Don't have a lot to say about most of them, but I'll run it down quick and move on to the R1 which is surely polarizing people these days.
Stratoliner 1900 - Huge monstrosity, feels like a mac truck in a parking lot and I felt kind of like a monkey riding an elephant on the thing. Until I got out in the wind, that is. Once at a leisurely 100km/h the bike was comfortable, turned quickly, didn't wander and generally gave me the sort of experience that I ride motorcycles for. No surprise, right? Outside a parking lot, I could happily tour along one of these things for days, despite various jokes about my Suzuki-emblazoned sport jacket. No tach, doesn't need one.
V-Star 1300 - same experience as the Stratoliner but without all the added crash tubes and alternative foot positions. This one had floorboards and a heel/toe shifter. New for me. No tach, doesn't need one.
T-Max - What can you say about a 500cc twin scooter that can go 170km/h? It was comfy, fun and hilarity ensued when it handily dragged my buddy Bruno wringing the guts out of a 950 V-Star. Seeing as how I have about 60 pounds on Bruno, that isn't complementary for the V-Star. Oddly, I was happier on the 1300 Star than riding the T-Max.
And of course, the R1...
Rode it for about 1/2 hour. I like the riding position. The bike feels super strong at any touch of gas, but I quickly figured out that this is just the computer yanking the butterflies open wider than you normally would. Throttle by wire, indeed. After I got used to that, the motor wasn't nearly as impressive.
Good points:
-Suspension is really good. For the road, at least.
-Sounds terrific
-The throttle response feels and sounds awesome, even if it's sort of a trick.
-The seating position is good for fast riding.
-The bike is nearly silent from the curb but sounds loud from the seat.
-Looks better than magazine pictures.
The bad:
-Not actually as strong as the throttle response seems.
-Felt kinda flat up top in the revs. Very good motor, but not ZX-10R strong.
-That trick throttle response can catch you out.
-Feels heavy, as if carved out of a brick of metal. But, impression of quality.
-Transitions felt a little lazy.
-Exhaust is hot as hell against the back of your legs.
I'd be happy to own this bike, the motor sounds so good and the suspension is so good that the bad points don't really matter so much. It would need replacement cans. However, I don't feel this bike is nearly as impressive as the hype around it. The motor certainly isn't stronger than any of the liter bikes I've ridden, and I've ridden a lot of them. Given that Yamaha went down one tooth in the front and up two in the rear compared to the 08, that alone makes the strong throttle response seem so good... but doesn't necessarily make for a faster or better bike.
My bottom line on the R1: if I wanted one, I think I'd be happy with what Yamaha delivered. But compared to the other liter bikes I've owned or ridden, I'd personally give it a pass. Whether or not it's better for the track is academic, since practically all liter bikes sold never see one. I'd sooner have Suzuki or Kawasaki's brutal monsters with their slightly more relaxed seating position and nuclear motors; faster or not, they make the impression of limitless possibility. But goodness, the R1 sounds good.
Am I ready to trade my 750 or my Tuono for any of them? No. I turned down an offer on the 750 just last night. I guess that means there's something to be said for finding the bikes you like and riding them.
