So much grunt, it snarls, lifts the front and you feel like one of those guys from the test riding videos. I doubt there is any production motorcycle that is more enjoyable to just whack out of corners. The Monster lives for leaping out of corners. Still, I was confident enough to lean it all the way over though I was conservative with how quickly I got on the gas.

They’re a nice profile though not as soft as I’d like them and don’t heat up very quickly. The Monster came with the Michelin PR4 tyres that I’ve never used before. I overtook so many bikes going up, I lost count. Then I hit MacPass and it made even more sense. Enough grunt to carry it all in 2nd gear and a couple of times I whacked the throttle hard on the exit of a 25K corner, the Monster snarled and the front lifted a foot off the ground. Its only short, maybe 30 corners over 5 Ks but stringing them together is hugely enjoyable and I’ve never enjoyed them more than on the Monster. Tight, technical and bumpy, I love Mount Kiera road. The suddenness of the acceleration and the exponential increase in wind pressure nearly dropped me off the back as I inadvertently twisted the throttle even more! Then I hit Mount Kiera and it all made sense again. Rolling on in 4th gear from 100KMPH sees 170 come up in the blink of an eye. This is where the Tuono would kill the Monster. And the foot pegs, which again are perfectly placed for a roadster, are too far forward for higher speeds where you need to lean into the wind. I found the handlebars, which are perfect for urban riding, a bit too high for high speed touring.

There is no buffeting and the wind in your face is fresh and turbulence free. The Monster is a true naked bike without any wind protection of the metallic, plastic or Perspex variety. The year on the CBR has hardened my back and knees but has definitely softened my neck. A weakness of my neck muscles to be even more specific. Well, its my weakness more than the bike's to be honest.

That's where I discovered the first weakness of the Monster. Then I hit the Old Princes Highway heading south.

Macpass motorcycle