Then buy a 1600.
Goldwing…….nearly
- Thread starter leadfarmer
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Then buy a 1600.
I did actually consider that before buying the Wing. However, I took a K1600 out again for a day and didn't gell with the bike. For me, the riding dynamics of the wing was much, much better. Lighter, lower more comfortable, more economical etc.
After saying that if BMW brought out something along the lines of the DCT, i would consider it.
lmg
Registered user
I consider the k1600 as a sports tourer and the Goldwing as a true touring bike. Different tools imo.
You might like to look at the quoted weight of the Goldwing Tour, with its ‘Must have’ armchair, bolted on the back.
That being said, you don’t (most of the time) notice weight when bikes are moving, as they are balanced on two wheels. In other words, the rider isn’t holding it up at all. There again, some owners struggle with a GS / GSA…. It must be those fully stuffed enormous panniers and the full fuel tank, I guess?
That being said, you don’t (most of the time) notice weight when bikes are moving, as they are balanced on two wheels. In other words, the rider isn’t holding it up at all. There again, some owners struggle with a GS / GSA…. It must be those fully stuffed enormous panniers and the full fuel tank, I guess?
Don't forget they ride scooters aswell so weight will be an issue.
I guess most owners will, at some point in the lives, discover that any weight (when coupled to even quite modest speeds) sometimes does interesting things, when it comes to stopping in a hurry or even changing direction. Thankfully, I haven’t yet discovered the fullest implications. I am sure it might well hurt and I might not get a second go at putting into practice the lesson learned.
lmg
Registered user
Do you mean, cruising?
The ‘Wing is certainly a soft ‘comfy’ bike to ride. I’m looking forward to my 48 hour jaunt on one. I wonder if they’ll let me take it to France
The k1600 was a bike I found which encouraged you to make progress whereas the wing encourages you to enjoy what you’re riding through (again, imo). Sure, the wing can motor on if it has too but I have and had all sorts of bike and if I want to go on a trip I take the wing so I can take in the surroundings as it’s so friggin easy to ride.
Don't forget they ride scooters aswell so weight will be an issue.
Sanity before vanity.
I know you is a hard as nails rosé swilling mofo, but I bet if you rode something like an ADV350 you’d love it.
Always made me laugh how the mainland Europeans embrace maxi scoots and other forms of two wheels transport whereas the insecure brits have to think of image first….
You only need to go to the top of any Alpine pass, to see the huge range of bikes (with and without engines) to see that anyone can leave home and go just about anywhere on anything.
It is only the UK that seems to demand ‘It must have, it must do….’.
Funny old world.
I do know what you mean.
I quite enjoyed my ride back across central London on my 1600, from Chiswick to Wapping. I rode it a bit like an automatic. It was pretty ‘relaxed’. Many here say that a 1600 would be quite unsuitable to do it on. Too big, too heavy, too wide. Yet, there I was on it, quite happy.
Riding smoothly yet defensively and with anticipation of a impeding hazard is the key to stopping in a hurry… being a dopey **** on the bike, will inevitably end up in a potential worst outcome.
Personal observation:
When I drive, be it a car or work van, my mind tends to wonder all over the place and I consequently think about the work, what I need to get done, etc. many of us do, that’s how you see people chew their nails when they drive or pick their noses. Some poke their mobile devices…
When I ride my bike, it is a completely and unintentionally different thing. My focus is at 95%+ is on the road ahead and my immediate surroundings.
As somebody who has passed his motorcycle test in 2015. I had to pass module 1 of the test, if I could not do this, I could not get to prove my self on the road by doing module 2 test.
Elements of Module 1 were to be able to demonstrate competent slow manoeuvres, motorcycle handling on foot and proving that you can react and do something about (stopping in a hurry) the hazard unfolding in front of you without leaping of or dropping the bike, whilst doing 30mph, or putting your feet down, before coming to a full and controlled stop. You as a trainee, are observed for using both front and rear brakes as well as shutting off the throttle and use of clutch to downshift was a bonus. If you can do these things in a correct order and timing, only then you could get to prove your self on the road test, or a module 2.
Allot of folks from my observations, dangle their legs upon approach to the lights, etc, whilst constantly jabbing on the front brake only. It is rather unnerving to watch.
This thinking, just because motorcycle has linked brakes, means one only needs to use the front brake, does baffle me.
When riding at speeds a gentle pressure on the front brake lever does indeed apply a little pressure to the rear brake to stabilise the bike upon approach to the corner,etc. However in slow moving traffic, approach to the traffic lights, etc, this action only upsets the balance of the bike by means of yaw or pitching all of the bikes, porky riders and the weight of the shite stuffed in the panniers, which quite often results in front wheel locking up (remember abs is inactive under certain speeds) and inevitably dropping the bike into a puddle of embarrassment.
By dangling your legs, you no longer in control of the bike. In other words you haven’t got your senses fully engaged by means of four point contact with the vital controls.
It’s like letting go of the steering wheel of a car, when attempting to steer it round the roundabout with one knee. It will never end up well.
Slow manoeuvring in traffic, or go like a bat out the hell between stationary/slow moving cars, in order to maintain one’s balance, don’t forget the unnecessary revving in frustration, when cager does not move over a bit to let one pass, is another observation.
Once again legs dangle or tip toe walking whilst doing 5mph or under. If one had a gentle pressure on the rear brake. One can even do 2mph without the need for either of the feet to dangle and be in complete control.
I guess old timers who passed their test in yesteryear, and only achieved this by riding around the block and stopping when John the examiner told them to then this would explain allot when observing their riding.
If you haven’t grazed your knees or elbows, then you’ve passed with minimal education in understanding physics and dynamics of a motorcycle in motion and how your inputs into controls does affect its balance and performance.
Not trying to be teaching anybody on here how to ride, nor am I saying that I am an expert rider, but I always look at ways of improving the craft of motorcycle riding, and by making these observations, I learn from a mistake somebody else is making following by figuring out a way to correct it for my own advantage.
Aye.
The boring fucks on their GSs thought I was mad to take a 701LR on a 2500 mile trip around Spain.
T’was quite amusing.
That is so true. Parisians ride them in full business suits… where her tossers will have a suit stuffed into the alloy pannier of a GS Adventure an wear a full Goretex Pro suit in a 30°c heat.
I mean, being safe on the bike is important and riding in a suit might not be exactly practical to commute from one of Home Counties into the Canary Wharf office, but some still tend to overdo it on the safety aspect.
True, but I was being a bit more diplomatic than you. I didn't mention the poor quality.
The wing is MUCH lighter to push around. I think it's partly due to it being lower.On the move I find the wing more stable to, even at low speed. Especially important to me as I have short legs. Also, if needed there is the crawl gears.
I think Wapping has already had issues with his new 1600.Might be why he’s window shopping ?
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