The days of whizzing round the massive Nardo test ring at thirty billion miles an hour and circulating Anglesey just a couple of seconds off a ‘proper’ sportbike seem a long way away now. I was in a cosy bed not ten minutes ago, but now the onboard temperature gauge on the new-for-2016 dash is showing just four degrees, the tyres have yet to be scrubbed in and the top heavy feeling of the bike means that my first few miles on the effectively H2-equalling machine feel cold, awkward and downright miserable.
It’s awkward initially, but the ZZR soon gets into its stride…
But, like Bagpuss, as the ZZR starts to wake up, so do I. With town safely negotiated, albeit a little awkwardly given its girth, the revs finally begin to creep northward. It’s imperceptible given the progression of the power curve, but all of a sudden I appear to have acquired some serious speed. All the best bikes do this; their ability to turn foreground into background paying homage to the confidence you have in its ultimate ability.