It is intriguing that virtually all the reviews of the 450 GS have been of the Trophy or the Sport versions. I have seen nothing about the Exclusive. On hearing about the imminent emergence of the 450 GS I was both excited and intrigued. I have owned many GS models, from basic to adventure, but have, since 2014, been riding an RNineT which for me is the closest I can get to the perfect motorcycle. The dimensions are perfect (I am 5'11"), it is the ideal capacity and the engine delivers the power in a manner which complements the roads I ride around north west Ireland. Despite the perfection of the R9T, however, I still yearned for a GS. I bought a 310 GS and quite liked it but became bored with it after a year or so passing it on to a friend who I think has yet to ride it!
At my age (over 70) I knew the larger GS machines were probably a non-starter, mainly in terms of getting them in and out of the garage not necessarily on the road so the 450 GS seemed the perfect solution. I placed an order for a Trophy and then when I went to see it in the showroom began to have doubts. I was almost sure the ERC clutch would both irritate and confuse me after so many years using a proper clutch and the colour scheme began to irritate also, particularly the white frame. My friend who was with me did not help this thought by proclaiming that the Trophy looked like Mickey Marley's roundabout, a gaudy children's ride which toured the streets of Belfast in the 1940s and 50s. The black Exclusive was skulking in the back of the showroom and the more I looked at it the more I desired it. For clarity I generally gravitate to black in most things and will continue to do so until someone designs a darker colour. The other draw was that I could have the Exclusive immediately rather than having to wait until September for the Trophy by which time in truth I might well be dead.
So the Exclusive was collected last week and I have put about 300 miles on it. The first hour I thought I had made a real mistake but I then realised I was trying to ride it as I would the R9T. Old habits and all that. Once I realised that it needed to be 'hooliganed' a little it began to make sense. Firstly, let us be clear this is not just a bigger 310 Gs. This is a proper thing. It is quite high and while I can get my feet flat on the ground it is still imposing enough to make one concentrate. It pulls well in every gear (although I am still running it in) and handles exactly as one would expect a GS to. It does not feel underpowered and pulls well out of corners and when overtaking. The quick shift gearbox is a joy and I am certain I made the correct choice not going ERC as I am too old to start riding a scooter again. The riding position is again as one would expect a GS to be and the seat is genuinely comfortable, a little hard but not tiring on longer runs. (I did about three hours in one session.)
Most critically I think the black looks quite special. Not flash, not anonymous but just going about its business with an aura of sophistication which I think both the Trophy and the Sport lack. But then they are aimed at younger riders who have not yet learned the importance of black to anyone who wishes to appear even mildly cool.
So to this point all good, although it is only 300 miles. I will offer a more detailed account as the miles progress.
At my age (over 70) I knew the larger GS machines were probably a non-starter, mainly in terms of getting them in and out of the garage not necessarily on the road so the 450 GS seemed the perfect solution. I placed an order for a Trophy and then when I went to see it in the showroom began to have doubts. I was almost sure the ERC clutch would both irritate and confuse me after so many years using a proper clutch and the colour scheme began to irritate also, particularly the white frame. My friend who was with me did not help this thought by proclaiming that the Trophy looked like Mickey Marley's roundabout, a gaudy children's ride which toured the streets of Belfast in the 1940s and 50s. The black Exclusive was skulking in the back of the showroom and the more I looked at it the more I desired it. For clarity I generally gravitate to black in most things and will continue to do so until someone designs a darker colour. The other draw was that I could have the Exclusive immediately rather than having to wait until September for the Trophy by which time in truth I might well be dead.
So the Exclusive was collected last week and I have put about 300 miles on it. The first hour I thought I had made a real mistake but I then realised I was trying to ride it as I would the R9T. Old habits and all that. Once I realised that it needed to be 'hooliganed' a little it began to make sense. Firstly, let us be clear this is not just a bigger 310 Gs. This is a proper thing. It is quite high and while I can get my feet flat on the ground it is still imposing enough to make one concentrate. It pulls well in every gear (although I am still running it in) and handles exactly as one would expect a GS to. It does not feel underpowered and pulls well out of corners and when overtaking. The quick shift gearbox is a joy and I am certain I made the correct choice not going ERC as I am too old to start riding a scooter again. The riding position is again as one would expect a GS to be and the seat is genuinely comfortable, a little hard but not tiring on longer runs. (I did about three hours in one session.)
Most critically I think the black looks quite special. Not flash, not anonymous but just going about its business with an aura of sophistication which I think both the Trophy and the Sport lack. But then they are aimed at younger riders who have not yet learned the importance of black to anyone who wishes to appear even mildly cool.
So to this point all good, although it is only 300 miles. I will offer a more detailed account as the miles progress.
