It's a crying shame ....

[Giles]

... bordering on criminal


Brunhilde had her last proper spank tonight. Back from the dealers where her new clocks have been put on and a 12k service.

She's being part exed for a new 1190R next week.

She's been hilltopped, full remused, quick shifted, and with a fresh service ..... I tell yer what .... that bike is going like a bloody train!

Having had a demo 2014 GS loan bike (completely standard obviously) and having jumped from that straight back on to mine, the difference in fuelling, breathing, instant after burn going on in the combustion chamber, pick up, throttle response ...... It's chalk and cheese. I cannot begin to explain the delight of having a motor that breathes and burns so efficiently.

The bike will be stripped over the next few days and put back to standard

 

[Bounce]

Man up senor.......you've made your decision now to go ORANGE......

I've no doubt that someone will pick up a very nice used GS.....1 'careful' owner.......

 

[Toddmeister]

It's amazing what the combination of a full system and a Hilltop does to the bike!

Are you putting the standard exhaust back on and getting Geoff to reinstall the original map?

 

[Giles]

The part ex with the dealer is so easy, and I'm so lazy !

What's daft is that somewhere, somebody is about to pay 10 1/2 K for a standard bike, and this one has about £1500 worth of work done to it ! (and I'd take 10.5 for a private sale).

The 1190 will (over time) get the same treatment ....

 

[Giles]

It's amazing what the combination of a full system and a Hilltop does to the bike!

Are you putting the standard exhaust back on and getting Geoff to reinstall the original map?

I shan't remove the map, but will remove the exhaust system. The quick shifter is all properly soldered in (rather than cheap clip connector things) so will stay on the bike ...

 

[Toddmeister]

Someone is gong to get a bargain!

Hope you enjoy the new bike.

 

[Nutty]

Why not advertise it on here anyway?

 

[bisbee]

Just post one of the new lean for sale adverts You know two or three lines with no photos

 

[Giles]

Ummmmmm ..... Yes I could (should). The dealer doesn't care if I do the deal with the bike or the price he's given me for it in cash. It's happening in just over a weeks time though so I'll probably start stripping it errrrrrr tomorrow! (otherwise before I know it I'm back at work and won't have time ..).

When we were in France, it was stuck in two up + luggage and on its hard setting, so (not making excuses ....) it was like riding a plank of oak. Amazing how much easier it is to ride (and get on the gas in the corner) now its sorted ....

 

[Nutty]

When we were in France, it was stuck in two up + luggage and on its hard setting, so (not making excuses ....) it was like riding a plank of oak. Amazing how much easier it is to ride (and get on the gas in the corner) now its sorted ....

Yeah yeah!

 

[Giles]

Good suspension is worth 10 / 15 BHP. if yer can't open the gas 'cos yer still bumping about mid turn .....

 

[zoltan]

Why the change , is orange that superior ? Don't say because you can

 

[Micky]

Good suspension is worth 10 / 15 BHP. if yer can't open the gas 'cos yer still bumping about mid turn .....

Bin saying that for twenty years kid

Good one Giles ..... be happy

 

[Giles]

Ummmmmm .... errrrrrrrr .......

It's hard to explain

I find the BM very capable, but a bit (and this is the bit that's hard to explain ...) cold and clinical. For me it's just missing something in its character that the KTM has. I have such a laugh when I ride the 1190, it makes me chuckle inside my lid. The GS is very good, (this afternoons ride home ... Kent back roads .... like a scalpel. Quick enough, brilliant boxer grunt for ruthlessly efficient overtakes ...) but I wasn't having a ball, it was ..... ....... German efficiency at its best.

It's about soul and character I guess. For me (all personal opinion of course .. ) I lock the GS up at the end of its day, walk away from it with a Germanic 'job done' head and don't look back. I'm not saying it leaves me cold but I don't pat it on the tank as I put it to bed !

The KTM just oozes character and soul. That is a bike that I get off, laugh out loud and want to punch on the arm like kevin and Perry! It's a bike that I look back at as I walk away .....

 

[Nutty]

It's a bike that I look back at as I walk away .....

Is that to make sure it hasn't caught fire?

 

[Wrinkly]

I know exactly what you mean Giles.....enjoy your new steed.

Steve

 

[Giles]

Is that to make sure it hasn't caught fire?

....and to make sure the fecking dashboard hasn't been nicked ..

 

[Tricky]

Interesting Giles... I feel your pain.

Your WC is at the start of its sweet spot and your getting rid.

Having had a GS from 2005 I went down the Orange route in 2009 with mixed results. My first year was spent with an 08 990 Adv with the famous jerky throttle and after 13 months of trying every fix in the book I gave up and got myself a nice 950 Adv.

This bike was much better and was a true all rounder from touring to track days and off-roading in Thetford Forest (after a change of tyres ).







Sold the 950 to buy a Harley so no rhyme nor reason for some decisions then.

After a brief interlude with a TC I hankered for another KTM Adv and had a couple of extended test rides on a standard 1190.



Was ready to do a deal on one but just wanted to compare it with the WC.

TBH after extended test rides on both (this was back in July this year) I just couldn't split them and it all came down to the best deal that I could get. Needless to say the WC came out as a far better deal money-wise. So head ruled the heart for a change.

Am slightly gutted to see that KTM are doing some seriously good deals on the 1190 now however.

The Orange side certainly has a younger and cooler image, if that matters to some.

Can just imagine Andre greeting Giles now that they will be both be 'down with the kids...'

"Yo Giles ma bro from the G to the I to the L..." and so on.

Might consider getting a 1290 Adv next year mind...

 

[pistole]

perhaps wait for the 1290 Super Adventure which will be out shortly.

iirc , KTM has a pretty long list of issues as well with these big bikes. Have a look at the Orange Crush section at ADV Rider.

 

[stevemersey]

TBH after extended test rides on both (this was back in July this year) I just couldn't split them and it all came down to the best deal that I could get. Needless to say the WC came out as a far better deal money-wise. So head ruled the heart for a change.

Yes, that swung it towards a WC for me too, and if todays deal was on then it would have gone the other way.

Giles,
I look forward to your report on the KTM as I still would like one - though the WC is proving a dam fine bike.