Humbug
Registered user
You get one of these for a birthday present!
And only £136 fully comp with Ebike!
First impressions.
Gearbox - great. Sometimes a bit clonky on down changes but I can't see the fuss that others make. Perhaps they should try a good old AMC box as fitted to a AJS/Matchless. The best box I've experienced on a BMW and a great improvement over my old R80RT.
Engine - smooth as silk and if it gets better then I can't wait. Again there is some vibration but it's a low frequency one and not at all intrusive. Try riding a Norton Commando with incorrectly shimmed isolastics and then you'll really know what vibration is! Pulls like a train (it should)! and again I can't wait to go beyond the 4000 rpm bedding in limit.
Brakes - effortless. A friend of mine has recently bought a TDM900 and that has R1 brakes which are phenomenal but these are even better.
Handling - well what can I say. It just feels so planted and flows through bends effortlessly - even in the wet. I have never enjoyed riding a bike so much it wet weather. I'm amazed that the hanguards keep so much water off and the front screen/panels deflect so much past the rider. I got caught in a down pouryesterday wearing thin summer gloves and Hood jeans and neither got wet. Friend on the TDM got very wet gloves.
I can go on and on about the plus points so far but as a newbie these are just first impressions. We are going on a 3000+ miles trip in a couple of weeks, crossing from Poole to Cherbourg, heading for Geneva to do the Route des Alpes, then the Gorge du Verdun, Gorge du Tarn, the Auvergne region, into the Dordorgne, across the Pyrenees into Spain and meander around for a few days before returning from Santander.
That should start the beding in process nicely!
Minus points about the bike so far are:-
The left side pannier is pathetic but a 52 litre Givi topbox should sort out the shortfall of space (or a set of Mr Civils panniers at a later date),
The amount of crap thrown all up the pillions back by the rear wheel. This should not happen on ANY bike and it should not be necessary to buy a hugger to (hopefully) alleviate this problem. Needless to say Motorrad Concepts have my money and one is winging its way over here.
Ditto the front wheel and crap over the engine. A fender extender should sort this but again why should we have to pay extra to fix this? Is this form over function or what?
Noise from the screen. I have been playing around with the screen adjustment but cannot completely dial out the noise and I expect I never will - do Tobinators make that much difference? If they do why did BMW not think of them?
We (Paula and I) look forward to meeting up with some of you sometime. We belong to the local "Hells Wrinklies" which meet at the Bell Inn, Creech St. Michael every 2nd Tuesday of the month - next meeting this Thursday 8th. A great bunch of people who will make you welcome whatever you ride. Maybe see some of you there?
Will report further when we return from our trip.
Andy
And only £136 fully comp with Ebike!
First impressions.
Gearbox - great. Sometimes a bit clonky on down changes but I can't see the fuss that others make. Perhaps they should try a good old AMC box as fitted to a AJS/Matchless. The best box I've experienced on a BMW and a great improvement over my old R80RT.
Engine - smooth as silk and if it gets better then I can't wait. Again there is some vibration but it's a low frequency one and not at all intrusive. Try riding a Norton Commando with incorrectly shimmed isolastics and then you'll really know what vibration is! Pulls like a train (it should)! and again I can't wait to go beyond the 4000 rpm bedding in limit.
Brakes - effortless. A friend of mine has recently bought a TDM900 and that has R1 brakes which are phenomenal but these are even better.
Handling - well what can I say. It just feels so planted and flows through bends effortlessly - even in the wet. I have never enjoyed riding a bike so much it wet weather. I'm amazed that the hanguards keep so much water off and the front screen/panels deflect so much past the rider. I got caught in a down pouryesterday wearing thin summer gloves and Hood jeans and neither got wet. Friend on the TDM got very wet gloves.
I can go on and on about the plus points so far but as a newbie these are just first impressions. We are going on a 3000+ miles trip in a couple of weeks, crossing from Poole to Cherbourg, heading for Geneva to do the Route des Alpes, then the Gorge du Verdun, Gorge du Tarn, the Auvergne region, into the Dordorgne, across the Pyrenees into Spain and meander around for a few days before returning from Santander.
That should start the beding in process nicely!
Minus points about the bike so far are:-
The left side pannier is pathetic but a 52 litre Givi topbox should sort out the shortfall of space (or a set of Mr Civils panniers at a later date),
The amount of crap thrown all up the pillions back by the rear wheel. This should not happen on ANY bike and it should not be necessary to buy a hugger to (hopefully) alleviate this problem. Needless to say Motorrad Concepts have my money and one is winging its way over here.
Ditto the front wheel and crap over the engine. A fender extender should sort this but again why should we have to pay extra to fix this? Is this form over function or what?
Noise from the screen. I have been playing around with the screen adjustment but cannot completely dial out the noise and I expect I never will - do Tobinators make that much difference? If they do why did BMW not think of them?
We (Paula and I) look forward to meeting up with some of you sometime. We belong to the local "Hells Wrinklies" which meet at the Bell Inn, Creech St. Michael every 2nd Tuesday of the month - next meeting this Thursday 8th. A great bunch of people who will make you welcome whatever you ride. Maybe see some of you there?
Will report further when we return from our trip.
Andy
Enjoy your birthday present Andy!
