CB1000R: Cols de la Pigière, Macuègne, l’Homme Mort, Montfuron

A day to play on a new CB1000R roadster while my CBR600RR sportsbike is in the workshop for a routine service. This roadster turns out to be a far more serious bike than I expected, powerful and stable with a four cylinder engine like the Fireblade but in a less aggressive frame and with an ECU which moderates the beast.
The loan CBR1000R had just 27 km on the clock so in respect of the new engine I rode moderately out of Manosque. It rides great, relaxed but not outrun by anything. Some 100 km further on I broke out off the valley of the Durance, taking the side valley of the Jabron. This road is well-made but not busy. Lots of curves and plenty of fun.

Lots of km further on and now in the Baronnies of Drôme Provençal, I stopped for lunch at the mountain town of Sedéron. A wonderful meal with asparagus, egg and tomato salad then a layered chocolate dessert. Light, full of taste and so well presented, plus they are used to welcoming bikers out for a ride as well as workmen and locals.
More cols and the Plateau of Albion with its military base, but then it was getting to be time to hand back the key.
I rather liked the CB1000R. Surprisingly light or well balanced. There’s a lot of diamond-cut alloy glitz. My style adviser says “It looks like evil incarnate….. nice!”
Relaxed riding position; manoeuvring for parking not a strain. Revs easily and sounds great. Corners and brakes certain and predictable though I was nowhere near touching my boot even on mountain hairpins. Sport mode fierce and unleashed the tiger within. The red line is 12000 but very difficult on these roads to get above 7000 revs... had to ride hard to even reach 7000 revs.
Consumption better than 7 litres per 100 km, moments of hard riding just about doubled that. I could see myself riding on a long summer trip to the Eastern Alps and more on a bike like this.
Back on my own CBR600RR, fresh and zinging from the workshop - Merci Philippe. It feels tighter, focussed and shorter. Higher revs of course with much less intervention from the ECU so a more peaky power band.

Down in the grunge of Marseille, no fuel anywhere which limits the options severely. And rubbish piling up on the streets - except where set on fire. The talk in the bar later is of revolution.

Merci to Chomat Moto for the loan bike