I don't get emotionally attached to my bikes,or defend them just because I've spent over 14k on one
so here's my honest opinion.
I loved my twin cam,it was an homogenisation of several previous bikes that I'd bought bits for and was able to transfer onto my TC i.e. Seats,screen,luggage,spot lights etc,However I always felt it was at times just slightly lacking a bit of get up and go when needed.
For no other reason than to have a go I tested the new WC on it's release.
I didn't test it with the intention of swapping because despite what I had read I didn't believe it was going to be that much better than my TC.
On the initial test ride,I had two,The bike did impress, it was agile nimble and certainly had a swifter turn of pace than the TC,but lets be under no illusions the 1200wc is nippy but it's not a fast bike.
The first test impressed me enough to take it out again but this time with a much more objective head on than the first time,with two questions in mind.
1..Does this bike suit my needs.
2..Would I like to own this bike.
The answer to both was yes,so the deal was done.
I picked the bike up on 17th of May and have now covered 2500mls which has included a Jaunt to Normandy and a trip to Paris taking in the Arc de Triomph and the Paris periferique.
Motorways.. the bike is fine,stable and comfortable overtakes are done with a flick of the wrist and cruising at anything upto 100mph is a doddle.
However Joanne was not so comfortable on the back,stating that anything constant above 75mph caused her uncomfortable buffeting.
A roads.. It's a dream, you can ride and steer it on the throttle although it doesn't like irregular road surfaces it makes it buck and skip and often feels as though the tyres are over inflated,it never feels dangerous or out of control but it will track some irregularities and positively hates wet cats eyes I'm hoping this is the tyres.
B roads..Feels much lighter than the TC steers very positively and the brakes are superb again I'm not keen of the tyres on these roads much preferring the original Tourance.
Modes...Personally I love them, they took a while to recognise how to get the best from them but once you've sussed it It's great.
I would think I spent around 60% of the time in Rain mode.
Suspension... Again the active ESA is for me a revelation and once the settings become second nature it's easy.
I've never ridden a bike from Rosedale to Egton bridge that handles like this.
Engine...Lovely,smooth,pokey and responsive,it's not to keen once below 1800 rpm but I've soon got used to it.
Handling..Difficult to fault very direct no having to fight with the bike unless you getting near to silly speeds and at times it really does feel as though your on rails,very manoeuvrable at very low speeds.
Gearbox... In a word SH*TE and for me really lets the bike down.
All in all I'm loving the bike in most areas it's as good as my TC and then some....BUT...That gearbox it really does spoil what overall is a great package,I know that not everyone is experiencing problems but many appear to be doing so.
Hopefully it's a problem that can be solved,maybe I should have waited but I've never been known for my patience.
As I've said overall it's a great bit of kit but the gearbox is dreadful and if it's not fixable I would imagine that the bike will go.
Steve
