Living life in the now Forget riding slowly and just gas the WK everywhere. Then you’ll get on just ﬁne. In detail Rider: Mike Penny Bike: WK 650i Miles this month: 550 Miles in total: 1250 Cost when new: £3899 Highs: Finding a tube of superglue Lows: Discovering the tube had gone hard T his month it’s been about something other than running in. At the moment the engine’s as loose as a tipsy dog in season so I’m now exploring the performance. And it’s impressive – and fun. With engine speeds between 4000 and up to 9000, the WK is a spirited ride and guaranteed to bring a smile from ear to ear. Although it redlines at 10,000 you’d have to be cruel to continually take it up to there, as you’ll progress just as fast cogging up at a lower engine speed. Gearchange is positive and I don’t think I’ve missed any gears in nearly four months’ use. e bars shake mildly when pushing on but I don’t know whether it’s a tyre issue or simply that the steering angle’s a bit lively – guessing the former – and I’ve got my brake judder back, albeit less severe than before. But neither issue is intrusive enough to warrant a dealer visit. Also the passenger mirror seems a bit loose on its ‘ball socket’ so gradually toes in during a spirited ride, as the windforce gently forces it back. I’ll superglue it when I have a mo. And I’m sure the exhaust is noiser, although still pleasant sounding. When line ﬁltering, more cars do than don’t pull over to give room (sometimes not needed but always appreciated). Not sure why. Maybe the front end’s so butt-ugly they want a better look as it passes. Or maybe it’s curiosity prompted by the stacked headlights and LEDs? Either way, it’s quite ﬂattering to be treated like a fully ﬂuorescent traﬃc cop. is sums up the WK. A non-biking neighbour pottered around mine, saw my built-like-a-fallout shelter blue, chromey custom Hinckley Triumph and, beside it, the metallic orange skeletal, chavvy-but-sporty WK, pondered for a moment and muttered: “Which colour wheelie bin is it this week, Dave?” He then proceeded to potter out again, bless. He missed the point, but then he always does. e WK is unusual looking but not in a bad way, in a diﬀerent way, and has strengths in diﬀerent places to the Triumph and other sportsbikes with similar capacities. I’m not in love with it but quite fond of it when blasting. I’m not in love with it but quite fond of the bike when blasting around. mslmagazine.co.uk 97