Honda FTR223 Owner Review
Introducing a passionate story of "Morimori" who rides FTR 223, from Webike Community's "My Beloved Moto" campaign.
He shared his review of the FTR 223 including the advantage and the disadvantage, which he understands well because he is the owner.
Brief self-introduction
Motorcycle history
I've been riding my motorcycle for roughly two years now.
Motive for purchase and use
My first motorcycle after getting my license was an FTR223. I got my license, but I didn't have any money, so I was looking for a relatively cheap motorcycle. That's when I came across this motorcycle at a store.
At first, I thought it was just a stopgap until I could buy another motorcycle, but as I got more and more attached to it, I couldn't think of letting it go. This motorcycle was not only used for commuting to school, but it also took me on a wide range of trips such as forest roads, camping tours, and long tours around Kyushu and Shikoku.
How long have you been riding this motorcycle?
I had to switch about 2 months ago due to an unexplained failure, so I've been driving it for about 1 year and 10 months.
Satisfaction
The motorcycle was able to handle everything I wanted to do. I felt like I could handle it and go on any road at about 130kg, which is pretty light for a mid-sized motorcycle. Even if you take it down, it is so light that you can get it up quickly. I enjoyed doing something like a little mountain climbing. If you are going down the road, you can accelerate well without blocking the flow of traffic. Even if you put a lot of luggage on it, it doesn't make it hard to move and it performs well.
It's a gentle motorcycle that looks sleek and unintimidating. I personally like this smaller headlight.
Dissatisfaction
Since the gasoline capacity was low, I was always aware of the remaining amount of gasoline on long tours. It was a bit of a hassle, but we never ran out of gas because we would stop at a gas station after 100km. On bypasses and highways where the traffic is fast, you have to turn the engine quite a bit to keep up with it, and I can't think of trying to pass it. There's quite a bit of vibration when you're speeding, so your hands will go numb after an hour of driving. You need to take small breaks.
I was a little concerned about the load capacity of the rear rack, which is about 3kg for any manufacturer's rear rack, so I was a little concerned about loading it.
Looking back, I think I was a little sad to see that it didn't have a tachometer.
Summary
If you're struggling with your first motorcycle after getting your license, or you're not sure what you want to do with your motorcycle, you should give it a go. This motorcycle can be used for camp touring, long tours, forest walks, fishing, commuting to work and school, and to some extent you can do anything. Once you've experienced it, you'll have a better idea of what you want to do with it. I feel like this motorcycle is a guide to the next step in my life. I was not able to switch, but if you find what you want to do, I think it is possible to switch to a motorcycle with the right characteristics for it. The price is relatively low, so why not give it a try?
Thank you, Morimori, for a narrative that conveys your love for the FTR 223 so clearly!