2200 miles in France on a Wasserboxer

[roundincircles]

Just returned from France dodging the mad hoards returning from Le Mans 24 hours.

The bike hauled two up with alu side boxes and vario top box all overloaded.

Some facts

1. 2200 miles at 47 mpg and 40 mph overall mostly non motorway down to the Riviera, via Route Napolean, and back via Route de Alpine through the high Alps.

2. 200 millilitre of oil used.

3. 36 mpg at constant 82 mph for 300 miles on return motorway in windy conditions.

The Bike.

1. Predictable easy handling in the mountain twisties. Beautifully balanced even overloaded with no top heaviness like the last edition.

2. Suspension , ESA dynamic, is very comfortable, compliant and controlled. No rebound nastiness when hitting poor roads at speed. Impressive.

3. Turn in very sharp and controlled. Presumably the new front wheel/tyre size impacts on this improvement.

4. The engine has a second breath as the revs rise and takes on a near ballistic nature......really punches forward......but at lower revs is a pussy cat.

5. Clutch featherlight and gear selection reliable.

6. Got to love 6th as it delivers on back roads and is very flexible......sure an overdrive 7th would improve the bike but it is not a focused motorway bike!

7. Seat good for 200 miles then a PITA.

8. The exhaust is rorty at revs. Sounds good.

9. Screen aero a big step forwards but needs to be wider for pillion and rider.

10. The bike gets very dirty in wet weather. Mucky and more and covers rider and pillion.

This is a very well judged effort by BMW. I am so pleased to be back on a GS.

 

[stick]

Great info thanks as away soon an appreciate a more long ride assessment .
Must admitt the only concern was the screen , brilliant as it is for me , the wife has not done many miles on the back yet and you comments about the wind have made me think.
Nippys do an aftermarket Wulderlich screen which looks good but similar to the old Adv screen , may think about that but as usual I have already stuck my travelling vignettes on the standard screen
To me the bike so far has been brilliant and now can't wait to travel to Italy.
:

 

[Nutty]

Nice report. You're right about the second breath; over 90mph the bike seems to wake up and boogie all the way off the clock.

And the exhaust noise in the tunnels is

 

[batman1]

That's a good report, please could you include some of your own dimensions re the screen issue, your height and pillion's height as I have found the screen to be superb.
Whilst I haven't ridden the bike on such a long trip, a full day in the Austrian Alps 310k on a rented bike concurs with all of the good points that you have mentioned, it's a great bike.

 

[patzx12]

The active damping is a big step forward in motorcycle suspension, i think that is why the bike is so stable fully loaded in crosswinds yet still remaining flickable.
Nice ride report by the way.

 

[Engineer]

The active damping is a big step forward in motorcycle suspension, i think that is why the bike is so stable fully loaded in crosswinds yet still remaining flickable.
Nice ride report by the way.

Nah the basic suspension bike is just as stable and flickable I reckon.

 

[roundincircles]

That's a good report, please could you include some of your own dimensions re the screen issue, your height and pillion's height as I have found the screen to be superb.
Whilst I haven't ridden the bike on such a long trip, a full day in the Austrian Alps 310k on a rented bike concurs with all of the good points that you have mentioned, it's a great bike.

I am 6'2" with short 31" legs. My wife is 36C. We both get wind blast on the shoulders, pillion worse than rider. But no turbulence unless my wife want a coffee stop!

 

[roundincircles]

Nah the basic suspension bike is just as stable and flickable I reckon.

The ESA preload is very noticeable when the pillion jumps off and the bike pumps up . The instant adjustability is useful.

The standard suspension is fine also, more so if you ride solo.

The ESA also keeps those wheels planted but can fool itself on ripply roads at loo wish speeds.


All to their own.

 

[Engineer]

The ESA preload is very noticeable when the pillion jumps off and the bike pumps up . The instant adjustability is useful.

The standard suspension is fine also, more so if you ride solo.

The ESA also keeps those wheels planted but can fool itself on ripply roads at loo wish speeds.


All to their own.

What exactly does the system do when the front wheel hits a bump? and how far has it moved at say 100mph by the time the system reacts? does it reduce the rebound damping or increase it on the front.

 

[Wapping]

My wife is 36C.

Any chance of a picture?

 

[roundincircles]

What exactly does the system do when the front wheel hits a bump? and how far has it moved at say 100mph by the time the system reacts? does it reduce the rebound damping or increase it on the front.

I have googled for an explanation and it seems the words " near instantaneous " appear quite often........seems to me something is instantaneous or it is not!


Anyway a couple of potentiometer, a lean angle sensor plus vehicle speed are used to compute valve adjustment.....near instantaneously!


Of course near instantaneous needs to be faster at 100mph than 30mph hence the speed reading and computation.

Simples. But expensive to maintain is my guess.

 

[roundincircles]

Nippys do an aftermarket Wulderlich screen which looks good but similar to the old Adv screen , may think about that but as usual I have already stuck my travelling vignettes on the standard screen

A tip regarding vignettes and transfer between vehicles given to me by a friend.

Stick the vignette to a clear film that has adhesive on the opposite side. Apply this to the vehicle screen. Remove from vehicle and transfer to alternative vehicle.

I tried this last year (whilst in the UK of coarse) between car and motorcycle. The clear film was invisible as the coloured vignette dominated the view. This potentially saved me buying 3 vignettes for 3 trips to Swiss and Austria on two bikes and one car.

 

[patzx12]

Regardless, the LC is a proper load lugger with great composure.
The smoother engine has banished my numb finger syndrome.

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

First brit I spoke to in france was on a wasserboxer common already it looked nice parked on the pavement trying to find the hotel

 

[Belper phil]

Just returned from France dodging the mad hoards returning from Le Mans 24 hours.
No rebound nastiness when hitting poor roads at speed. Impressive.
8. The exhaust is rorty at revs. Sounds good.
I am so pleased to be back on a GS.

Nice report - many thanks for taking the time to post.

That exhaust note is fookin rorty top sound.

 

[roundincircles]

First brit I spoke to in france was on a wasserboxer common already it looked nice parked on the pavement trying to find the hotel

I was surprised at the lack of Wasserboxers, in fact none about, but Harleys were like a rash just at every turn. Lots of RT's though nearly always two up.

Plus a few Triumphs, Explorers and Tourers......which looks a bit bloated but well finished.