My thoughts on the the test ride....
After getting of a VFR vtec, my first impression at the garage - tall - wide and the dealer couldn't find a low girlie seat!
(29" inner leg)
As I pulled out onto the open road, I couldn't believe how comfortable and easy it was and how everything seemed to be in its place. The only thing which seemed out of place is as you all know, the indicator switchgear. I only pressed the horn once in a 2 + half hour ride!
Straight on to the motorway and cruising at 75 was a breeze with next to no buffeting with the screen in the vertical position. I did notice the vibey & torquey feel which is an unusual feel to me after the vfr, but that was to be expected. At no point did I feel it to be uncomfortable.
Through Chesterfield and the busy roundabouts and the gs coped with the stop and starting much better then the vfr would. I was pleasantly surprised how nimble it was for such a large lump!
Then into the peak district, and this is where the gs excells. The biggest limitation was the 50mph speed limit enforced on most of the roads out there
I seemed to read the corners better on the gs and I think the only reason for this was the fact that I was higher and more upright, therefore seeing and reading the corners better. The gs seemed to be more stable through the bends and that increased my confidence a lot quicker than on other bikes.
Back over The Strines and the gs seemed very at home here. I could stand up for the major bumps without laying off the gas (those of you who know the area will know what I mean) which brought major in-helmet grinning
VERDICT
I love the VFR... its a very good bike, but if I had done this ride on that, then I would have finished feeling fatigued in the forearms and wrists with head fatigue from the buffeting. The vfr is more at home on faster sweeping bends and A roads. In this current era with all the speed cameras, they are more harder to find.
The GS however copes with the sweeping bends, the busy traffic, the weather and the twisties better than the vfr or any other bike I can think of or have ridden.
I found it comfortable and easy to get on with from the first moment I climbed on it and the feel is not a bad one, just different.
I feel I will get used to it and on that basis......
I've only gone and bloody ordered one!!!!!!!!!
.:
