Finally got to ride an 1190 Adv.....

Outtomunch said:
A real shame though, I soooooo wanted the KTM to fit my needs :(

Andres
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sounds like what fits your needs is a GS, so just buy the best one bmw ever made - the twin cam.

i don't know why you don't like the full fat GSA, but they are a fabulous 2-up bike, better than the GS IMO.

they are apparently cheap right now :cool:
 
cookie said:
sounds like what fits your needs is a GS, so just buy the best one bmw ever made - the twin cam.

i don't know why you don't like the full fat GSA, but they are apparently cheap right now :cool:
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You could well be right, I certainly keep coming back to that same conclusion at the moment - I really am in no rush though (which is nice) and am quite happy to wait until the spring before jumping, just exploring all my options at the moment.

Re the GSA thing, well, TBH I just find them too (physically) big. The GS is the only 'big' bike I've ever owned and was bought so Amanda and I could go off on trips in relative comfort without resorting to a 'tourer' IYSWIM. I much prefer small and middle weight bikes and still think of the GS as 'big'. The GSA would be a step too far. Other than that though, I accept it would satisfy our needs, possibly even more so than a vanilla GS. Having said that, never say never :rob

Andres
 
i doubt i'd have the GSA if i only travelled one up.

i like to think i'd have a multistrada :D
 
No vibes on 1190R

I've just got my 1190R on the road and can't say I've noticed any vibes at all. If anything it's smoother than the BMW 1200 RT twin cam that I just got rid of. There have been a few reports of "out of balance" front wheels which I would guess you'd start to notice at speed. I've not tried the boss on the back yet but to be honest I don't care what she thinks as the bike is awesome
 
cookie said:
sounds like what fits your needs is a GS, so just buy the best one bmw ever made - the twin cam.

i don't know why you don't like the full fat GSA, but they are a fabulous 2-up bike, better than the GS IMO.

they are apparently cheap right now :cool:
Click to expand...

I just got an invite to a BMW dealer event on the weekend around the 21st where they're promising extra special finance and package deals :thumb
 
Timolgra said:
Nice:thumb
But that rider could make an R1 look good in those conditions:D

What I was getting at is how the bike's compare with us mere mortals on them on knarly Welsh trails:)
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I'm with Tim - I'm guessing he didn't pay for that RedBull lid ;)
 
Yes mine also feels smoother than my GS was, really like it, does everything well, does weave a bit tho at high speed, looking in to that.
 
I have the same offer from SBW Hertford if it helps. :nenau

I've been holding off having a close look at any possible replacements for my TC GSA until the KTM and the new GSA appeared, so I could start to do a direct comparison.

But I had a look over a Multi strada at the Alley Palley (don't bother going) show yesterday.

The MultiS may ride and go well, but it looks and feels soooo flimsy. The panniers on it had lightweight plastic hinges which twisted and flexed. The adjustable screen rattled in it's fixings. Switchgear quality did not inspire confidence, reminding me more of 70's Italian electrics.

IMHO it had the same build quality as a brand new Fiat Punto I hired about five years ago. That drove brilliantly and impressed me, except, every trip, I was picking up different bits of plastic trim and fittings from the footwell, caps from seat rails, screw covers etc.

I'm looking forward to getting some test rides of all the GSA's competitors about Christmas time when dealers are usually scratching for sales.
:beerjug:
 
Cannons have that offer too. I had a ride of both the 1190R and the normal one with posh suspension this week. I much preferred the R and if I can sort it will have one very soon. Its loverly :)

The heat under the seat was quite bad but I hope I can do something about that myself. The reflective layer on one but not the other seat didn't seem to make too much difference.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...s/ktm/10270818/KTM-1190-Adventure-review.html
 
Outtomunch said:
I went back at the weekend for another test ride, this time with Amanda on the back.

To cut to the chase she wasn't impressed at all and, the initial excitment of my first test ride over, I had a few niggles too, not deal breakers but niggles.

Amanda found the hand grips badly positioned - too far forward for her. The foot peg height was ok but her boot (MX boots) kept catching on the exhaust guard and she couldn't get that side comfy.

She also commented that the bike didn't feel as smooth or planted as the GS; I was making a real effort to ride the KTM as smoothly as possible too.

Worst of all though were the vibes. She generally found them intrusive throughout the rev range but at 80ish she found them really bad. Given any long M-way slogs are gonna be at that sort of speed that's not good.

Amanda really wanted to like the bike and kept coming up with excuses to like it but in the end admitted she just wouldn't be happy setting off on any extended trips on a bike like that.

For me, I found the vibes more annoying than before and also found the handling suffering slightly from being two up. No more than most other bikes but I put it down to a combination of a soft front end (it IS soft) and being spoilt by a WBM telelever which just doesn't notice pillions.
I was also aware of heat from the back pot/exhaust. Similar ambient temps to my first ride so I put that down to wearing jeans this time - who knows :confused:

Soooooo..........it's back to the drawing board.

They had some very well priced 990R's in (£8,200) but as much as I like them they are too focused for what I want.

Amanda's been spoilt as she's only ever really pillioned on a GS and I can't help thinking that that's where I'll be heading again :nenau
Possibly a WC when I have confidence in the 'issues' they seem to be having or a low mileage 2nd hand TC GS....................or maybe a Stelvio?

A real shame though, I soooooo wanted the KTM to fit my needs :(

Andres
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Thanks for that Andres :thumb2

I really fancy an 1190, but the issue is that Lyn finds the 1400 GTR we have so comfy , whatever replaces it will need to be as good or better..... by the sound of it the 1190 isn't going to do the biz :(

Nice write up BTW .... as you're not far off my size very useful ( especially as I haven't mentioned to Lyn I fancy a change :hide

Kaister said:
Have you tried the yamaha yet ?.

pillion comfort is good..:thumb2
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Super Ten is on my wish list too
 
The only 1190A pillion complaint from my mrs was that the grab handles were uncomfortable as they tended to dig into the back of her thighs - not a great design (we have also had 2 GSAs previously for comparison). Not sure if this is helped by having standard ktm panniers, someone was saying they require spacers to raise the grab handles slightly to get clearance to get the panniers on/off. Anyway, easily rectified, buy a second set and cut the handles off (still need the mounts for top box plate etc).

As for the vibes, I don't notice any. Having had the 990A and an RC8, the 1190A does not seem vibey at all in comparison. The mrs did not like riding pillion on the 990A for exactly that reason though, she thought her teeth might get shaken out...

I bloody love the 1190A so far, it is a true multi use/purpose bike, but each to their own...
 
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