Smalesy
Guest
Yesterday my 1200GS went in for 6k service at my local dealers. I booked the Adv. as a courtesy bike so went off into the Peak District and did 200 miles over the Snake, Cat & Fiddle, Matlock etc.
From the outset I'll say that this is my opinion, and that I thouroughly respect others opinions. If we were all the same, we'd all drive the same car, want to marry the same partner, ride the same bike. I'm not an experienced GS owner, have owned 2 modern boxers since 1996. I do ride about 30,000miles a year but 20,000 of that's on a works bike. I am a full time bike instructor yet I like a bike that's unintimidating and capable of changing line / loosing speed mid bend, "zippy & nippy" if you like
The bike I rode was on Anakee's, and it had 4500miles on it. It was cofigured the same as my bike, high seat, screen well up and a topbox on.
I'd been absolutely smitten by the looks and concept of the ADV since it's launch. I wanted one like mad, probably more than anything out of aesthetics. Aesthetics asside, I liked the idea of the bigger screen, the bigger tank and the trip computer. I really liked the the luggage system as in hindsight I wished I had gone for the Metal Mule / Zega / Vern's type panniers.
Anyway, left the GS for service and headed off on the ADV. The very first thing that hit me was how heavy the bike felt at the front end. The bike seemed to so much less positive when pushed through roundabouts. I wouldn't say vague, but that's the adjective I'd use if it was 100x more different. The bike also felt less flickable when changing direction rapidly, like when coming off a roundabout. The bike only had 1/2 a tank of juice.
I then headed along the dual carriageway and the screen made itself felt, yes better for my 6'4" height. Then we came to the jam from hell, about 10 miles of filtering. The extra width disadvantaged me there, the extra bulk being at wing mirror height. With the luggage on, there'd be no difference but the naked bike is much more of a challenge.
Over the next 5 hours I rode the bike on a varety of roads, including the above named challenging stretches. I also began to become aware of an apparent difference in performance, especially when accelerating from low road speeds. I suspect the extra weight giving the bike more to do.
The trip computer was a nice gadget, the bike also seemed to have great road presence. I loved the apparent range the bike had also as I hate filling up (all zips / gloves / stands / tankbag / faffing), yet my bladder rarely out lasts my GS's tank.
I liked it....but then here's the crunch, I collected my little 1200GS at six pm, and set off the 70 miles home. It felt so much better for me, balanced, zippy, sure footed, nimble and fun. So much so it made me really happy with what I've got. I'm racking the miles up on the GS at 10-12k a year yet I won't be rushing out to swap for the sake of swapping. I've examined what I really liked about the ADV, and the upshot is that, for me a change of pannier system and possibly a slightly bigger screen will give me a sweeter riding bike and several big ones still in the ISA. The only bit I really would like is the trip computer but that's probably the latent button pressing schoolboy in me - I can live without that. I'll most likely go for the ADV when I change on the grounds of residual value, but it will be when I change my bike because of mileage and not when desire has got the better of me.
So there we are, I know a bit of a pointless thread but thought I'd share my experience.
Steve
From the outset I'll say that this is my opinion, and that I thouroughly respect others opinions. If we were all the same, we'd all drive the same car, want to marry the same partner, ride the same bike. I'm not an experienced GS owner, have owned 2 modern boxers since 1996. I do ride about 30,000miles a year but 20,000 of that's on a works bike. I am a full time bike instructor yet I like a bike that's unintimidating and capable of changing line / loosing speed mid bend, "zippy & nippy" if you like
The bike I rode was on Anakee's, and it had 4500miles on it. It was cofigured the same as my bike, high seat, screen well up and a topbox on.
I'd been absolutely smitten by the looks and concept of the ADV since it's launch. I wanted one like mad, probably more than anything out of aesthetics. Aesthetics asside, I liked the idea of the bigger screen, the bigger tank and the trip computer. I really liked the the luggage system as in hindsight I wished I had gone for the Metal Mule / Zega / Vern's type panniers.
Anyway, left the GS for service and headed off on the ADV. The very first thing that hit me was how heavy the bike felt at the front end. The bike seemed to so much less positive when pushed through roundabouts. I wouldn't say vague, but that's the adjective I'd use if it was 100x more different. The bike also felt less flickable when changing direction rapidly, like when coming off a roundabout. The bike only had 1/2 a tank of juice.
I then headed along the dual carriageway and the screen made itself felt, yes better for my 6'4" height. Then we came to the jam from hell, about 10 miles of filtering. The extra width disadvantaged me there, the extra bulk being at wing mirror height. With the luggage on, there'd be no difference but the naked bike is much more of a challenge.
Over the next 5 hours I rode the bike on a varety of roads, including the above named challenging stretches. I also began to become aware of an apparent difference in performance, especially when accelerating from low road speeds. I suspect the extra weight giving the bike more to do.
The trip computer was a nice gadget, the bike also seemed to have great road presence. I loved the apparent range the bike had also as I hate filling up (all zips / gloves / stands / tankbag / faffing), yet my bladder rarely out lasts my GS's tank.
I liked it....but then here's the crunch, I collected my little 1200GS at six pm, and set off the 70 miles home. It felt so much better for me, balanced, zippy, sure footed, nimble and fun. So much so it made me really happy with what I've got. I'm racking the miles up on the GS at 10-12k a year yet I won't be rushing out to swap for the sake of swapping. I've examined what I really liked about the ADV, and the upshot is that, for me a change of pannier system and possibly a slightly bigger screen will give me a sweeter riding bike and several big ones still in the ISA. The only bit I really would like is the trip computer but that's probably the latent button pressing schoolboy in me - I can live without that. I'll most likely go for the ADV when I change on the grounds of residual value, but it will be when I change my bike because of mileage and not when desire has got the better of me.
So there we are, I know a bit of a pointless thread but thought I'd share my experience.
Steve
over 1700miles
