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richardbd

richardbd

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About to push the button on swapping my V4S for a V4 Rally.

This has the significant benefit that to the casual observer (including Mrs BD) the two bikes are indistinguishable.

Ignoring the economics, anybody got a good reason why this swap is a bad idea?
 
richardbd said:
About to push the button on swapping my V4S for a V4 Rally.

This has the significant benefit that to the casual observer (including Mrs BD) the two bikes are indistinguishable.

Ignoring the economics, anybody got a good reason why this swap is a bad idea?
Click to expand...
it depends on why you think you want a rally as its a big lump of bike that IMO loses the actual traction of the Multi in the first place - quick comfy relatively light fine handling etc etc that is capable of big miles big trips as it is the rally has a bigger tank etc etc

Now dont let me talk you utter of it but I would go the other way and go V4 pikes peak but thats me

Other than that buy the bike you want rather than the bike I or anyone else would have - its your bike your riding pleasure

And dont be fooled by Mrs BD not being able to tell - they always can unless you get the pikes peak and just tell her you've boufght some stickers
 
RedRick Esq. said:
it depends on why you think you want a rally as its a big lump of bike that IMO loses the actual traction of the Multi in the first place - quick comfy relatively light fine handling etc etc that is capable of big miles big trips as it is the rally has a bigger tank etc etc

Now dont let me talk you utter of it but I would go the other way and go V4 pikes peak but thats me

Other than that buy the bike you want rather than the bike I or anyone else would have - its your bike your riding pleasure

And dont be fooled by Mrs BD not being able to tell - they always can unless you get the pikes peak and just tell her you've boufght some stickers
Click to expand...
Good points. I want the add-ons of the Rally because I plan to use it on a 10,000 mile trip this summer with two or three thousand miles of dirt and pot holes plus the odd stretch that the standard bike won't make without a fuel bowser.

My impression of size is that, apart from the Rally being a tad taller, there's very little difference between the two bikes, if you remove the boxes and bars from the Rally. I was surprised by the almost imperceptible difference in bulk around the tank, given how different GS and GSA have always been. Almost all of the increased fuel capacity is dealt with by the switch from a double-skinned plastic tank to a single-skinned steel one. That said, of course you are, at times, carrying 8 lites of additional fuel relatively high up.

IMHO Pikes Peak is the wrong MTS for 99% of riders (and probably the majority of PP owners too). The average PP buyer falls for the Ohlins thingy plus a paint job and ignores the fact that V4's superpower isn't really the fabulous engine, the superb chassis or the German-bashing build quality. It's the extraordinary ability of the SkyHook suspension to reduce the average UK road to racetrack smoothness.

Is your view about loss of agility/handling etc. based on experience or prejudice/expectation/assumption?
 
richardbd said:
Good points. I want the add-ons of the Rally because I plan to use it on a 10,000 mile trip this summer with two or three thousand miles of dirt and pot holes plus the odd stretch that the standard bike won't make without a fuel bowser.

My impression of size is that, apart from the Rally being a tad taller, there's very little difference between the two bikes, if you remove the boxes and bars from the Rally. I was surprised by the almost imperceptible difference in bulk around the tank, given how different GS and GSA have always been. Almost all of the increased fuel capacity is dealt with by the switch from a double-skinned plastic tank to a single-skinned steel one. That said, of course you are, at times, carrying 8 lites of additional fuel relatively high up.

IMHO Pikes Peak is the wrong MTS for 99% of riders (and probably the majority of PP owners too). The average PP buyer falls for the Ohlins thingy plus a paint job and ignores the fact that V4's superpower isn't really the fabulous engine, the superb chassis or the German-bashing build quality. It's the extraordinary ability of the SkyHook suspension to reduce the average UK road to racetrack smoothness.

Is your view about loss of agility/handling etc. based on experience or prejudice/expectation/assumption?
Click to expand...
Let me start by saying

I had a 1260 Pikes peak and it was a much better bike than the S - for me and the riding that I do which is days out and a trip to Spain and Scotland and my preferred style of riding which errs more on the side of hooliganery

A friend of mine has gone from V4s to V4 pike Peak and says the handling is better, more agile and a little quicker ( I think the gearing may be slightly different ) but I have not tried his PP yet so cant comment personally.

However I think for the sort of trip you are talking about the pikes Peak is the wrong bike of the three as the Skyhook suspension and all its delights is probably better for touring than the Ohlins set up

I can see why you are drawn to the Rally in the same way that a GSA might be better than a GS for that trip. we all know that the V4 is a thirsty beast so the larger tank would be a good thing on a long trip

as ever it comes to the bike for the riding you do and what you actually like and if the rally fits the bill then thats what you should do as it is a fabulous thing as are all the V4 multistradas.

Buy the bike you want regardless of others preference and enjoy it as it will be brilliant
 
Trust me he has a new bike happy face a lot of the time...
Get the rallye!

Sent from my SM-A236E using Tapatalk
 
I went from the V4S to the Rally. You are right, apart from being 20cm taller they are physically the same bike, same riding position etc. For touring around the screen is a little bit bigger, but I changed mine to a WRS anyway. The suspension travel is slightly longer and plusher, but it can still hustle pretty damn quick when you need to. I find I have to ride with suspension "up one notch" compared to the V4S to get the same feel, but I have never been able to tune out the dive on the forks under heavy braking - I wish they put electronic anti-dive on it like the KTM 1290 SAS. Other than that it very similar to ride but with better fuel consumption and a bigger tank - I can get 300 miles out of mine at a push.

I have put the standard plastic panniers on it and they sit in same position as the V4S - I was told they were an inch further back but that doesn't seem to be the case, I think it just the new generation metal cases that have been repositioned? And there is a new Aluminium top box carrier that looks like it does move the top box back a little to give your wife a little more room.
 
Belco100 said:
I went from the V4S to the Rally. You are right, apart from being 20cm taller they are physically the same bike, same riding position etc. For touring around the screen is a little bit bigger, but I changed mine to a WRS anyway. The suspension travel is slightly longer and plusher, but it can still hustle pretty damn quick when you need to. I find I have to ride with suspension "up one notch" compared to the V4S to get the same feel, but I have never been able to tune out the dive on the forks under heavy braking - I wish they put electronic anti-dive on it like the KTM 1290 SAS. Other than that it very similar to ride but with better fuel consumption and a bigger tank - I can get 300 miles out of mine at a push.

I have put the standard plastic panniers on it and they sit in same position as the V4S - I was told they were an inch further back but that doesn't seem to be the case, I think it just the new generation metal cases that have been repositioned? And there is a new Aluminium top box carrier that looks like it does move the top box back a little to give your wife a little more room.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this Belco. Fork dive hadn’t occurred to me. I was going to push the button without a test ride, having found a great deal on a used Rally. On the basis of your point, I’m going to take it for a spin tomorrow before committing - weather permittting.

PS I doubt the Rally’s 20cm taller than the V4S. You’d have to bloody tall to ride it if it were :D
 
I was in ducati alton today rich, I'm getting all ducati curious...

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Do you think that the Ducatti has a better build quality than BMW now?

I assumed their rate of depreciation was due to build quality, bearing in mind I last rode an MS around 2012.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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