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ChrisCurvyS · 07-07-12, 09:18 PM

Bit of a moan but got to get it off my chest - called in at Oulton Park today as I saw on visordown that Kawasaki were offering test rides.

Also went to the Kawasaki site itself to check the details - all seemed fine.

Took my licence etc down as instructed and booked slots on both a Z750 and Z1000 - as I was about to set off, asked for my photocard back to take with me in case I got stopped and the staff member said 'oh, don't worry about that, you'll be accompanied by these guys; - gesturing at several police bikers lounging about who I'd presumed were just there on the usual 'biker outreach' safety awareness jolly.

Thought she was joking at first but oh no, you had to go out with plod on your test ride and also don an attractive hi-vis bib. As a result, it was a total waste of time for me - not because I was planning to go out trying to be John McGuinness, but because you want to spend a test ride getting to know a bike and trying out different roads and situations - not looking down at your speedo and watching to work out where another bike is going to go next (they led - you had to follow).

As it turned out, I managed to shake off the plod (completely by luck rather than design) but still had to follow an IAM advanced guy, who was nice but made some strange decisions which I had to go along with, like sitting at 55 on an NSL dual carriageway, causing several boy races to try and overtake, before suddenly accelerating up to about 110, meaning I had to suddenly undertake said boy racers to keep him in sight. I'm doing my advanced test myself, ironically.

Hate to harp on but it just p*ssed me off - especially seeing as the police appeared to be booking up all the test ride slots for themselves - sure they were sticking to speed limits on the ZX10 and ZZR1400s of course. Wouldn't mind and expect it's something that's been imposed on them (due to beer tents at race days etc) but nowhere in the promo literature was there any mention of this.

On a positive note, really impressed at how the old SV compared to the Z750 - was expecting a big step up in power but it felt rather lacking! Really missed the SV's instant throttle response and even when revving the 750 to the limiter, it didn't feel much faster so I was glad to get back on my bike.

Expect the Z1000 would have been a different story but threw my toys in the pram and cancelled the ride on that.

07-07-12, 09:18 PM	#1
ChrisCurvyS Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cheshire Posts: 562	Police presence on test rides Bit of a moan but got to get it off my chest - called in at Oulton Park today as I saw on visordown that Kawasaki were offering test rides. Also went to the Kawasaki site itself to check the details - all seemed fine. Took my licence etc down as instructed and booked slots on both a Z750 and Z1000 - as I was about to set off, asked for my photocard back to take with me in case I got stopped and the staff member said 'oh, don't worry about that, you'll be accompanied by these guys; - gesturing at several police bikers lounging about who I'd presumed were just there on the usual 'biker outreach' safety awareness jolly. Thought she was joking at first but oh no, you had to go out with plod on your test ride and also don an attractive hi-vis bib. As a result, it was a total waste of time for me - not because I was planning to go out trying to be John McGuinness, but because you want to spend a test ride getting to know a bike and trying out different roads and situations - not looking down at your speedo and watching to work out where another bike is going to go next (they led - you had to follow). As it turned out, I managed to shake off the plod (completely by luck rather than design) but still had to follow an IAM advanced guy, who was nice but made some strange decisions which I had to go along with, like sitting at 55 on an NSL dual carriageway, causing several boy races to try and overtake, before suddenly accelerating up to about 110, meaning I had to suddenly undertake said boy racers to keep him in sight. I'm doing my advanced test myself, ironically. Hate to harp on but it just p*ssed me off - especially seeing as the police appeared to be booking up all the test ride slots for themselves - sure they were sticking to speed limits on the ZX10 and ZZR1400s of course. Wouldn't mind and expect it's something that's been imposed on them (due to beer tents at race days etc) but nowhere in the promo literature was there any mention of this. On a positive note, really impressed at how the old SV compared to the Z750 - was expecting a big step up in power but it felt rather lacking! Really missed the SV's instant throttle response and even when revving the 750 to the limiter, it didn't feel much faster so I was glad to get back on my bike. Expect the Z1000 would have been a different story but threw my toys in the pram and cancelled the ride on that.