As you may have noticed from my most recent social…

As you may have noticed from my most recent social media posts, I am in LOVE with my new motorbike. It’s the best one I’ve owned and ridden so far. BackgroundBefore I dive too far into this, I want to give you background info. It’s good to know where the reviewer is coming from, so you can get a handle on what his/her experience is on bikes in general:5’3″, 130lbs. 28.5″ true inseamMost recent rides: ’06 SV650, ’03 SV650S (both stock)My bike ownership history; none of my bikes have been lowered because I value my ground clearance and lean angleAll the bikes I’ve ever ridden but not necessarily ownedSo as you can see, this isn’t a first bike for me. I would also NEVER recommend this is as a first bike. I’m not saying it can’t be done, because some of you are reading this and have already purchased one as your first. What you didn’t realize is this bike is not just a 675cc, it’s a 675cc triple with 105 hp! That’s 30+ horsepower over any 650cc twins or 4-cyl bikes (ninja 650, sv650, fz6, etc).The curb weight is 416lbs, and the center gravity is quite low since the tank is rather skinny on top. This was my beef with the husband’s sPeed Triple. Although I really love that bike it’s too topheavy for my taste and as a result I was on my tiptoes and one flat left which even for me doesn’t make me feel as good as I do on mine.Past vs. PresentI often see the question of comparison between this bike and the ever popular SV650/SV650S. Having been a previous owner of both models, I can absolutely tell you without a doubt that this bike trumps anything the SV line ever offered. The additional cost of which took me about 6 months to save up for. But it was worth every.stinking.penny.Riding through Gettysburg National ParkI certainly enjoyed the 6 years I spent on both SVs, but I’m sooooo much happier on this beast. A few highlights:More power (30% increase from ~70hp to ~100hp) at the same weight as an SV!Smoother throttle response especially when rolling off the throttle. The SV throttle is twitchy as hell when you roll on or off, since it lunges quickly if you don’t roll off softlySuspension. Fully adjustable, but even thought it’s set up for a heavier man, it still feels much smoother and more stable going over bumps. The rebound is far slower, so it doesn’t bounce up and down so much when going over them.I know many of you may be wondering about height. Well if you’ve read any of my past articles in the Too Short To Ride section of my blog, you know that I just don’t care that the seat height on this bike is 31.7″. For me, it’s a lightweight bike at ~415lbs so it doesn’t feel as tall. The nice thing is that it doesn’t feel top heavy to me, and the tank isn’t very wide on top. No wider than where the turn signal and engine cut off switch sit on the handlebars. I have to emphasize that it doesn’t feel top heavy to Me, because I’ve been through really annoying top heavy bikes like the Z750s.But it feels just like the SV in terms of weight. I can’t really tell the difference. I think it’s ~0.25″-0.5″ lower but hardly noticeable. TwistiesAs far as throwing her into corners, it definitely feels more solid and planted. One thing that really drove me to get this bike was that I didn’t want to sacrifice the flickability of getting the SV650S into a corner. I feel like the STR drops quickly without me having to do very much work. I definitely need to spend more time with her in the twisties to improve my timing when it comes to entry speed and leaning but it feels so familiar and easy to work with.I still need to take her to get the suspension set up for my weight, because it’s a bit stiff for my taste in the rear. But I can still feel the difference all the way through the turn from braking beforehand to accelerating out of it. The tires are still stock as well, Pirelli Diablo Corsas front and rear. They feel different from Michelin Pilot Powers (what I’m used to), but not worse.I must mention the tires are still Pirelli Diablo Corsas. The previous owner didn’t change them from when he purchased the bike originally and I haven’t either since they have plenty of tread. I figure I’ll need to swap out for my favorite Pilot Powers next Spring.Long DistanceThis is Not a touring bike. Oh no, not in any way shape or form. But, some of us aren’t ready to call it a day and buy an F700Gs. Frankly, I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for that. I’m still in love with twisty riding, and I can’t imagine being happy on a touring bike that fits me and my addiction. I also would be sad to lose the power. Once again my husband is right, it’s very hard to drop back down to something less powerful when you’re used to 100+ hp. For now I’m making it work for me. The biggest impact for me is the lack of windscreen. Although to be fair, the SV650S barely had one anyhow. As with any bike lacking a windscreen or fairing, prepare to be whipped around a bit and with a strong headwind. It was especially tiring when I rode for 3 hours on the highway in the pouring rain (150 miles). That was NOT fun. I was exhausted when I got to my hotel that afternoon. I felt like I’d ridden all day in 100 degree heat. The wind takes a toll on you since you’re having to hold on a bit tighter and fight the wind to keep yourself up and stable.With the Kriega Packs loaded on the rear, I’ve got 40 liters of space. This is plenty of room for me on a 4-6 day trip. I pack light and don’t camp while on two wheels. I love big, comfy beds and hot showers, what can I say? And I never travel far without a tankbag to give me just that extra bit of storage space.The seat is also FAR more comfy than the stock SV seats. Holy smokes, I can ride a good half day without my bootie getting numb. Granted, I have a very flat booty so that definitely doesn’t help. But, this seat is noticeably more comfortable and what makes it really great for me is how wide it is. Lots of support for the table shaped butt I have. A few upgrades I’m anxiously awaiting now or in the near future:FP Racing shorty levers: ordered 2 days ago :D)Better headlights: not a high prioritySargent seat: not a super high priorityRam mount: most parts ordered, just need to get the proper iPhone holderSW Motech Kobra Handguards with integrated turn signals: WANT this so bad. But there’s a questionable issue as to whether it’ll fit my bike or not. Must do more research.Reflective rim tape: I loved having the red reflective tape on the SV, so I definitely want some on this bike. I’m thinking black reflective.Rear fender eliminator: I love the look of a fenderless rear but I DON’T want to give up the visibility from my turn signals. So I guess I need to find some bright turn signals as well!Phew, that’s a long list of farkles.Add to that the sad realization my Shoei is 5 years old this June. Urgh. Time for another upgrade