In the Wasserhead camp...

[Count]

It may be a cooler April but I have a bike to run in. I decided to do a micro road trip with a nice A-road run down to Fowey in Cornwall and back, about a 250 mile or so journey the way Garmin plotted it to avoid motorways etc. Adding about 500 miles means I'm well over 700 now, properly run in and I'll book in for first service this week.

No faults so far, although I've already worn through the black paint on the bar ends, worse on the throttle side as it rubs more. It's a nice wear if that makes sense, just the leading end showing some usage. Otherwise, pretty flawless for the rest of the bike so far. I eventually sprung for the Vario panniers with the bags inside but decided against the top box as I prefer soft luggage strapped one the seat/rack.

I think I may lay claim to the first camping trip by a Wasserhead in England given recent icy temperatures. Taking the long way I did a leisurely 7 hour run there and a bit more pressed 5 hours back today. Felt easy doing the long miles, set the ESA up for one man plus luggage and let it do its thing. I flipped from hard to soft or normal for different parts of the trip and used dynamic around the lanes.

The Nav IV was great, music, navigation, iPhone integration, bluetooth to the helmet and speed cameras all good (I subscribed to the speed camera database updates and it didn't miss one - hopefully!). The West Country lanes provided some nice blasts and I'm glad I've ordered the risers as I think they will make it just a tad more comfortable for someone taller in the body like me. On the way back today, the wind was gusting hard and the bike was pretty stable, it was a much easier day out yesterday with sun most of the way.

I don't know the real accuracy of the MPG the trip computer shows but I wasn't hanging about and doing running in discipline so plenty of up and down and using the rev range. I'll be glad when the Akrapovic is fitted as I need more noise from the engine.

On the odd stops, I had a few people enquire if it was the new GS, the giveaway is the front LED.

I did multiple loops of the campsite (brilliant site for bikers run by a biker and spotless camping setup btw). Anyway, the loops around the site confirmed that despite the wrinkled 1150 crowd asserting otherwise, the new GS is proven off road. The engine also makes a good hand warmer after you stop.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Hammam]

Is it a colder April all around the world or what? Here, in Montreal, 6,000 kms away, it's cold and wet and windy and miserable. Same thing in Paris, apparently.

Nice report. Thank you. What tyres do you have?

 

[Nutty]

Nice one Count My first service is on Thursday, then I'm off for the weekend, probably Devon or Cornwall.

 

[Tricky]

Anyway, the loops around the site confirmed that despite the wrinkled 1150 crowd asserting otherwise, the new GS is proven off road.

I better jump in first but you could ride a goldwing across that grass.

Any pictures of the loops that you went off road on?

Sounds like a nice little trip.

 

[Count]

The grass where I camped was the special section for the new GS LC, the rest of the site was like The Somme after it all kicked off.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

I better jump in first but you could ride a goldwing across that grass.

Any pictures of the loops that you went off road on?

Sounds like a nice little trip.

He came over the bank that's in the background of the picture

 

[Jumblemo]

Is it a colder April all around the world or what? Here, in Montreal, 6,000 kms away, it's cold and wet and windy and miserable. Same thing in Paris, apparently.

Nice report. Thank you. What tyres do you have?

Cold for April in New York and Washington DC last week. Seems the whole Northern hemisphere has had a cold snap this year.

 

[Count]

Tyres btw are the standard Nexts, I've no comparison to anything else, I think in this size options are limited anyway.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek re laps of the camp site! They've clearly had little tourist traffic in Cornwall thus far as the site looked immaculate and the grass was pretty good - a sign of the impact the weather has had.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Elvisto]

Nice one Count

 

[Wrinkly]

When you say you set the esa for one man plus luggage,then selected hard soft etc as you required,how did you do that? as I was led to believe that the ESA set for preload automatically and you could only adjust damping.

Steve

 

[Count]

When you say you set the esa for one man plus luggage,then selected hard soft etc as you required,how did you do that? as I was led to believe that the ESA set for preload automatically and you could only adjust damping.

Steve

As I'm using the ESA:

You press and hold the button and it scrolls: one up, one up plus luggage, two up, two plus luggage and back. A normal press still scrolls hard, normal, soft. Obviously you have the ride modes as well and I flipped Road/Dynamic - it didn't rain So I set it this trip for one plus luggage then used the regular mode changes as I wanted.

I think it remembers your last setting so you need to make sure you adapt the bike to allow for how you're travelling, although I'm sure the ESA would adjust anyway. I like the fact it seems to be fine to set up the bike for the type of journey but not lose the flexibility ESA provides still. I may have something wrong and it's overidden something when I've swapped to one up plus luggage but it didn't throw any warnings at me for playing like this.

 

[edwgordon]

As I'm using the ESA:

You press and hold the button and it scrolls: one up, one up plus luggage, two up, two plus luggage and back. A normal press still scrolls hard, normal, soft. Obviously you have the ride modes as well and I flipped Road/Dynamic - it didn't rain So I set it this trip for one plus luggage then used the regular mode changes as I wanted.

I think it remembers your last setting so you need to make sure you adapt the bike to allow for how you're travelling, although I'm sure the ESA would adjust anyway. I like the fact it seems to be fine to set up the bike for the type of journey but not lose the flexibility ESA provides still. I may have something wrong and it's overidden something when I've swapped to one up plus luggage but it didn't throw any warnings at me for playing like this.

ESA SHORT LEGS WARNING: Set the bike on 2 up with luggage with missus on the back and almost lost it as wasn't expecting such a rise. It really rises the bike up at least an inch. Just a heads up for fellow semi short and totally short arses. Had the seat on high as its a nicer ride position and will change to low when riding 2 up with luggage. Another option is DAYTONA M STAR boots for an added inch. Slightly off thread but relevant to implications of ESA settings. Sounds like you had a great time COUNT. Be well and enjoy...Ed

 

[Count]

I did not really notice a difference in ride height, but then I'm not short so never been an issue for me. Haven't tried setting two up plus luggage, so I'll have a play later. I use the seat on the low setting as it feels comfortable and I can flat foot. I use Sidi Adventure boots and these add a little, better than a sports boot - I can recommend these 100%, Goretex, comfy and spot on for the bike.

I didn't think the setting added ride height, just the damping but now I'm intrigued as to whether it raises the suspension to allow for extra weight.

 

[PaulW]

As I'm using the ESA:

You press and hold the button and it scrolls: one up, one up plus luggage, two up, two plus luggage and back. A normal press still scrolls hard, normal, soft. Obviously you have the ride modes as well and I flipped Road/Dynamic - it didn't rain So I set it this trip for one plus luggage then used the regular mode changes as I wanted.

I think it remembers your last setting so you need to make sure you adapt the bike to allow for how you're travelling, although I'm sure the ESA would adjust anyway. I like the fact it seems to be fine to set up the bike for the type of journey but not lose the flexibility ESA provides still. I may have something wrong and it's overidden something when I've swapped to one up plus luggage but it didn't throw any warnings at me for playing like this.

You press and hold the button and it scrolls: one up, one up plus luggage, two up, two plus luggage and back - this ONLY works when you are stationary

Normal press works anytime (yes, it is in the manual)

Without the enduro plug fitted, any setting you make including two up, luggage etc will reset to default, single rider

Well impressed with the overnight camp by the way

 

[Count]

You press and hold the button and it scrolls: one up, one up plus luggage, two up, two plus luggage and back - this ONLY works when you are stationary

Normal press works anytime (yes, it is in the manual)

Without the enduro plug fitted, any setting you make including two up, luggage etc will reset to default, single rider

Well impressed with the overnight camp by the way

Not sure about this, I am pretty sure the bike retained one up plus luggage and I stopped a few times as well. As it's a new bike I was playing more but I think the setup is retained, maybe it's a timed thing and if you leave for more time, say overnight. I'll check but as I was making sure it was set up right anyway, I may have missed it resetting.

It would be a pain to set up two plus luggage then have to remember to reset that every stop. You could easily just start and go and the bike would be in the "wrong" mode from what you had wanted.

 

[PaulW]

It would be a pain to set up two plus luggage then have to remember to reset that every stop. You could easily just start and go and the bike would be in the "wrong" mode from what you had wanted.

Mine did exactly that! Gave someone a short ride on the back, set two-up at a standstill. Stopped bike, went into supermarket, came back and rode off. The setting was definitely solo rider - I noticed as soon as I stopped at some traffic lights. With the enduro plug fitted, it does not default back - checked that too. So for peeps riding two up, there is a solution.

 

[Count]

Mine did exactly that! Gave someone a short ride on the back, set two-up at a standstill. Stopped bike, went into supermarket, came back and rode off. The setting was definitely solo rider - I noticed as soon as I stopped at some traffic lights. With the enduro plug fitted, it does not default back - checked that too. So for peeps riding two up, there is a solution.

I'm waiting on the Enduro plug so hopefully that will sort it. It would make sense to have a flash up on the check that alerts you of the setting so you know to make sure you have it correct. e.g. when I stopped and made camp, I'd like to know I can then blat off sans luggage and have the ESA correct. This is an easy setting to forget as it's not displayed full time in the display, unlike the ESA mode.

 

[Rod]

I just checked mine and it definitely remembers the previous setting "solo + luggage" when it is re-started........
Also, there is no setting two up + luggage !
There is :
solo
solo + luggage
two up (this setting includes luggage, although it just shows two helmets).

 

[edwgordon]

Manual shows 2 UP + luggage

 

[Rod]

Manual shows 2 UP + luggage

Yes, you are correct, in the picture on page 69 it does show two helmets + luggage symbol, but on page 70 it does not, and says "Two-up (with luggage) next to the symbol of just two helmets.... and that is what you get on the bikes display.......
A bit confusing........