scottpa
Registered user
I decided it was time to change my 61 plate GSA as I had not really gelled with it like I did with my 07 GS. So I had a look around a possible replacements.
Triumph Explorer, Suzuki Vstrom 1000, KTM Adventure, Aprillia Capanord, Guzzi Stelvio.
After sitting on the Explorer (finish a bit naff), Vstrom (didn't inspire any interest), KTM (will be nice when they finish it). I had narrowed it down to the Aprillia or the GS.
I went to Robinsons Foundry in Canterbury this morning for a test ride on the Capanord. They also had a Stelvio demonstrator so I was able to kill two birds with one stone.
The Aprillia; the dynamic suspension was good, the handling was comparable to my TC GSA, the digital dash funky, the engine OMG! rampant, the bike has six gears but will do 100 in fourth! Downside of this was that the tenners worth of fuel I put in was gone in the hours test ride. A couple of little niggles, with the screen (needs to be taller), indicator button is a bit naff I could not figure out how to change modes from Touring to Sport (but I didn't need it). All in all a serious contender.
Stelvio, you noticed the vibes from the engine much more than the Aprillia, turned in a lot slower, noticeable dive under braking. In general, the technology of bike is behind the latest generation of bikes. As a bike for cruising round, it was fine, but just struggled when pushed. The whole look and feel of the bike was also a bit dated/agricultural.
Then to Coopers in Tonbridge Wells this afternoon. Took out the GS demonstrator, bugger me, it's not that much slower than the Aprillia. How fast does that engine spin up! You are going 10mph faster everywhere. The handling is all GS, just planted. All the switches and the display were just better thought out and finished than the Aprillia.
I left Canterbury thinking I was going to jump ship to Aprillia but after riding the GS, I placed a deposit there and then. They even had a bike in stock in the correct colour (blue). So I am picking it up next Saturday
. My order for farkles has already been placed with Nippy.
Triumph Explorer, Suzuki Vstrom 1000, KTM Adventure, Aprillia Capanord, Guzzi Stelvio.
After sitting on the Explorer (finish a bit naff), Vstrom (didn't inspire any interest), KTM (will be nice when they finish it). I had narrowed it down to the Aprillia or the GS.
I went to Robinsons Foundry in Canterbury this morning for a test ride on the Capanord. They also had a Stelvio demonstrator so I was able to kill two birds with one stone.
The Aprillia; the dynamic suspension was good, the handling was comparable to my TC GSA, the digital dash funky, the engine OMG! rampant, the bike has six gears but will do 100 in fourth! Downside of this was that the tenners worth of fuel I put in was gone in the hours test ride. A couple of little niggles, with the screen (needs to be taller), indicator button is a bit naff I could not figure out how to change modes from Touring to Sport (but I didn't need it). All in all a serious contender.
Stelvio, you noticed the vibes from the engine much more than the Aprillia, turned in a lot slower, noticeable dive under braking. In general, the technology of bike is behind the latest generation of bikes. As a bike for cruising round, it was fine, but just struggled when pushed. The whole look and feel of the bike was also a bit dated/agricultural.
Then to Coopers in Tonbridge Wells this afternoon. Took out the GS demonstrator, bugger me, it's not that much slower than the Aprillia. How fast does that engine spin up! You are going 10mph faster everywhere. The handling is all GS, just planted. All the switches and the display were just better thought out and finished than the Aprillia.
I left Canterbury thinking I was going to jump ship to Aprillia but after riding the GS, I placed a deposit there and then. They even had a bike in stock in the correct colour (blue). So I am picking it up next Saturday
. My order for farkles has already been placed with Nippy.
IMO, the best all rounder currently on the market, by a long long way.
