Considering a 1200 Rallye

[Wilsdorf]

I don't visit the forum all the time, so this is a slightly delayed reaction

1 - I admit I have had this problem before. I forget that the written word doesn't have a tone of voice. I write the words I would say, but you can't tell just from reading them that there's a smile on my face, so I apologise for that
2 - BUT....this forum isn't a good place if you're easily offended. Maybe I should have taken account of your relatively small number of posts, but you put yourself out there....
3 - BUT (2)....I genuinely don't see how anyone could possibly decribe a 1200 GS as dangerously underpowered unless there was something wrong with the particular bike being ridden. Maybe it was just the different power delivery, but I have owned a Triumph triple (albeit one of the earliest injected ones) and although it was a different experience from a twin and (to me) closer to a four, surely you'd play around with the rev range and gear selection, trying different approaches? If your test ride (as you mentioned subsequently) was very restricted, that might explain (a bit)
4 - I am a great believer in not trying to swim upstream for the sake of it. Life's too short. If you take a dislike to a bike on a test ride, surely you'd be bonkers to spend serious money on it, just in case you discovered its qualities later? If you're really, really rich, maybe....

Don't worry Neil - people are easily offended, unless they are used to a more Manx/IOM straight talking way

I fail to see how the GS is underpowered (yes, I would like more), but in a dangerous way? Certainly has enough power to hold 120mph+ for sustained periods - and when lots (that should read most) sports bike riders are slowing down too much for every corner, it is very easy to out ride them.

My brother would out ride me on just about anything, even if I was regularly riding the blade.

The GS just makes fast riding more fun than a sports bike - a little bit of a challenge and you have to rev it - but I get a lot more satisfaction overtaking R1's etc. on the GS than I ever did on a similar.

There are better bikes for lots of different things - but the GS is a good all rounder for me, and for that simple reason I spent my cash on one.

To add - I will be flying out whichever GS I own at the time when I emigrate to Oz in the next few years - but then we have Kawasaki stockmans and Suzuki DRZ and quads on the farm there if it's really rough, and I'd probably buy a full on enduro for fun any way.

 

[Wilsdorf]

The dealer would only allow a 20 km round trip, escorted by the salesperson.
No passing and no hoonery, I even had to talk them into taking my favourite test route which included roads that should favour the GS.
No need for the Adventure in my future plans.

The GS does cost a lot more in Oz - well they do have to ship it over there don't they - but still no excuse if they are trying to entice customers.

I wonder if the fuel mapping is the same/similar as the UK bikes?

From memory the speed limits out there were only 110kph, which negates a lot of the benefits I have found on the 08 onwards GS models.

 

[Tiger1]

I would like to thank everyone for your replies but I have decided to buy an Explorer rather than the GS.
Its a shame because I really like the look of the GS and it is clearly made from quality materials but the engine just doesn't gel with me. As I previously stated I believe the bike is underpowered for my style of riding and I think that would bug me to the point of wanting to sell it after a few months.
Perhaps I need to borrow a GS for a few weeks to discover the intrinsic qualities that have given the bike such a loyal following and a top seller in many countries.

So once again thank you for your replies and keep the black side down

 

[prwatts]

Good Luck. I think its a good bike but for me 40kg and 1 cylinder too many....
Tell us how it does on the river crossing

 

[Wilsdorf]

Excellent.

The Explorer is a great bike and certainly has the engine on the earlier triumphs, and of course the GS.

If it was a bit lighter I would have considered one myself this time round. Even the old man and brother, who tried out the Explorer on Demo only had good things to say about the engine and speed, and they don't hang about!

Enjoy - I don't think you have made the wrong choice, just an alternative choice of quite similar bikes. I certainly would have preferred a GS with 130+bhp

 

[harry]

I wonder if Tiger1 ever actually fully wound open the twist grip on the GS he tried? You have to cock your wrist to get the best from a GS throttle.

 

[Wilsdorf]

I wonder if Tiger1 ever actually fully wound open the twist grip on the GS he tried? You have to cock your wrist to get the best from a GS throttle.

The throttle twist required is one of my few issues with the GS.

I would imagine the Explorer would be a quicker bike in any case - I simply prefer the GS and the lighter weight helps with my decision a little bit.

 

[Nutty]

He will be missed. Not

 

[Wilsdorf]

He will be missed. Not

I'm missing him already