1st Long'ish Journey

[Montydoesdallas]

I've had the new GS TE for about 6 weeks now 2nd hand with 3700 miles on the clock.
So thought we'd put some more miles on it over the Easter weekend with a trip to Rouen in France, 2 up with panniers (no top box).
Left Friday morning from Leighton Buzzard area and M25 etc to Folkstone...chunnel...then coast roads to Rouen, Saturday Honfleur for a day trip out.
Sunday was a "recovery day" for rider and pillion !, 1 too many cocktails !
Back Monday via the dreaded motorway and back home for tea and medals.

Bike performed superbly, cruise control was a god-send on the motorway parts, very comfy on the standard seat, no arse ache !
Needs a clean and the Zumo 550 got us there and back, roads were great and the suspension setting for 2's up and luggage worked a treat.
Pillion was very comfortable perched on the back and had no complaints.
Got roughly about 200 miles to a tank doing 70/80, but did take it higher and the standard screen was fine no problems.

Should i have gone for the Adventure....na i don't think so....

Roughly 600 miles round trip...

 

[rattler]

Good report, your right why would you need the GSA just for 20 litre extra fuel

 

[snaponphil]

Similar experience last week, although I was 1 up but comfy on the standard seat.

 

[Wapping]

A review of a 600 mile round trip that consists of significant blocks of motorway.... and a day off to recover in between.

You could have done the same thing on near anything with the same result. Winess the last Easter jaunt to Luxembourg, with less motorway and longer individual daily mileages... No WC GS's, two outright naked Triumph sports bikes, an RT, a K of some description, an F 800 GS, a K1600, an 1150 and a KTM thing of some sort. All probably using different tyres at different pressures, with assorted amounts of wear.... And varying amounts of luggage!

They all made it there and back, all within a few minutes of each other... Even the Triumphs with their piddly tanks, hard seats and chain drives.

 

[Engineer]

Good report, your right why would you need the GSA just for 20 litre extra fuel

10 litres extra

 

[snappo]

I can't be arsed to read the report, when does the DVD come out?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I've had the new GS TE for about 6 weeks now 2nd hand with 3700 miles on the clock.
So thought we'd put some more miles on it over the Easter weekend with a trip to Rouen in France, 2 up with panniers (no top box).
Left Friday morning from Leighton Buzzard area and M25 etc to Folkstone...chunnel...then coast roads to Rouen, Saturday Honfleur for a day trip out.
Sunday was a "recovery day" for rider and pillion !, 1 too many cocktails !
Back Monday via the dreaded motorway and back home for tea and medals.

Bike performed superbly, cruise control was a god-send on the motorway parts, very comfy on the standard seat, no arse ache !
Needs a clean and the Zumo 550 got us there and back, roads were great and the suspension setting for 2's up and luggage worked a treat.
Pillion was very comfortable perched on the back and had no complaints.
Got roughly about 200 miles to a tank doing 70/80, but did take it higher and the standard screen was fine no problems.

Should i have gone for the Adventure....na i don't think so....

Roughly 600 miles round trip...

Cheers

Any pics?

 

[Montydoesdallas]

Other bikes that went were a Triumph Explorer 1200, Triumph 1050 sport, Suzuki GSX 1400 (and yes they were very uncomfortable for that journey), the others coped well too...just down to personal choice etc.
My Friend that went on the GSX1400 is now buying a 2nd hand Kawasaki Virus 1000....so he and his good wife will be more comfortable next journey.

The main reason i mentioned the seat is that others on here seem to spend hundreds of £££ on new seats and the standard one is great...i had a KTM 950 before and this is luxury !
(P.S i only have pictures of us enjoying ourselves and of Rouen....forgot to take any of the bike DOH !)

 

[rattler]

10 litres extra

Yep your correct my typo mistake should have said 20KG more weight

 

[Wapping]

Oh, it's a report on the qualities of the seat. You should have made more of it.

 

[Daxaar]

The main reason i mentioned the seat is that others on here seem to spend hundreds of £££ on new seats and the standard one is great...i had a KTM 950 before and this is luxury

I'm pleased the seat works for you but my backside is in agony after 150 miles. Perhaps I'm sitting on it wrong or should I take it back to the dealer?

 

[corsicandreamer]

Well done monty, at least you did it on your own with no one holding your hand, believe it or not some don't.

 

[autogs]

kawasaki virus

 

[polecat]

A review of a 600 mile round trip that consists of significant blocks of motorway.... and a day off to recover in between.

You could have done the same thing on near anything with the same result. Winess the last Easter jaunt to Luxembourg, with less motorway and longer individual daily mileages... No WC GS's, two outright naked Triumph sports bikes, an RT, a K of some description, an F 800 GS, a K1600, an 1150 and a KTM thing of some sort. All probably using different tyres at different pressures, with assorted amounts of wear.... And varying amounts of luggage!

They all made it there and back, all within a few minutes of each other... Even the Triumphs with their piddly tanks, hard seats and chain drives.

Oh, it's a report on the qualities of the seat. You should have made more of it.

Having a bad day Richard? Not everyone is a hardened, long distance biking guru like yourself biker mate

 

[Mr K]

Having a bad day Richard? Not everyone is a hardened, long distance biking guru like yourself biker mate

Indeed: You missed out bitter and twisted.

 

[Wapping]

Not at all.

I like it when bods go anywhere.

It simply struck me that the review could have been a bit fuller, given the thread's title. That it was about the seat in particular got lost in the telling, there being fewer words on it than about the other aspects of the jaunt; hence the 'Should have made more of it' observation. It was also an observation (as confirmed by the OP himself) that most modern motorcycles can do just about anything by way of jaunts and tours, long or short, contrary to what the 'It's got to be a GS" brigade might tell everyone. I regularly get PM's from bods, apologising that they don't ride a GS, as if it were some sort of dreadful crime. It isn't. There is an appalling snobbishness in the UK over what bike a bod rides, which you don't encounter across the water. You can see it in post #13. The Versys in both its engine sized variants, is a very good bike. Cheap(ish) too.

Anyway... On with the relative merits of seats...

 

[Montydoesdallas]

Ok, maybe next time i' will make more of an effort with the journey details....it wasn't all about the seat...just a general trip report and how much better i felt at the end of it after getting off the bike with no aches or pains and simply i just love the bike, friends on the Triumphs were also very refreshed after their journeys, after their previous bikes.
My mate did buy the Virus in the end, 1000 miles and full luggage for less than £8k ! yes a real bargain !

I admit i have only bought 3 "extras" on this bike and no more is needed....crud catcher, touratwat satnav holder and tank bag...everything else is just extra weight....still returned a healthy 54mpg !
Can see me keeping this for a long time to come !

I agree with you Wapping...it's like BMW car drivers....hate the b******s, no indicators and they think they are a "cut above the rest" (quote from a BMW bike salesman), anyway that for another thread !

 

[Bendy toy]

The slow lane is for poor people (JC)


Sent from my phone with mangled spelling

 

[autogs]

ok i give in wtf is a kawasaki virus?,is it like bird flu maybe

 

[malcopopolo]

Ok, maybe next time i' will make more of an effort with the journey details....it wasn't all about the seat...just a general trip report and how much better i felt at the end of it after getting off the bike with no aches or pains and simply i just love the bike, friends on the Triumphs were also very refreshed after their journeys, after their previous bikes.
My mate did buy the Virus in the end, 1000 miles and full luggage for less than £8k ! yes a real bargain !

I admit i have only bought 3 "extras" on this bike and no more is needed....crud catcher, touratwat satnav holder and tank bag...everything else is just extra weight....still returned a healthy 54mpg !
Can see me keeping this for a long time to come !

I agree with you Wapping...it's like BMW car drivers....hate the b******s, no indicators and they think they are a "cut above the rest" (quote from a BMW bike salesman), anyway that for another thread !

I am a BMW car driver and yes I am a cut above the rest!, the roads were built for me and only me, move away you cretins I am important you know I drive and ride two bmws