End of season SALE deals on the 1190 Adventure?

Giles said:
PCP was a good deal for me. It's my hobby, I don't spend £100 a month on fags, gym membership, the local pub (I drink Gin at home instead :D) ..... so I'm happy to invest monthly in a nice bike until retirement pensions kick the balloon payment into touch. (about 7 years away).

But 'nice' has just the faintest taste of .... errrrrr ..... sterile / corporate / 'must look after' / 'need to hand it back' about it. And that feeling is stopping me bond with it a tad. Does that make sense?

I miss off roading !!!; http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?300831-Big-bike-trails-Pyrenees&highlight=big+trails

That was a great trip! I loved it, and I'm itching to do more of the same. And in that trip, we were dragging the GSA under snow gates, spinning it round on its rocker cover etc etc. It was my bike and it felt great fecking about on it, speedway drifting it into base camp and promptly lowsiding it and crashing :D
There's something about my pristine GS that is just a bit too sterile. :nenau It's not mine and feel like I can't let my hair down on it.
Now obviously, If I went 1190R I'd transfer the PCP over to the ktm dealer, so I'd sort of still be stuck in the same boat. But there's something in me saying 'you'll love it more, you'll probably do the balloon thing straight away, you'll end up keeping it, you'll have more of a laugh, you'll go off roading again without a care, and you'll open the garage door and smile ..... '.

That's what I'm thinking Mellors ...... :D
Click to expand...


Right then Larry, you're either on the wrong bike, need to let go a bit and get it scuffed (unlikely) or you should have two bikes but none of these options should be 'nice' ....yer poof :rolleyes::D
 
cookie said:
i do that :)
Click to expand...


Yes, I get that. probably the most important facet of bike ownership .... :thumb2



Yes Mellors, I can't bring myself to take the GS properly off road. But if I had an 1190R I reckon I'd be packing a tent and heading for Salisbury on days off .... :thumb2
 
So Andres .... what made you chose the R over the standard ..... ??
 
Giles said:
So Andres .... what made you chose the R over the standard ..... ??
Click to expand...

Well...........to put it into context;

My 'big' bike (previously my 1200GS) is first and foremost my two up, big miles bike so Amanda comes first as she has to be comfortable/happy on it. If she says no then it's a no go'er.

So when the WC came out my GS was coming up to 10 years old, had a few miles on it and, more importantly, I had some spare cash so I test rode the WC. A lovely bike for sure but a) I didn't find it significantly better than my well sorted 1200, in terms of what it needed to do (see above) and b) it was a tool, just like my 1200. A VERY good tool, a faster tool but a tool none the less. Teutonic efficiency if you like. There was no soul, no character and after 10 years of owning a tool I wanted to have a bike that was a bit edgy again.

So, out came the new KTM. I've always had a deep respect for KTMs, they have that edgy character I craved.................

Now, the simple answer to your question is that I prefer the looks of the R so my starting point would be to go for an R. At the time of test riding though there were no R's available and that coupled with the fact that the standard model has 'GS like' seats meant that I thought it would be more comfy for Amanda. To my surprise she didn't get on with it. Our demo bike was quite vibey and she felt 'locked in' by the seat. No amount of discussion would shift her opinion so the bike was a no and I decided to keep the GS for a few more years.

Then, a mate who owns an R, offered Amanda a go on the back of his whilst we were passing his gaff on our shake down run to Wales on the Tomos's. I thought there was nothing to loose and who knows, she might actually get on with it. The arrangement was that he would ride smoooooooth, really smoooooooooooooth and charm her with his winning smile.................... Half way round Amanda complained he was riding too slow so he dropped a gear and had the bike on it's back wheel at three figures (allegedly) :D
Whatever, she loved it and for some reason Amanda found the R more comfortable, his bike (as is mine) was way smoother than the demo bike and permission was granted.

So all is good 'cos

1. Amanda is happy on the bike
2. I got the one I prefer the look of
3. I will be using it off road so the wheel sizes are a bonus (but that wasn't the main reason for getting the R, I'd still have used the standard bike off road)
4. I aslo find the ergo's more suited to me, I like the wider bars and the slimmer seat.

I should also add that I've sold my GS to fund it (no big deal) but also my Guzzi Lemans and my Guzzi sidecar outfit - both bikes I've been after for a long time and swore I'd never sell. It's been a wrench to get shot of them, it really has, but do I have any regrets?

















NOT ON YER FECKING NELLY DO I!

Andres
 
andres,

so the lemon is gone, did you get a good price for it, much interest?


just wondering like....
 
Aha .... (yes I'm very very tempted ...).

And do you notice any difference spanking it on road with the larger wheel sizes? (I've only ridden the standard adventure and my two local dealers don't have an R demo bike ... )


Mellors ...... shut yer cake hole ......



Back to the kitchen ...... :beerjug:

 
Giles said:
Aha .... (yes I'm very very tempted ...).

And do you notice any difference spanking it on road with the larger wheel sizes? (I've only ridden the standard adventure and my two local dealers don't have an R demo bike ... )


Mellors ...... shut yer cake hole ......



Back to the kitchen ...... :beerjug:

Click to expand...
It's not going to do it for you........... It's not the bike!!! Learn some inner content.......!
 
Giles said:
Aha .... (yes I'm very very tempted ...).

And do you notice any difference spanking it on road with the larger wheel sizes? (I've only ridden the standard adventure and my two local dealers don't have an R demo bike ... )
Click to expand...

TBH honest possibly a little bit (and I mean a little bit) slower turn in but once turned in the same effort required to change line but feels like it's on rails at the same time if that makes sense. My mate with his R who is a much quicker and better rider than me found it no different and has done track days on it - reckons it handles very, very well.

You're more than welcome to meet up and spank mine for an hour or so if you want :)

Andres
 
"You're more than welcome to meet up and spank mine for an hour or so if you want" Now theres an offer you cant refuse lol
mine is the R and believe me it handles superb
 
david a hall said:
It's not going to do it for you........... It's not the bike!!! Learn some inner content.......!
Click to expand...


Ahhh I'm pretty content generally (only on my third marriage :D) and am certainly not guilty of chopping and changing bikes regularly. I'm just at a bit of a crossroads with my GS that's all ...... :thumb2





Outtomunch said:
TBH honest possibly a little bit (and I mean a little bit) slower turn in but once turned in the same effort required to change line but feels like it's on rails at the same time if that makes sense. My mate with his R who is a much quicker and better rider than me found it no different and has done track days on it - reckons it handles very, very well.

You're more than welcome to meet up and spank mine for an hour or so if you want :)

Andres
Click to expand...

That's a kind offer .. I'd bimble round the block on somebodies bike but I'd never take it for a proper hoon, but thank you .. :thumb2
 
Giles said:
And do you notice any difference spanking it on road with the larger wheel sizes? (I've only ridden the standard adventure and my two local dealers don't have an R demo bike ... )
Click to expand...

A few reasons for my choice but I went for the R mainly because I did not want the electronic suspension.

You can't pretend it's an Aprillia RSV4, and I'm sure you can work out why along with "well ridden GS's" they don't fill the grid at the Isle of Man.

Having said that I know that it's more than capable of doing the business with much more competence than any bike of this genre has a right to do and if your up for it and have the ability it will take you on as many "spirited rides" as you dare to officer. :augie

Two up I'd probably still be on a GS but that's something only they could tell you.

Tried the WC but it simply did not get my juices flowing the way the KTM does. Even though I think your right about there being not much difference in speed between the BM and KTM if you put the same rider aboard, a big part of the enjoyment for me is how the bike feels and the experience it gives me whilst getting from A to B. :thumb
 
Ok, thanks for all the info blokes .... :thumb2
 
I never really considered the R when I bought mine. I wanted a road bike, so that's what I bought. I hated the 21" front wheel on R but did like the paint. Loved the look of the Orange S bike from first sight too.

I'm no lover of electronic suspension, but it's a special order to get one without, and others would want it on resale. Having used it for a few miles I find that despite not being quite so trick as the R units (emulsion v remote reservoir HD), the suspension performs really well, better than any GS I have ridden, and I do switch between settings. There is quite a difference.

I suppose I could have bought an R and a set of wheels and got the best of both worlds. In retrospect, maybe I should have tried the R, but my dealer did not have one on demo. AAMOI They reckon to sell about 4 Ss to every R.
I now think the R can look really good with the skinny front wheel, but it needs knobblies on it to do so IMO.

I feel I've been there, done that with the GS and though they are great bikes I doubt I'll buy another. Never say never though :)
 
Giles with reference to your GS , I saw 155mph loaded up on my 1190 whilst on the autobahn last year , admittedly was very very lairy and the speedos on the KTM are dubious at best , so lets say 140 ish.......
When you were saying about your GS being faster than a KTM , do you mean around normal road speed ?
The WC I rode was nothing like the KTM for speed , nothing like it , I'd have bought one if it was.
The KTM had more pull than the Ducati I have now.

I didn't like the R front wheel personally , however If I went back and bought again I would probably buy the R , the electronic suspension didn't have the range of adjustment I would have liked.....Even on sport I would get a lot of front end dive , Lazyness on my part really thinking the electronics would sort it all.
Very similar to ESA , it wouldn't surprise me to see an R go quicker on a circuit for that reason , despite the penny farthing wheel.
 
I tried both the standard and R version at the KTM open day at Box Hill at the end of august. Before riding them I would have guessed at the standard version being a better bike for me - I ride on road, commute 20 miles each way to London, do the shopping, go for weekend blasts down narrow, single lane muddy sub B roads with mrs me, go for big mile days touring all over Europe ( love Lichtenstein / Austria / Switzerland ), take weekend breaks away to Cornwall / Devon, Lake District etc. and go to the odd UK rally - I don't have a car but rent one when needed.

I love big bikes for their presence on the road, ergo comfort and pure effortless roll on grunt. A big factor for me is how the bike rides with mrs me on the back and her comfort... The standard 1190 was really good. The front end was predictable and gave great feedback, but the suspension ( electronic ) just felt basic and sub par to the chassis, as if the damping was poorly set up for each setting and the springs were overworked. Considering KTM's ownership of WP I was surprised... The standard screen in the highest position was fine for me - 5'10 - and the seat pretty good for a standard. The wife however really didn't like her perch... She knew I liked the bike and tried to make some positive comments but she felt cramped and 'remote' from the ride. We ride together a lot, I'm a smooth, forward vision, make progress rider and she works each corner and bend with me, not plopped on the back like a sack of spuds, but she felt distant and disconnected from the ride.

The R version looks great, has more presence and personality just sat still in my opinion. Before jumping on we had a good look over it and I was unsure if she would even want to try it A: after the standard experience, B: that flat one piece seat... I preferred it straight away... the taller seat height put me on the balls of my feet, the seat felt a better shape for me, and the suspension felt firm and purposeful. The R we tried had the standard 1190 screen, not the tinted mini version, so whacked it to the heighest setting and all good as before. We didn't touch the suspension, I thought about a click more preload on the rear ( easily done via the remote adjuster which looks solid and chunky btw ) but as it was such a low mileage bike I knew it would not be bedded in yet and wanted to try it out of the box as it were.

We headed out and at the first roundabout I hear "I like this, this if fun". My thoughts exactly... We took exactly the same route which was great as a direct comparison, and I loved the suspension quality, the difference was marked, I could feel it working at a wholly different level to soak bumps without blinking and supportive under braking. Really beautiful actually, very good quality, and on standard settings. Both bikes had the hot seat problem / issue / ? I don't know what to call it... I think I liked it actually, and although we've just had the best summer ever I think I'd make a temporary heat shield for those warmer trips and enjoy it in the winter. The 19" front end is different, but only noticeable when making progress through a series of bends with the usual B road surface i.e: undulating, pot holed, over banding, and generally crap... but then that's what I love. Keeps me awake and each ride is more involving... The front end feel is of slightly heavier steering input, and a little more effort is required to transition between corners. I preferred her seating position too, she was lower and closer to me, centralising our weight and making the bike feel tighter... if that makes sense.

The engine... The demo ride leader was on a 1290 super duke, and that thing is an absolute monster... So much drive and thrust out of bends... The 1190 was not far behind, and is an absolute joy to use. It's quite high revving, well compared to my 1150 gs or a harley!!! but delivered crisp, clean, precise fuelling through a gearbox that felt like it had been blue printed. There's so much useable power for lazy roll ons out of corners and overtakes, and dropping a gear provides mahoosive thrust. Even with the TC and all the other stuff left on and standard the front end came up, gently and smoothly for a long lazy mono that felt predictable and relaxed. I never do this with her on the back, but it was purely a natural extension of so much easy forward thrust and dips in the road... So be warned!!!

We both really liked the R. I wouldn't bother with the standard now, the quality of suspension alone does it for me as a rider, and the better seat wins her over. Shame there aren't more R demos available in the dealers as from what I've read in various parts of this forum would sway people not just from the standard 1190 but also their BMW. The proof of the pudding...

It's a really great bike, but with the 1290 fast approaching, where does that leave it? And add internet gossip pointing to a smaller displacement adventure style too I think we are more spoiled than ever. For me it's down to the ride - the suspension, ergos, road handling and presence. I'm looking forward to giving the 1290 a try, but it may be too heavily laden with electronic rider aids for me... We'll see....
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Anyone tried a Madstad on the 1190 Adventure
2 3
Replies
47
Views
13,674
Rasher
Nice 'n' Fat
On the subject of the 1190 Adventure
Replies
0
Views
1,078
Nice 'n' Fat
Nice 'n' Fat
North Oxford Garage End of season sale Saturday 1st Nov
Replies
1
Views
1,330
MMC
MMC


Back
Top Bottom