Thoughts and questions - new Triple Black GS TE

[Reggie P]

I've just completed two days of ownership and I thought I'd post a few observations. My thoughts might be of use to someone who is speccing a new bike and deciding on options? I'm pleased with the Triple black and see the wire wheels as a "halfway house " between the GS and the Adventure model.

Pretty dumb how the nav unit obscures the top half of the rencounter, not acceptable.

The quick shift is a bit disappointing, maybe I was expecting too much. It works best at big throttle openings and higher rpm in 4,5 and 6 . Its not good when "bimbling" or in traffic.

The panniers ( just BMW vario) come in for a lot of flak on this forum but they are an improved design for 2016 models. imho they are pretty impressive compared to the vario ones I had on my F800GS.
The seat is a huge disappointment , I was hoping the seat on the triple black was "upgraded compared to the standard seat , but its no more comfy . Its also a bugger to remove /refit.

Cruise control ..wow ! Just to be able to stick to speed limits in 30 and 40 areas will be a great help. I also like being able to adjust gloves , visors etc without grinding to a stop.

"Keyless-go" is a huge step forwards. Trust me! Worth every penny.

Overall the bike is so different from my F800GS I wish I'd made the purchase years ago ! What was I thinking?... persisting with the 800?

I've not had linked brakes before and I'm curious about the best way of using them. Is it best to still stick with using the Front and Back in the "conventional way "? Or do you guys pull on whichever is more convenient ?

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I've just completed two days of ownership and I thought I'd post a few thoughts. My thoughts might be of use to someone who is speccing a new bike and deciding on options? I'm pleased with the Triple black and see the wire wheels as a "halfway house " between the GS and the Adventure model.

The quick shift is a bit disappointing, maybe I was expecting too much. It works best at big throttle openings and higher rpm in 4,5 and 6 . Its not good when "bimbling" or in traffic.

The panniers ( just BMW vario ) come in for a lot of flak on this forum but they are pretty impressive compared to the vario ones I had on my F800GS.

Cruise control ..wow ! Just to be able to stick to speed limits in 30 and 40 areas will be a great help. I also like being able to adjust gloves , visors etc without grinding to a stop.

"Keyless-go" is a huge step forwards. Trust me! Worth every penny.

Overall the bike is so different from my F800GS I wish I'd made the purchase years ago ! What was I thinking?... persisting with the 800?

I've not had linked brakes before and I'm curious about the best way of using them. Is it best to still stick with using the Front and Back in the "conventional way "? Or do you guys pull on whichever is more convenient ?

The linked brakes only work front to back so just the rear brake will not apply the front

I tend to just use the front unless i need the rear for "balancing" purposes

If you have a look at the NAV 5 data logging you will be amazed at how much you have used the back brake without realising !

 

[Reggie P]

Ah , I feel pretty dumb not realising that ! Thanks Redrick. Appreciated

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

I think the seat on mine (not a tb) did soften a bit after a month or two so you may find it improves. You get used to the Nav obscuring the dial, it doesn't bother me now, agreed it's poor design though, the dials are pretty poor design too to be honest, too small n speedo hard to read.

 

[dave hendy]

I think the seat on mine (not a tb) did soften a bit after a month or two so you may find it improves. You get used to the Nav obscuring the dial, it doesn't bother me now, agreed it's poor design though, the dials are pretty poor design too to be honest, too small n speedo hard to read.

Exactly they should be like the XR

 

[brummy bloke]

I've just completed two days of ownership and I thought I'd post a few observations. My thoughts might be of use to someone who is speccing a new bike and deciding on options? I'm pleased with the Triple black and see the wire wheels as a "halfway house " between the GS and the Adventure model.

Pretty dumb how the nav unit obscures the top half of the rencounter, not acceptable.

The quick shift is a bit disappointing, maybe I was expecting too much. It works best at big throttle openings and higher rpm in 4,5 and 6 . Its not good when "bimbling" or in traffic.

The panniers ( just BMW vario) come in for a lot of flak on this forum but they are an improved design for 2016 models. imho they are pretty impressive compared to the vario ones I had on my F800GS.
The seat is a huge disappointment , I was hoping the seat on the triple black was "upgraded compared to the standard seat , but its no more comfy . Its also a bugger to remove /refit.

Cruise control ..wow ! Just to be able to stick to speed limits in 30 and 40 areas will be a great help. I also like being able to adjust gloves , visors etc without grinding to a stop.

"Keyless-go" is a huge step forwards. Trust me! Worth every penny.

Overall the bike is so different from my F800GS I wish I'd made the purchase years ago ! What was I thinking?... persisting with the 800?

I've not had linked brakes before and I'm curious about the best way of using them. Is it best to still stick with using the Front and Back in the "conventional way "? Or do you guys pull on whichever is more convenient ?

my triple black has had its first service today at 800 miles,the gear assist will loosen up as the miles rise,mine was hopeless to start with for the lower gears but has improved steadily.I don't share your view on the seat,comfy enough for me after trying the plank like low seat option.Overall I'm very happy with the bike and I,m particularly impressed with the screen and heated grips,i'm out on the bike at 4am for my 25 mile ride to work and while it hasn't been properly cold yet I've noticed a marked difference from my previous bike.All good so far!

 

[Reggie P]

the gear assist will loosen up as the miles rise Ah , thanks for posting that !

I must admit , its a great bike. I'm hooked and wish I could ride it every day ( single dad and can't ride it on the three days out of seven I have my children) !

Screen is good , though I'm tempted by the larger Givi one .

http://http://www.nippynormans.com/...ar-r1200gs-lc-r1200-adventure-lc-giv-d5108sta


Worries about "filtering were unwarranted. Its not much wider than my old F800GS. Like everyone who opts for the R1200GS rather than the R1200GSA I need to buy some "protection" for the engine and haven't decided which bars to buy.

 

[Tricky]

"Keyless-go" is a huge step forwards. Trust me! Worth every penny.

Why? Please explain a bit as I can understand it being a little more convenient (I have a version of it on my Harley) but a "huge step forwards" am not sure about that.

 

[UpgradeAl]

Why? Please explain a bit as I can understand it being a little more convenient (I have a version of it on my Harley) but a "huge step forwards" am not sure about that.

Me too. Can somebody who has it explain what is so special about it? It all seems a bit gimmicky to me.

 

[Reggie P]

Huge step forwards.
Ok, I understand in a car its not such a fab thing because you're not wearing gloves.

But; on a bike, its great. Move away from the bike and your bike is locked the security system sets, no one can ride your bike away.
Return to your bike after paying for fuel and you just sit on it and ride!

No keys to bang around the tank (in the wind) either chipping and wrecking the finish.

If you have any doubts about it or don't want to spend another £250 then miss it out. I just love it and wouldn't ever buy another bike without it. ( the same applies to cruise control btw)

 

[Mozz]

And a thief can jump on the bike and ride off.................................while your paying for fuel

 

[UpgradeAl]

How do you pay for fuel when you are wearing gloves??

 

[littleade]

the dials are pretty poor design too to be honest, too small n speedo hard to read.

In my back to back test with the triumph Explorer this was one of the few things that was significantly better on the Triumph, especially for those of us with elderly eyesight!

 

[littleade]

ooops double post sorry...

 

[Nutty]

Me too. Can somebody who has it explain what is so special about it? It all seems a bit gimmicky to me.

No. I don't want to.

 

[Nutty]

In my back to back test with the triumph Explorer this was one of the few things that was significantly better on the Triumph, especially for those of us with elderly eyesight!

If your eyesight is that bad, you shouldn't be riding.

 

[autogs]

And a thief can jump on the bike and ride off.................................while your paying for fuel

what makes you say that then?,do you know how the system works and at what range the proximity sensor is set?

 

[Mr Anderson]

What about a TB GSA? where does it end?

I want a Rallye color GSA LC like the TC 2010 model.

 

[Nutty]

What about a TB GSA? where does it end?

I want a Rallye color GSA LC like the TC 2010 model.

It'll never end.

But in the meantime, you could put a deposit down on a 2017 triple black GSA.

 

[Nikonnigel]

No. I don't want to.

Well I will then, Had my Te 3 weeks, on my third tank of fuel my bike is 11 months old so it just came with it.
I thought long and hard about it and all the possible problems associated with it and to be honest to date I have had no problems. I hang the fob round my neck on a lanyard under my jacket.
The petrol station thing regarding someone jumping on it and riding away is a possible concern, but I have "tested" the range that the bike "loses" the fob and wont start and it is only a six foot or so (2 metres for the young dudes reading this) so I wont fill up at a small petrol station HaHa. or just pay at pump. Yes I know it can break and the bike wont start, what if your battery goes flat, have you tried bump starting a bike that has no kickstart!!? (that's like a long fold away gear lever for the young dudes reading this)
its like most things in life that we embrace, in time It proves to be good and a benefit and its hard to think how we done without them, Mobiles, Microwaves, Wifi, oyster cards, paypal, the list goes on, how frustrating is it when they don't work.
Modern bikes are just full of teccie items and that's the way it is. injectors are better than carbs but you can take carbs to bits to clean them. a good old fashioned ignition switch can be overridden to get you going but also a low life can do that and steal your bike.
I am still on the fence with it but it is novel and new, along with the gear shift assist and the styling of the bike,to which a lot of non biking people describe as "stealth" like.
Technology comes, and goes if not so time will tell!!. those of us old enough will remember the uproar when the Cortina ceased production to make way for the new sierra and its hi tech electric gizmos! when was the last time you saw a sierra on the road, ( its an old ford car for the young dudes reading this) I am rambling now and quit to allow the piss taking to commence
Kind regards Nikonnigel aka nigel
off to the rugby on sunday so I will be neutral