Getting Started with the 450ss
Alright, so today was all about getting some time in with the 450ss. Been meaning to really put it through its paces, you know? Not just letting it sit there looking pretty. The weather was decent enough, not perfect, but good enough to get out there.
First things first, I pulled it out onto the driveway. Gave it a quick once-over. You always gotta do the basic checks, right? So, I checked the tire pressures – the front was a bit low, so I topped that up with my little portable pump. Took maybe five minutes. Then, checked the chain tension, seemed okay, maybe a tiny bit loose, but good enough for today. Made a mental note to adjust it properly later this week.
The Main Session
Okay, checks done. Time to fire it up. Turned the key, let the system prime, hit the starter. Fired right up, sounded good. Let it idle for a bit while I got my gear on – helmet, gloves, jacket. Can’t skip the safety stuff, learned that the hard way years ago.
Pulled out of the driveway nice and easy. Wanted to get a feel for it again in the slow stuff first. Went around the block a couple of times, just testing the clutch feel, the brakes, making sure everything felt responsive. The throttle felt crisp, which was nice.
Then, I headed out towards some quieter back roads. Didn’t want too much traffic messing with the flow. Once I got out there, I started opening it up a bit more. Nothing crazy, just getting into the power band, feeling how it pulled through the gears. Shifting felt smooth, both up and down. Spent a good hour just riding, focusing on cornering, braking points, how the suspension handled the bumps. It felt pretty planted, gotta say.
- Handling: Felt sharp turning in.
- Engine: Pulled nicely, good response.
- Brakes: Good bite, felt confident.
- Comfort: Okay for the hour or so I was out, maybe a bit stiff for a long haul, but that’s expected.
Wrapping Up
After cruising around, feeling pretty satisfied, I decided to head back. Didn’t want to push my luck with the weather or the fuel level. Pulled back into the driveway, let it cool down for a minute or two before shutting it off. Put the kickstand down, gave it another quick look around to make sure nothing looked out of place after the ride.
Overall, it was a good session. Got reacquainted with the bike, everything worked as it should. Felt good to just get out and ride it, blow the cobwebs out, you know? Simple stuff, but really enjoyable. Now, just gotta clean off the bugs it collected.
