rode one
Took out a blue one today - had a slot from 10.30 until 3pm
Once shown all the modes and gadgets, she was good to go
Fired it up - sounded nice, with a fruity note from the exhaust but quite a bit of mechanical clatter at cold though
Started off in Road mode and took off, carefully warming her up and snaked my way through the metropolis that is Rotherham and Sheffield and out to the Peak District, via Owler Bar
The weather was overcast, with a few damp patches here and there
The bike went well and it was easy to stick to 20/40/50/60 limits - although the speedo was hard to read at times
Sometimes there was a slight 'surging/jerkiness' at speeds through town, but I was getting used to it
Screen was good in a TourX with no earplugs and the seat was comfy for a couple of hours stints
Gear changing was 'hit and miss' - sometimes it would perform lovely, snicking into gear and up and down the 'box perfectly and other times it was noisy, imprecise and the lever would engage a 'longer throw', not meshing properly
However, I found the gear lever/footpeg position fine and always made positive contact with the lever............unhindered by the sidestand knob or centrestand heel
Rear brake was another matter and needs an extender
Once out on the open road, I engaged Dyna and the bike was fast and took off like a 'scalded cat', which was fun for a while, but made everything a bit frantic so switched back to Road mode
I did a mixture of backroads in Edale to Kinder Scout and then over to Mam Tor and then down Wynatt's Pass into Castleton, stopping for lunch at the Woodbine
Leaving Hope after lunch, I went to Grindleford after Hathersage and then up over Calver and Froggatt Edge
It was then I found Rain mode - although it was dry
Rain was my fave mode - it made the bike super smooth and allowed proper GS style riding - smooth, fast and making progress - rather than fast & frantic of Dyna
I used Rain all the way back and got back to the Dealer at 1pm, instead of 3pm - not bothered about riding it any longer
So, my thoughts
Great bike, fast and nimble, well balanced with nice control
Loads of gadgets, useful for some but a distraction for me and spoiled the ride - I wish I had found Rain mode from the off
Gearbox was hit and miss, engine was noisy - but they were part of the character........I 'spose
Suspension was harsh,crude (nearly took yer fillings out) and underdamped....... in all but Rain mode
If I bought one, I'd just use Rain mode
Jumping back on the lardy/slow and overweight 1150GSA with only 85bhp and no modes to play with.........but it was no hardship and the suspension was far superior for UK roads and its imperfections
I can see why some are raving about it, especially newcomers to the brand...BMW will sell bucketloads
Took out a blue one today - had a slot from 10.30 until 3pm
Once shown all the modes and gadgets, she was good to go
Fired it up - sounded nice, with a fruity note from the exhaust but quite a bit of mechanical clatter at cold though
Started off in Road mode and took off, carefully warming her up and snaked my way through the metropolis that is Rotherham and Sheffield and out to the Peak District, via Owler Bar
The weather was overcast, with a few damp patches here and there
The bike went well and it was easy to stick to 20/40/50/60 limits - although the speedo was hard to read at times
Sometimes there was a slight 'surging/jerkiness' at speeds through town, but I was getting used to it
Screen was good in a TourX with no earplugs and the seat was comfy for a couple of hours stints
Gear changing was 'hit and miss' - sometimes it would perform lovely, snicking into gear and up and down the 'box perfectly and other times it was noisy, imprecise and the lever would engage a 'longer throw', not meshing properly
However, I found the gear lever/footpeg position fine and always made positive contact with the lever............unhindered by the sidestand knob or centrestand heel
Rear brake was another matter and needs an extender
Once out on the open road, I engaged Dyna and the bike was fast and took off like a 'scalded cat', which was fun for a while, but made everything a bit frantic so switched back to Road mode
I did a mixture of backroads in Edale to Kinder Scout and then over to Mam Tor and then down Wynatt's Pass into Castleton, stopping for lunch at the Woodbine
Leaving Hope after lunch, I went to Grindleford after Hathersage and then up over Calver and Froggatt Edge
It was then I found Rain mode - although it was dry
Rain was my fave mode - it made the bike super smooth and allowed proper GS style riding - smooth, fast and making progress - rather than fast & frantic of Dyna
I used Rain all the way back and got back to the Dealer at 1pm, instead of 3pm - not bothered about riding it any longer
So, my thoughts
Great bike, fast and nimble, well balanced with nice control
Loads of gadgets, useful for some but a distraction for me and spoiled the ride - I wish I had found Rain mode from the off
Gearbox was hit and miss, engine was noisy - but they were part of the character........I 'spose
Suspension was harsh,crude (nearly took yer fillings out) and underdamped....... in all but Rain mode
If I bought one, I'd just use Rain mode
Jumping back on the lardy/slow and overweight 1150GSA with only 85bhp and no modes to play with.........but it was no hardship and the suspension was far superior for UK roads and its imperfections
I can see why some are raving about it, especially newcomers to the brand...BMW will sell bucketloads
But rain mode being the best
