Hey guys,  I got to see/sit on a new 696 at Pro Italia.  My impressions . . . .

First, the bike looks much better in person than in pictures.  I didn't think I'd like the hybrid frame, but it looks pretty good in person.  The trellis part is made of visibly thicker tubing and the new swing arm and tail look great.

My first impression when sitting on it was that you're placed much closer to the handlebars.  It feels very HM in that respect, almost like you're riding the front tire.  The clutch effort is DRASTICALLY reduced (which is a good thing).  They're not quite as butter smooth as Teddy's set up, but they are close.  The mirrors are placed well and they look good too.  I don't think I'd replace them if I got one.

There's a new dash which looks great and the micro-bikini fairing is a nice touch too.  The seat cowl looks really great, but I think those are after market pieces.

So, overall, two thumbs up.  The one thing that they got absolutely wrong, though, is the exhaust.  The stock set up looks like an afterthought . . . . like they designed the whole bike and when they were done they realized they forgot the exhaust and just stuck them somewhere.  Plus, look at the routing.  It snakes right by the rider's right shin and even with the OEM heat shield I can imagine that will cook a leg or two.  Also, if you look at the passenger's footpegs, the cans are right there!  I saw one bike with the aftermarket Termi's on it and it's no better.  Why can't they get the exhaust right?  Haven't they seen the S3?

I have never felt the clutch pull on your 695, but I cannot imagine anything being lighter than the clutch on my 800.  Don't think I would want one any lighter than that, not even in our silly traffic.

it's not extraordinarily heavy, but I wouldn't describe it as light.  Plus, it has a very limited friction zone right at the end of the travel, so it's not the best clutch I've every had or felt.

Probably the same as my S2R then.  And the 696 is lighter? 

heh. the header routing (off the horz cyl) was one of the few things I *liked* about the 696... to each his own...

and who gives a rat's ass about pillion pegs?

Quote from: DRKWNG on May 31, 2008, 03:31:45 PM
Probably the same as my S2R then.  And the 696 is lighter? 

oh yeah, it's the lightest OEM clutch I've ever felt.  I actually had to take a look at it to see how it was actuated (hydraulic).

Quote from: teddy037.2 on May 31, 2008, 10:39:13 PM
and who gives a rat's ass about pillion pegs?

between your seat cowl and rear sets, I guess you've made it perfectly clear that NO ONE is riding with you!

Quote from: island_duc on June 02, 2008, 12:07:20 PM
between your seat cowl and rear sets, I guess you've made it perfectly clear that NO ONE is riding with you!

not to mention unshielded high pipes  and eventually custom monoposto hawtness!

finishing up the 696 in the am and going for a ride

So I predict there will be more than a few people visiting the showroom to check this bike out. 

Will, do you think it will be on the floor by this afternoon?

it will be

Who cares about a stinking 696? There are other, more important bikes to work on! 

still waiting on dash (mac)
still waitiing on powdercoat (teddy)

sorry

What color is the 696?  I've noticed that there are quite a few bikes now that look pretty good in white . . . the 696 being 1 of them.

hmmm, methinks I should swing by and check out this... 696... that way I can indeed confirm that it is as ugly as the new SBK 

Quote from: island_duc on June 13, 2008, 10:59:41 AM
What color is the 696?  I've noticed that there are quite a few bikes now that look pretty good in white . . . the 696 being 1 of them.

That's like putting lipstick on a pig.