Two years on and 15,000 miles I thought I'd give an update on how my 1190R is doing since the last time (a year ago) I wrote something up on here....................
So far the finish is standing up very well indeed as it enters it's third winter. Still the only noticeable corrosion is on the front disc bobbins but it's only light and polishes off (more about discs later). Top frame tubes have a couple of small points where the paint has rubbed through to the base coat (where the seat/tank meet) but that's only visible with the seat off. Overall I couldn't be happier with the quality of the finish, she still cleans up like new if I give her a deep clean
Performance wise she still makes me giggle out loud when I play silly buggers. The heated seat (sic) has now come into it's own again now the temps have dropped and with the muffs about to go on she's good to go for the winter.
The issue I have had with the rear pot breather weeping should I hope now be sorted, eventually traced to a crack in the pipe entry plate to the rear of the air box. Oil dripping down the pipe onto the union with the rocker cover meant I'd only been looking at the rocker cover union and had missed it. The plate has now been replaced under warranty and all now seems good.
I've had an ongoing issue where the front brakes pulsing very, very slightly when trying to come to a smooth, gentle stop but not during normal braking. Cleaning the bobbins has always cured this for a few thousand miles before it again repeats. I'd also noticed a front end patter at times when braking (very) hard into corners. I'd put that down to my old, shagged Conti's but when they were replaced it didn't go away. The front discs have now been replaced under warranty and all is good again, smooth as a smooth thing
Tyres - I'm on only my second set, the original Conti's having lasted astoundingly well. I've been running Dunlop Trail Smarts this time around. TBH I don't like them as much as the Conti's and will go back the the OEM tyres when these are worn out. Compared to the Conti's they don't seem to 'tip in' in such a linear fashion and they aren't wearing as well (rear is squaring off much more than the Conti's). There doesn't seem to be any difference in grip, both are good but somehow the Conti's just seemed a bit more confidence inspiring?
Suspension – I still keep fiddling and had got it pretty good I thought. Then I rode Melch’s 1290SD and it was a revelation just how good ‘good’ suspension can be. Now I know I’m not comparing like for like but I can’t help feeling I should be able to get a smoother ride without sacrificing control/precision? I also rode Giles’s 1190R and his suspension was set up very, very different to mine. Much smoother which was good but not quite as quick to turn in and a little less precise when compared to mine. It did make me play with my suspension again a bit and I managed to smooth it out a bit more with no down sides but I’m sure I can get it better……………………. Anyway, at the risk of sounding like I’m getting obsessed with the suspension on the bike (which is after all very, very good) I’m off to MCT for the day next week for them to have a play. They reckon that going by R’s they’ve had in before they will revalve the rear shock but that the front end should be just a question of proper set up. I’ll report back when I’ve had it done………..
That’s probably about it I think? Oh, I’ve also fitted one of those deflector things behind the number plate which has worked a treat, Amanda now has a clean jacket when we get back from a wet, shitty ride.
The bike’s pretty much how I want her now, there’s little else I want to do to her other than finally get around to de-catting the pipe. I’m still a happy boy and can’t see the bike leaving me any time soon
Andres
What day are you going over? I want to go over and see them to find out what options there are available for my bike. If I'm free when you are there I'll pop over and buy you a bacon roll 
Giles being a prime example 
