Road test of Derbi659 MULHACEN 2006 Perfume the roads Spain !

a bit of sunshine, mild temperatures and a ride through town - that's the menu for the start of this test ride.
The amused (but never mocking!) glances I get allow me to gauge the appeal of this Derby Mulhacén.
Between technology and conformism, innovation and history, this bike attracts questions like a magnet.

how do you make friends?

The first (and so far only) large-displacement model in the Derby catalog, the Mulhacén borrows the 660 single from Yamaha's XTX/R range. To stand out from the crowd, this machine relies on some rather unusual technical and aesthetic solutions.

So what are the eye-catching details?

First, the Pirelli Scorpion 110/80-18 front and 150/70-18 rear roller tires.

Then there's the petal disc clamped at the front by a Brembo radial-mount caliper and operated by a lever carved from the mass,
Digital instrument panel with adjustable brightness. Cleverly controlled by a button above the turn signals, this instrument panel also allows you to scroll through the functions: odometer, tachometer, trip and time. An anecdote about this speedometer: either it (the speedometer) is somewhat optimistic, or the engine was working particularly well, as the 47 hp/din of the mono allowed me to cruise at a good 170 km/h!
The spectacular design, with the pot line running horizontally along the left side of the bike, reminiscent of the Triumph Scrambler and other trail bikes of the '60s, and ending in a mega paperclip.
And to conclude this long list of positive "details", we can only applaud the stern of this motorcycle, materialized by a pointed rear end that houses two LED lights to great effect.

On the other hand, we can regret the pot temperature, which heats the rider's left knee, thigh and buttocks.

contact :

as soon as the ignition is switched to "on", the dashboard proudly displays the various indicators and other counters on the digital panel. Unfortunately, this unfortunately, this debauchery of electronics is marred by the failure of the indicators and horn after only a few kilometers.
The sound of the engine is not particularly sexy, between the noise of a large scooter on acceleration and some flatulence on deceleration, no comment!
On the other hand, as I said above, this engine kicks in at high revs and gives you a little "kick in the ass" at around 4500-4750 rpm.
Really, the Derbi engineers have done a tremendous job. Of course, this pep as you approach the red zone comes at the price of a slight lack of torque at low revs. The engine suffers to hold a constant rpm at 3000 rpm ... perhaps an injection problem?

in the saddle :

single-seater! ... the rear hood reveals that there's nothing underneath for a passenger.
The 43mm upside-down forks guide the bike smoothly, and the roller pirellis grip is astonishing.
Handling on good roads is impeccable, and the unfortunate footrests are the first to suffer from this balance. On the other hand, on rougher surfaces (potholes, manhole covers, etc.), it's not uncommon to take a nasty beating from the short rear shock absorber (120 mm front travel and a mere 110 mm for the rear). Fortunately, the footrests and handlebars make it easy to stand up in these tricky situations.
As a city bike, its handling is easy and predictable at moderate speeds.
The Spanish engine remains lively and responsive for a 660 mono that loves dynamic changes.

On the downside, its short range and fuel consumption, which soars with speed, mean you'll have to pump your gas regularly. Don't count on stages longer than 150 km.

and finally:

i have the feeling that this bike isn't aimed at the kind of rider I think I am, but rather at someone who's more interested in motorcycling.rather, it's for someone who wants to ride differently on short trips, while enjoying an unusual design.
The title of this article, "How to make friends", is more than justified, because this spectacular look doesn't rhyme with showmanship, even if the Baba Cool line does bring a lot of people to talk to you and ask questions
.
In conclusion, if you want to widen your circle of friends, invest 7,500 Euros in a Mulhacén!

A+

Oli le Belge (photos: manufacturer)