| Chris had a couple of 3XV's and i also loved them. handling was superb as were the brakes (better than my VJ23 too) but the motor while grunty and useable was a bit ofa problem for me. I had 2 rebuilds on both bikes costing around a grand each and life was short. A bit too stressed in certain areas but i felt it was always the oil pump was the achilles heel.
My VJ23 is hardly any faster up top, but is as strong in the midrange and has a violent kick up top much much stronger than the 3XV. Handling is better and is even lighter but here is the shocker - the VJ23 is actually very very well built almost honda like and feels very hi tech compared to the 3XV's flimsy plastics and feel. Sadly the VJ23 has an inherant problem, the crank seal is built into the main bearing which is hardly ideal and prone to fail in race spec. For the road in stock form - same 45 bhp as the 3XV but with the CDI, Pipes and airbox i would expect high 50's at least.
Had a MC21 a few years back and loved that, never had a 28 and still think a MC28 in rothmans is the sexiest looking bike on the planet ever bar none.
I do plan on taking the RGV to oulton to my forst track day later this year. if anyones around at the time they are welcome to try it for size  |