New bike..possibly.

[KungFooBob]

Is it a camera trick or has it got a really low riders seat?

[Skub]

Happy new bike day man. I hope it all goes well for you.

Get the extended warranty in case it doesn't.

[Asian Boss]

I always thought the big GS handled really well, with or without a pillion.

[Scotsrich]

Is it a camera trick or has it got a really low riders seat?

Just the angle.

It’s on the side stand. I really should have had it upright.

It’s at it’s lowest setting which is about fine for me but I can drop it 10mm by changing the seat rubbers.

I’ve been reading all kinds of stuff about it.

[Deadpool2]

Enjoy, heres to a happy pillion and happy miles for you

[Scotsrich]

Picked the bike up today and did about 80 miles, a mixture of solo and with Mrs S on pillion. It kept spitting on rain so I didn't get far.

I like it but it takes a bit of getting used to. A lot less effort is required than the Sprint. It's stable and handles long fast corners really well.

I think I'm going to have to slow down a bit tho'. I'm used to cruising at 80-90 and it didn't feel right doing that on the GS. It's red lined at 9k. I think probably 80 is as much as I'd let it sit at, unless I'm just being too mechanically sympathetic. You never seem to see them getting pushed on much.

I did hit 3 figures on an overtake and it seemed very busy.

Setting the suspension on dynamic is fine when solo but it was definitely harsh 2 up. I tried dynamic first but switched quite quickly. Mr S was complaining about the bumps so a road setting has its place after all.

[Skub]

Mr S was complaining about the bumps.....

Tell him to get his own bike.

[Supermofo]

That sounds odd I'd have thought a GS would be fine at a 90 mph cruise.

[Scotsrich]

That sounds odd I'd have thought a GS would be fine at a 90 mph cruise.

Quite possibly just me. I’m used to 4’s or in the last case my Sprint so it sounds a bit clattery

Anyway I got the Helibars on today which should let me get it through the back gate.

Easy enough in the end with the help of the instructions and a YouTube video I found although I did have to make an emergency call in to the local hardware shop for a set of torx screwdrivers. I mean who has number 10 torx on one side and number 8 on the other.

836485B4-54CE-457A-B966-EB6B4C8BE87E.jpeg (32.5 KiB) Viewed 231 times

[Count Steer]

Quite possibly just me. I’m used to 4’s or in the last case my Sprint so it sounds a bit clattery

Sounds about right. You could 'cruise' at 90 on my 1150GS but you probably wouldn't want to for long. 80 was fine. On the K12 90 felt pretty calm for long distances. The 1200 flat twin I had was a bit more relaxed than the 1150 but not that much.

[Horse]

I think I'm going to have to slow down a bit tho'. I'm used to cruising at 80-90 and it didn't feel right doing that on the GS. It's red lined at 9k. I think probably 80 is as much as I'd let it sit at, unless I'm just being too mechanically sympathetic.

You need better earplugs. Worth 10mph in every gear

[Supermofo]

That sounds odd I'd have thought a GS would be fine at a 90 mph cruise.

Quite possibly just me. I’m used to 4’s or in the last case my Sprint so it sounds a bit clattery

You wanna try a 690 Duke I won't start it without ear plugs cos the noise scares the shit outta me

Sounds about right. You could 'cruise' at 90 on my 1150GS but you probably wouldn't want to for long.

Blimey before I changed the gearing the 690 was good for 80 odd mph cruising wouldn't have imagined it had a similar cruise to a GS!

[Count Steer]

That sounds odd I'd have thought a GS would be fine at a 90 mph cruise.

Quite possibly just me. I’m used to 4’s or in the last case my Sprint so it sounds a bit clattery

You wanna try a 690 Duke I won't start it without ear plugs cos the noise scares the shit outta me

Sounds about right. You could 'cruise' at 90 on my 1150GS but you probably wouldn't want to for long.

Blimey before I changed the gearing the 690 was good for 80 odd mph cruising wouldn't have imagined it had a similar cruise to a GS!

It's probably a personal thing but doing day long stints across Europe, 2-up + luggage, 80 was OK. 90 was tiring with more buffeting in wind etc. 80 was pretty much the sweet spot for the time/distance equation. (More distance between fuel stops too!).

[Scotsrich]

I had a run out with the lads last night, the first real shot I’ve had solo and I’m really impressed with the GS.

Handling is great, I’m surprised how light it feels on the go and how easily it tips into the corners. Although to be fair all I’ve ridden for the past 15 years is ZZR 1100’s and the last Sprint GT so anything is going to be an important.

On long fast bends my thought was ‘bugger me I’m leaning over a lot’ only to find I was nowhere near the edge of the tyre. Just a consequence of sitting higher up I suppose. No doubt I’ll get used to it.

Loads of torque to punch you out of corners and a surprising turn of speed.

The shop put a new Tourance Next on to match the one on the front. Obviously I’ve nothing to compare it with and they seemed fine but no doubt there are better road based tyres available now.

Setting the suspension on Dynamic tightens it up but you don’t half feel it on bumpy roads. Dynamic mode on the engine livens it up as well.

I’m not one for buying and selling bikes and if the GS proves reliable (touch wood) I can see myself keeping it for a long time.

[Taipan]

Congrats on the new bike and it proving itself to be what you wanted.

Whenever I've had tyres like Tourances, I've got punctures. The gaps between the tread blocks seem to capture things too easily and normally sharp things you'd have left behind with a normal road tyre? So unless I was likely to be on sort of unmade roads with regularity, i'd go for road tyres.