Tank Slapper ! Not included.

[Count]

Picked up my bike today.

All went very smoothly, including the first ride home.

Absolutely no hint of a tank slapper which from all the press I expected within the first 500m or so.

I would not belittle the fact there may be an issue, with serious consequences if it did occur but I can't help feeling there may have been a big deal made of a few incidents which could occur on any bike.

The dealer said a few punters are waiting to get over the 13 plate as superstition still has the same weird hold on people that christianity does in some quarters. Anyway, I'll post some pics later.

 

[Blackal]

Glad you made it home safely

(It's a jungle out there)

Al

 

[Phil Thomas]

Picked up my bike today.

All went very smoothly, including the first ride home.

Absolutely no hint of a tank slapper which from all the press I expected within the first 500m or so.

I would not belittle the fact there may be an issue, with serious consequences if it did occur but I can't help feeling there may have been a big deal made of a few incidents which could occur on any bike.

The dealer said a few punters are waiting to get over the 13 plate as superstition still has the same weird hold on people that christianity does in some quarters. Anyway, I'll post some pics later.

Anybody old enough to remember will recall that exactly the same claims were made after the original oilhead the R1100RS was launched in Lanzarotte. This was soon forgotten...I did 55000 miles on my R1100RS, about the same on an R1150RS and have about 20000 on an R1100S.

The reality is that a tank slapper can be induced on any bike if you stand on the pegs at ton plus speeds on the right kind (or wrong) of surface.

Regards to all,

 

[Nutty]

Congrats. Looking forward to the pictures

 

[DervMan]

Can't wait for the pics! I'd like to see some more of the ones your daughter tweaked too (please)

 

[Count]

Snowy weather aside, managed a few miles today. I'm not used to a GS at all so excuse the obviousness of my first impressions.

Pretty much all good, I felt quite at home perched up much higher than I'm used to but very comfy with the easy riding position and heated grips - which work fine btw.

The satnav blocked the top of the rev counter but I'm tall and it was angled down for me to view straight on anyway. I've moved it to a better angle and the rev counter view is sorted, I would imagine most people will do this as it was a pain not seeing all the revs.

I set up the satnav which took a while by the time I'd popped in an SD card, paired up everything, updated the firmware, maps, cameras etc. Once done though, it was cool zipping along to tunes, the odd camera alert and nav instructions to make sure all worked. I wouldn't take a call but everything together is a neat solution and no wires anywhere.

Also fitted my phone cradle so it really was starship Enterprise out and about, not exactly hardcore but I can recommend the satnav option, the scroll wheel use is easy so no jabbing the screen, fitted a screen guard anyway as I know I'll scratch it day two otherwise.

The LED front lights mean you see a very distinctive C reflected from the cars in front and it's shallow and it's cool.

I kept it easy but plenty of get up and go. The clutch is very easy, even from brand new, brakes not as sharp as I'm used to but OK. I took delight in hitting bumpy stuff I'd normally swerve round and being able to sit back and relax.

Not being a GS rider before, this felt like when I'm in my car which is a 4x4 and you see above the traffic. On one road that was quite tight, I stood up, was able to see way down the road over the top of the car and then overtook, great fun.

It's now a little dirty, used and worth a lot less than I paid.

I was considering the KTM or a Multistrada as I'm a Ducati fanboy but the GS is a very neat package, for a big bike (you get a shit load of bike for your money), it felt very light and I'm just hoping for some easier weather to enjoy now...

 

[Elvisto]

Nice one Count Pleased you like it

 

[stevie Allen]

Home in two days, no news on mine, so I'd better be getting a extra special test ride
Enjoy your bike mate

 

[mcinlb]

Started running my new TE today, not snowing for once, and there is definitely something wrong with this bike, I seem to be using the brakes a lot more
Anyone else got this problem

 

[Rod]

Picked mine up on Wednesday evening, clocked up 350 miles already. Should have first service next week.
Great bike, love the suspension & the engine modes, it's truly like having different bikes. The handling is incredibly easy, the bike just works with you as opposed to having to muscle it around. I think this will be fantastic in the Alps.
The only slight criticism I have is with the gearbox.......changing from 1st to 2nd and to a lesser extent 2nd to 3rd, it's as if the gears don't mesh properly, especially if you change gears quickly (do it slowly and it's fine), my twin cam RT's box was much smoother.

 

[Count]

I hadn't set the display up to show current speed and my first little jaunt with some odd little blips demonstrated the bike has easily enough power to get the wrong side of legal pretty quickly. It's not a sports bike of course but I was all smiles as I blipped it and scooted along. Having ridden loads of miles on a Harley, I know what it's like when the power is a tad agricultural. My bike needs some miles to loosen up but out the box it's great so far.