I've owned a plethora of bikes in the past (Honda VTX1800, Honda VFR, Yamaha FJR1300, KTM 640E, Triumph Daytona, Triumph Bonneville <---still have it) for different moods and just always looking for "the one" or something different...ok, I'm a bike whore - anyway
here's my quick take on each bike:
02 Triumph Bonneville (cafed - love it, still have it, great raw bike experience - the best at what it is)
04 Triumph Daytona (loved it, the police didn't - had to get rid of it or lose my license)
03 Yamaha FJR (to big/bulky and japanese IMO wife no longer wnated to ride)
99 VFR (liked it, traded for the FJR 'cause I wanted a good 2 up w/hard bags)
02 VTX1800 (got out of the cruiser thing, didn't like being lumped with the HD crowd)
02 KTM 640E (loved it, got rid of it to keep me out of the hospital)
So, based on those references - here's my quick take on the Futura:
It's immediately comfortable...it'll take a little getting used to (since I have ridden the bonneville and Daytona most recently) but, not much at all...I figure 1/2 day of riding and it'll feel like home.
It sits & rides very italian...I can't explain that statement but, it just does.
It has alot of "character" compared to my other bikes...it sounds interesting, looks interesting and feels interesting.
It's bigger than expected (a little smaller than an FJR, some what bigger than a VFR) but feels alot smaller and lighter than the FJR when on the road...I'm curious to see it next to an FJR (size wise).
It's kind of odd, the bike looks really modern but when you start/idle it, it sounds kinda cruiser (glub glub glub glub glub)...instead of silky smooth (like an FJR or VFR)
Twist the wick though and it smooths right out...at cruise, you can hardly feel it running at all...on acceleration, it has some V-twin shake (cool!) until the revs get high...power/horse power is really decent (less power than the FJR but feels like more, probably because of weight) and the torque is monstrously fun - front wheel lifts easily with a solid twist of the wrist.
I don't know how they accomplished it but the bike weighs less than a VFR (I think) but is closer in size to the FJR (v-twin weight vs an I4 I guess)
Handling is immediate and easy - I was used to manhandling my Bonneville & Daytona in turns, no need on the futura. it's very nimble, light & eager feeling (more so than the FJR about the same as a VFR)
Wind protection/control is top notch - best I've had by far. The air is there but very smooth with absolutely zero buffeting - very pleased/suprised with that.
It's stunningly beautiful in person...the lines are killer IF you like hard edge styling (which I do)
The silver paint is actually an ice blue/silver that looks almost chrome from certain angles...wife says it's the prettiest bike she's ever seen (although I think she means the color). My initial thoughts were to paint it but now that I see it in person, I think I'll leave it alone (for now
)
Towing it home, I got no less than 5 thumbs up from people.
I have yet to see another in person.
