Spring is in the air: first daytime rideout on dry roads and burnup v Duke996 :)

Oh the joys of spring. I had that rare combination of a day off with the sun shining and only a short domestic to-do list, so managed to get out on the bike during the day for some scratching, then an evening trip to the pub with a mate who's currently borrowing a Ducati 996. We had a great burn-up to the pub, but I ****ed him off a bit because he had trouble staying with me, though to be fair he's on a borrowed bike that he didn't want to drop. He ****ed past me as i slowed down for our intended destination because he'd decided to get his own back by heading on for his local back-roads, that he knows and I don't, but still didn't manage to lose me over the next 20 miles of twisty stuff that took us to one of his local pubs.

I couldn't resist posting on here because I enjoyed the ride so much. We both had silly grins on our faces when we finally got a pint. He's got several 1000cc+ bikes (Guzzi, GSXR) and has kind of looked down on my workaday SV650 commuter steed, but I think I've made him think again. So much so that he said he'd buy my one off me for the PX value if I decide to change it this year.

Ahhh... I feel 20 years younger after one hour of white knuckle madness. Back to work tomorrow, but who cares

As has been said many a time on here, the SV can stick with most bikes on most winding roads. It's just the long straights where SS600's and litre bikes start to pull away. I've never had a bike show me up on the SV tbh. Pulling out of corners mine seems as fast as most bikes and I've played chase with quite a few big bikes such as big Dukes GSXR 1000's and Z1000's.

P.S I've also been grinning a lot today. First proper rideout for months. Clocked up 120 miles and the weather stayed spot on.