1200GS test ride this morning

[Pondboy]

I had to take my F650GS in for some warranty work and decided the time was ripe for a test ride on a 1200GS. Mike at Cooper Reading handed me the keys to a nice new (500 miles) red and silver 1200 and off I went.

It still felt very tight so I took a few back roads up from Reading to South Oxford before trailing round the bypass up to see Carcker2k in NOG. Gave him a surprise as he walked past just as I was getting off. Took 10 mins rest in their showroom, filled up with petrol and blasted down the A34 past Newbury and onto the A303 out to Andover where I tracked down Bakermans bakery and filled up with a very nice pastie (Don't tell him, he will get all "la la").

I was surprised at the lightness of the 1200's front end in the high winds and high speeds on the A34. A little pull on the bars and it happily nodded it head. Nothing scary, just a lot sportier than I expected. It also seemed very happy to be leaned further into corners of I started running wide, which was reassuring.

Then I took a variety of backroads through Brimpton and Aldermarston before returning to Coopers just as the rain started. 135 miles of fun.

It revs nicely, brakes fantastically, handles brilliantly and just needed a click or two less damping on the front end (I don't know if that is possible) for it to give me a perfect ride. Pondgirl like the pillion position, although I could only take her round their carpark as she was working. Would I upgrade to one. Yes at the drop of a hat.

On the flip side, it also showed how good a bike the F650GS is. More flickable, faster than you would expect, just about the same vibe levels and a lot more economical. Just not quite as roomy.
Happy day. (Signing off to the sound of a piggy bank being smashed) PB

 

[dave hendy]

Glad you enjoyed ridding a proper bike!!

Lots of them about now. Some very nice ones coming on to the used market now so would highly recomend one especially for 2-up.

Never tried a 650 but well thought of bike. Come on down the choice is yours

 

[G.C.]

How are the ribs PB ?


She knows, you know

G C

 

[Pondboy]

Cheers guys,

My ribs are good, though some of the muscles still hurt a lot.

If I was staying in the Uk and riding solo, I would stick with the 650GS. However, I'm looking for a roomier bike to use in Spain for local trips to town as well as touring to and from there to here, as well as round the warmer parts of europe. With PG on the back and all our gear, the 650GS is just too small for that kind of work.

What I ideally want is a low mileage KPH speedoed bike available when I sell our house here, or get a new KPH bike here on the never never and pay it off when we sell the house. Decisions, decisions. PB

 

[Mouse]

I bet you can have a UK spec bike reprogrammed to display KPH. And the headlight isn't really "left handed", so you could probably buy any that looks good. And there seem to be quite a few 2nd hand ones around at the moment.