MT Promises ?

[Khulu]

My final night away . Becoming a tradition to spend it in the pretty port of Cancale , about 12 miles from St Malo. Staying in fav little hotel which has brilliant sea food restaurant below.

I've done 3296 miles since I left home on 17th.

Blatted down to Western Asturias to stay with a mate and ride some virtually unknown roads , then through the Picos to ride along the entire 460kms of the N260 along the Pyrenees. Then linked up to ride down the best bit of the Route Napoleon to have a couple of nights in Castellane. An easy day riding round the Gorge Du Verdon then along the coast to ride up through the Alps following about 90% of the Routes Des Grandes Alpes before breaking off the top bit to head to Annecy then Loire Valley and 'home'.

In 14 days I had one hour of rain on day 2 crossing into Spain, then 10 minutes of rain near Bourg St Maurice on day 11 ish. Apart from that it's been pretty much blue skies and dry roads.

Fantastic trip . Must go back and explore Asturias/Picos some more.

Probably done with RDGA on 2 wheels for a few years.

The MT10 has been fantastic. Fuel range a pain at 120 ish to reserve and a screw came loose on the side stand 'big foot extender'.
But it's been a revelation.

Comfort was far better than I expected , with one 720 mile day done with ease . Sat at 92 mph (86 on GPS) with cruise control on autoroute was easy.

Brilliant on smooth roads, not always so great on bumpy stuff such as part of the Gorge Du V .

MT Promises ? Nope, more like

MT DELIVERED....


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Sounds like you've had a great trip - nice one!
Can you get a bigger tank for the MT.
That's one of the things I love about my TC GSA over my 21 year old Harley (which has a 25Ltr. tank fitted) is that it takes 33ltr and gives very good economy for about 300 mile range ave.

 

[Blackal]

A very interesting account, and definitely validation for a lot of peoples' interest.

155m outright range isn't brilliant, but usually only a hinderance when trying to pile on the miles on autoroutes. What tyres did you have on, and how have they fared?

Cheers!


Al

 

[Arsey]

A very interesting account, and definitely validation for a lot of peoples' interest.

155m outright range isn't brilliant, but usually only a hinderance when trying to pile on the miles on autoroutes. What tyres did you have on, and how have they fared?

Cheers!


Al

I changed the OE Bridgestones to Michelin Pilot Road 4s before I left . I thought the rear would be shagged after 3300 miles as people had said elsewhere that the OE rear was only lasting 2500 miles but the PR4 still has plenty of tread left, if a tad squared off

Cue comments about chicken strips !!

God knows how you get it off the edges, I've caned it a bit in the twisties of the Route Napoleon and RDGA but got nowhere near !!!

Too many years riding bikes with narrow 21/18 wheel set ups I suppose!


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[Davy F]

Fantastic trip.....jealous as a jealous thing !!!!

 

[Blackal]

That rear looks like it has quite a "peaked" profile compared to the "roundish" profile of the ones fitted to the GS(2006-2012) - probably how you can't get to the edges as easily. I'm seeing more and more reasons to take a punt on an MT in the spring.

Al

 

[Arsey]

Think I've found my near perfect riding kit now too !!

Rev It Dominator jacket and gloves worn with Rev It Memphis H2O waterproof jeans and obviously Goretex boots.

I bought the Rev It Dominator pants but don't find the knee armour comfy to wear despite the price !!

But the jacket is brilliant and vents work very well. It's obviously also 100% waterproof as tested in Italy in July.

The waterproof jeans do a good job in normal rain-I was bone dry underneath in Spain in heavy rain for an hour but they eventually complain if you are rained on all day !! But the benefit is they are very comfy , have knee and hip armour and fine for walking around off the bike but do get a tad sweaty above about 25degs C

Re the jacket ,the more you pay the less it comes with !! There's no removable thermal liner but I bought the Rev It Radiant jacket which is designed to be worn underneath but is wind and rain repellant so have been using it off the bike on this trip for colder evenings . I also have the Solar quilted jacket for colder climes.

Not cheap kit but the best quality and should last years.


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[Arsey]

That rear looks like it has quite a "peaked" profile compared to the "roundish" profile of the ones fitted to the GS(2006-2012) - probably how you can't get to the edges as easily. I'm seeing more and more reasons to take a punt on an MT in the spring.

Al

Or buy a well cared for used one with all extras


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[jetjock]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread so far as the MT does look like a hell of a bike for the money !

Sounds like the the suspension issues ( bumpy roads etc) could be fixed with some decent after market suspension even adding in the cost of a set of Ohlins the bike looks bloody cheap for what it is

Semi active suspension is the wAy to go .

I knocked it until I tried it , and I won't have a bike without it now .

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Semi active suspension is the wAy to go .

I knocked it until I tried it , and I won't have a bike without it now .

I have it on the XR of course and it is superb but 10 K plus some Ohlins still makes the MT 10 a very tempting machine


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[Blackal]

Semi active suspension is the wAy to go .

I knocked it until I tried it , and I won't have a bike without it now .

I've already investigated K-tech fork inserts, and suitable remote-preload shock..........

of course - the all-up cost increases significantly, but I though I'd try the stock suspension for first season - then upgrade if required.

I'd rather have good aftermarket suspension (Ohlins, Wilbers, K-Tech, Nitron, Maxton etc) than electronic gubbins.

But- I owe it to myself to have a close look at the BMW S1000R to compare.........

Thanks to Arsey - for addressing all the things people had queries on, and doing the testing in the areas I go to for my summer hols

Al

 

[Nutty]

Or buy a well cared for used one with all extras


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So, we'll keep an eye out for yours in the for sale section then?

 

[Arsey]

So, we'll keep an eye out for yours in the for sale section then?

Quite possibly!!

Stunning bike but I'll never replicate this trip and I've got a new girlie in tow and MT10 no good for pillions so I may sell .


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[Arsey]

Finish on some food pics !!

Stupid amuse-bouche

Crab and beetroot! Quite nice though

Then lobster

Followed by the best sole I've ever had

Forgot to take pic of dessert before I scoffed it


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[jetjock]

I'd rather have good aftermarket suspension (Ohlins, Wilbers, K-Tech, Nitron, Maxton etc) than electronic gubbins. for my summer hols

Al

But you can't change the compression and rebound to suit the road conditions with none electronic

 

[cookie]

But you can't change the compression and rebound to suit the road conditions with none electronic

With decent conventional suspension, you don't need to.


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[jetjock]

With decent conventional suspension, you don't need to.


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If your on a track . Roads vary massively as we all know .

 

[Nutty]

But you can't change the compression and rebound to suit the road conditions with none electronic

Is that why you see so many KTM owners by the side of the road spannering their bikes?

 

[Arsey]

Is that why you see so many KTM owners by the side of the road spannering their bikes?

I think you'll find they're just at the side of the road waiting for mate on GSA to catch up , especially if said mate is riding an underpowered Triple Cack made even heavier by adding layers of paint to correct a half-hearted effort by the manufacturer!


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[Nutty]

I think you'll find they're just at the side of the road waiting for mate on GSA to catch up , especially if said mate is riding an underpowered Triple Cack made even heavier by adding layers of paint to correct a half-hearted effort by the manufacturer!


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Like a moth to a flame.

 

[cookie]

If your on a track . Roads vary massively as we all know .

...and quality suspension still won't need fiddling with.