...and the name fits today. It's currently a toasty -7 with horizontal blowing snow. Not exactly how I envisioned my first full day alone with a new motorcycle.
Gratuitious Pic-age, limited review follows.
I did a search before I bought it, looking for rider reviews and couldn't find any here! So, here's what I thought of it after my 1 hour ride home (in the snow).
The bike itself feels very, very light. Lighter than an FZ6. Riding position is probably the most comfortable I've tried, which is the most important thing for a 6'3" guy with bad joints like me. It's similar to an SV650 naked, but the legs are little more relaxed and spread out. The bars feel quite wide, but not uncomfortably so. The seat is good enough that you forget you are sitting on anything. There's a nice little butt-notch at the back to keep you from sliding backwards too far, but there are a few inches of wiggle room to change positions.
After riding for an hour, I usually feel a little stiff/sore after I get off, but not at all with the Shiver (unless you count frozen fingers). Wind blast wasn't noticeable, but I was only going about 100 km/h and only for 10 min on the highway. Maybe I finally found a bike I can tour on?
One of the big features of the Shiver is the fly-by-wire throttle, which is supposed to improve power delivery and make it easier to handle at slow speeds. I haven't ridden enough twins to make a real comparison, but I found the Shiver very easy to maneuver. The clutch is perfect, and very light/modulate-able. The revs jump quickly, as a sportbike should. It's still in break-in mode so I can't rev above 6000 or give it much throttle, but it has gobs of passing power. Very little effort required to do anything traffic wise.
Handling seemed very nice, but I really can't comment on that since I was riding a brand new bike, on new tires, in the snow. Pucker factor 10. I'll post back when I've had a chance to wear down the tires a bit and hit some twisties... as I mentioned earlier it feels a lot like an SV650.
The sound is incredible. Every time I start it, rev it, or even get within 10 feet of it it makes me feel funny in my boy parts. Seriously, check out some youtube videos of the Shiver and you'll understand. There is no need for a custom exhaust on this bike, it's already awesome from the factory.
Fit and finish are stellar. I'm a bit displeased about the number of stickers/warning labels all over it, but I guess they are required by law. I'll be taking off the unimportant ones soon. The gadgetry on the bike is awesome, it seems like no expense was spared. Radial calipers, SS brake lines, hydraulic clutch. Instruments are good, and it even has an outside temperature display. It's asking me for a user ID whenever I start it. In a thousand km, it will politely ask me to take it back to the dealer for break-in tuneup. It knows when it needs its oil changed. I'm a little scared that it is smarter than I am.
That's about all I can say on the bike with any authority. Thanks to the guys at Rivercity Cycle in Kamloops for hooking me up, and putting up with 4 years of tirekicking.
Gratuitious Pic-age, limited review follows.
I did a search before I bought it, looking for rider reviews and couldn't find any here! So, here's what I thought of it after my 1 hour ride home (in the snow).
The bike itself feels very, very light. Lighter than an FZ6. Riding position is probably the most comfortable I've tried, which is the most important thing for a 6'3" guy with bad joints like me. It's similar to an SV650 naked, but the legs are little more relaxed and spread out. The bars feel quite wide, but not uncomfortably so. The seat is good enough that you forget you are sitting on anything. There's a nice little butt-notch at the back to keep you from sliding backwards too far, but there are a few inches of wiggle room to change positions.
After riding for an hour, I usually feel a little stiff/sore after I get off, but not at all with the Shiver (unless you count frozen fingers). Wind blast wasn't noticeable, but I was only going about 100 km/h and only for 10 min on the highway. Maybe I finally found a bike I can tour on?
One of the big features of the Shiver is the fly-by-wire throttle, which is supposed to improve power delivery and make it easier to handle at slow speeds. I haven't ridden enough twins to make a real comparison, but I found the Shiver very easy to maneuver. The clutch is perfect, and very light/modulate-able. The revs jump quickly, as a sportbike should. It's still in break-in mode so I can't rev above 6000 or give it much throttle, but it has gobs of passing power. Very little effort required to do anything traffic wise.
Handling seemed very nice, but I really can't comment on that since I was riding a brand new bike, on new tires, in the snow. Pucker factor 10. I'll post back when I've had a chance to wear down the tires a bit and hit some twisties... as I mentioned earlier it feels a lot like an SV650.
The sound is incredible. Every time I start it, rev it, or even get within 10 feet of it it makes me feel funny in my boy parts. Seriously, check out some youtube videos of the Shiver and you'll understand. There is no need for a custom exhaust on this bike, it's already awesome from the factory.
Fit and finish are stellar. I'm a bit displeased about the number of stickers/warning labels all over it, but I guess they are required by law. I'll be taking off the unimportant ones soon. The gadgetry on the bike is awesome, it seems like no expense was spared. Radial calipers, SS brake lines, hydraulic clutch. Instruments are good, and it even has an outside temperature display. It's asking me for a user ID whenever I start it. In a thousand km, it will politely ask me to take it back to the dealer for break-in tuneup. It knows when it needs its oil changed. I'm a little scared that it is smarter than I am.
That's about all I can say on the bike with any authority. Thanks to the guys at Rivercity Cycle in Kamloops for hooking me up, and putting up with 4 years of tirekicking.