I say "short 15 mile road test" because you wouldn't believe just how quickly you can cover 15 miles on it!
We're not talking a blast down the A38 dual carriageway here either, we're talking about good old fashioned A roads, with roundabouts, corners, and junctions, and the last of the rush hour traffic!
Riding his not too shabby, semi F3 MC18R Terra, Steve initially led me out onto the proposed route, warming both bike and (hand cut slick) tyres up through the town centre traffic. We made our way out on to the A388 from Saltash to Callington, and for the first 2 miles Steve led the way at a fairly quick pace towards the first more open section of road.
As we reached the wide open part of the road (that could really almost be wide enough for dual carriageway!) Steve wound the MC18 up towards the crest of a hill, with me "chasing" on about 3/4 throttle, around 30 metres behind!
We crested the hill and there is a short stretch about 2/3 mile to a roundabout. Steve was pretty much on full song by then, so I gave the F3 the last of the throttle, got down behind the screen (best a 6'/93kg oaf can!), and went for it!
Well, the poor old Terra...
It was Steve's love of his life until he discovered the joys of an MC21 - what a sad state of affairs! Before he knew it, I was sailing past with at least an extra 15mph (this is within the time it took to take the 30M gap up!), and by the time I'd covered the first 1/3 of a mile I was flat out in top gear! "Flat out in top, on an MC21?" I hear you say... well, OK, so normally that is about 120mph on a delimited & derestricted bike on stock gearing at 12000rpm, but this is an F3 with an HRC transmission, geared for 132mph at 12000rpm - that revs to 13k!
Although I've ridden it before, it's never been over much of a distance, or with the chance to go round any corners and use the brakes, so this was almost a first time experience really. Anyway, the impending roundabout was approaching so fast by this point, that where I would normally brake at the "2 chevron" marker (even on my 65+hp MC21), I found myself braking before the "3 chevron" marker instead, which is an awful lot earlier than it sounds, especially on reflection! It just goes to remind me of how much speed I had picked up in so little time.
Grabbing an extra hard handfull of front brake to compensate for the token guesture of the tiny HRC rear disk and caliper, I hauled the F3 up well in time for the roundabout, and wobbled my way through it, still not entirely confident of the Pilot slicks in the cold damp air - I needn't have worried about them though! (Nice to see MY front disks are still working well Steve! Will you be selling it with those on?!
)
So much excitement and all within the first 3 or 4 minutes! The rest of the ride was just as impressive, with me being able to drop the MC18 at will, in virtually any gear too. The bottom-end and mid-range is just outstanding for what is a full-on race bike! Imagine the smoothness and tractability of a stock bike, but with over 55% more power!
What more can I say? We arrived back at Steve's not long after and started making decisions about the rest of the modifications I have planned for mine! First I'll fit my MC18F3 motor to keep me going, and then pull my '21 motor apart to give it the full treatment! Another 5hp on top of what I already have doesn't sound much when you say it out loud, but the difference on the road is phenominal!!
I've always campaigned for the screaming 250's, and it really is going to take something pretty awesome to ever change that now! Bollox to your bore-strokes! I could walk in to any shop today and ride out on a 170hp+ Lemming-mobile, and be like 99.9% of the rest of the world's biking population, but there's nothing like the the buzz and exclusivity of a full F3 racer! It's something everyone has to experience at least once in their time; the sound, the smell, the bark of the open carbs, there's nothing like it!
Thank you Steve, and a the same time, thanks!
Now I have to pull my motor apart again in the quest for that last few hp! You know, I always seemed to have enough cash in my pocket for a Chinky before I met you, but now I don't ever seem to even have enough for a can of Coke and a Mars Bar!!! _________________
Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM
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