Deciding on a bike

[Slide Panda]

Also (apologizes for the scrub like approach to terminology) but what are you guys implying by its flickability ?
Also, how well does the 796 do on highways, I do not use highways frequently but in case of that particular situation...

Flickable - easy or light feeling when transitioning from one direction to another at speed.

I'd think the 796 would be just fine. It's no touring bike - but can easily break any US speed limits without the use of all it's gears. Plenty of power for overtakes

[Curmudgeon]

Sad Panda!

Shocked you haven't told him to fit a 14T front sprocket too before he even picks it up. Might keep him from dropping it and "better" for the slow speeds. A set of Tech Spec pads are good too for supporting your back when you're stuck in slow traffic.

Highway? He'll have trouble keeping it under 80.  Gets blown around a little by trucks but not as bad as many other naked bikes. Only a 600 lb. bike with a sport fairing is relatively immune from the trucks..., or some heavy pigs. 

[Slide Panda]

Mmmm good point. Getting a 14 tooth front sprocket on it is one of the or the best bang for the buck mod one can do on a monster. 

He kids - but on the smaller (talkin 620s and such) monster is really makes a difference. Really changed my 620. As you get a bigger engine the impact is diminished but it's still really common to shorten the final drive on these bikes.

[Curmudgeon]

The 796 cried for it too. Same gearing and a lot of other stuff as an EVO. Even with a 14T, 6th @ 80 MPH is only 5,000 RPM and 5th is 5,400. 100+ is OK for short bursts but I really don't need to do 130 on an unfaired bike.  Most of the EVO guys are fitting a 14T too. Under 3,500 is really lugging the bike with stock mixtures. 13.5:1 would probably make it a lot smoother under 4.000. 796 is still making bigger "bangs" at 11:1-3:1 than the old bikes at ~ 10.5:1 - 9:1.