Just done my first big trip on the S10 down to Sids weekend in France. Had the beast over 12 months and although I use it for work and short trips this has been the first time It's been loaded up and used as god intended.
So, my partner Claire wanted to come so it was loaded pretty well especially when she decided to bring her handbag..........!! The Metal Mule top box was just big enough. If anything, it was slightly overloaded especially on teh way back as we somehow managed to get 6 bottles of wine and a bottle of gin in the boxes!!
I needed a new set of tyres so I thought I'd try a set of Mitas Terra Force R's which I've had in the shed for a while.
Round trip of around 1500 miles and we had temps up to 37c. The roads were a big mix of those lovely French back roads, twisties and of course the hellish motorways and empty autoroutes.
As I knew it would and had hoped, the bike does everything asked with ease. Once you get the suspension set up right, she carves through bends, soaks up teh rough bits, absolutely eats the autoroutes and will happily sit at 130kph at just under 5k revs. The big test was last night getting off the ferry in Portsmouth at 21-30 and blasting back to the midlands to get home at midnight. Those are the times you want to have total trust the the steed between your legs.
Here are just some of the things I loved about the S10 on this trip.
Things which aren't so good
Bar those small things I can't find an issue and apart from brute power, it will do the very same thing as all the GS's, Ducati's, KTM's etc but at a fraction of the cost.
If anyone is thinking of buying one, it really is worth having a go on one and keeping an open mind. There is a small group of us locally who have all recently bought S10's and to a man, we are all really pleased with way it performs.
Those that know, know.......
So, my partner Claire wanted to come so it was loaded pretty well especially when she decided to bring her handbag..........!! The Metal Mule top box was just big enough. If anything, it was slightly overloaded especially on teh way back as we somehow managed to get 6 bottles of wine and a bottle of gin in the boxes!!
I needed a new set of tyres so I thought I'd try a set of Mitas Terra Force R's which I've had in the shed for a while.
Round trip of around 1500 miles and we had temps up to 37c. The roads were a big mix of those lovely French back roads, twisties and of course the hellish motorways and empty autoroutes.
As I knew it would and had hoped, the bike does everything asked with ease. Once you get the suspension set up right, she carves through bends, soaks up teh rough bits, absolutely eats the autoroutes and will happily sit at 130kph at just under 5k revs. The big test was last night getting off the ferry in Portsmouth at 21-30 and blasting back to the midlands to get home at midnight. Those are the times you want to have total trust the the steed between your legs.
Here are just some of the things I loved about the S10 on this trip.
- Cruise on and sit at Autoroute speeds in total comfort as it feels very planted.
- Averaged 58 mpg on the trip and we weren't hanging around.
- Power is turbine like especially above 3.5k and really no need fro anything above 6k.
- People are always interested in it as it's not one of teh herd.
- The Mitas tyres are spot on but tyre pressures have to be accurate
- It just does the job without complaint or worry.
Things which aren't so good
- Knocking the cruise off is a but sudden and it's impossible to smooth it out.
- Fuelling low down can still be a bit jerky at low revs in sports mode.
- Still can't get 100% comfy on the front despite the seat mod and a cool cover
Bar those small things I can't find an issue and apart from brute power, it will do the very same thing as all the GS's, Ducati's, KTM's etc but at a fraction of the cost.
If anyone is thinking of buying one, it really is worth having a go on one and keeping an open mind. There is a small group of us locally who have all recently bought S10's and to a man, we are all really pleased with way it performs.
Those that know, know.......
