of blacktop going across your path, well that's Neptune Road. Today I'd made it to the traffic lights at Kissimmee Park Road before I realized my spine had not endured the previous jarring I subjected it too. Hmmm, maybe there's something in this 'Darkside' after all..... :smile:
I took a few twisties rather spiritedly and found the response to be crisp and positive, although at high speed on the straight and flat sections I found my positioning to be less precise that normal, but that's just me not yet used to the steering inputs required.
I am more conscious of counter steering now in all sweeping turns, and I must say it feels very natural with the feedback through the bars being much better than before.
In a nutshell, I'm running it at 30 psi and have found the tire to be phenomenal, it instills even greater confidence in the machine and feels as sure footed as I've ever felt on a motorcycle.
I'm still learning as always, and it does feel slightly different but nowwhere near as I thought it might be. Tonight we're out for some dinner so it'll be the first time 2 up, I anticipate much praise for my decision over the headset and no change in the handling. I'll keep you posted.
John
