Yesterday I put my R1200GS Adventure (twin cam) in for a service at Calterdon Inverness.
A nice run up past the Lecht , in not so nice snow/hail...but after the Bridge of Brown the weather was great.
I had arranged for a test run on a new water cooled GS, but they surprised me by offering an Adventure spec as I did not think they were available yet, so I took that out.
First impressions...looks like a GS but does not ride like one, surprising, and a very good thing.
Instant grin on the face.
Throttle response is good, as soon as you start to move, it feel a lot lighter and nimble than the old version.
The twisty road handling is good, such a better throttle response on the move, good fun.
I took it onto a gravel road to test the traction control. It is a lot better, not as brutal cutting the power, and allows a little bit of slip...not much wheel spin but enough to create a visible line in gravel
I am still not convinced by traction control on a bike.
For me the not so good points are:
The adjustable screen...easy to adjust, good idea, but it flexes a lot and was initially distracting.
The dials...the rev counter is too small and I prefer a digital read out for the speed.
There are far too many switches, buttons etc on the bike, many lack feel and I was often unsure if I hit them correctly, especially the indicator switch.
The multipurpose display...again far too much going on for me, but once you get accustomed to the buckets load of information you miss it on the bike that don't have those functions/displays.
The side stand is hidden away, like a sports bike...great for the look, not for good for finding it on a dark night with no street lighting.
These points are just being picky...the latest versions of the big country hopping panzer is a very good bike.
But,.. when I got home, I had to take the KTM out (yes, got grief from the misses along the lines of ..."but I though you have just spent ALL day riding bikes, are you going out AGAIN!!)
A wee hole has recently developed in the exhaust just before the silencer...makes it is sound grrrrreat...so right away it put a smile on my face.
When I reached the road, I stopped to see if the rear was flat, no it was not, just the handling character of the TKC80s...got to laugh
After doing over 300 miles over twisties on the two panzers, both on Anakee 3s...initially the KTM was squirming all over the place, but it only takes a few corners to get the hang of it.
My old panzer is a very good bike, very flexible, I do enjoy it.
I also think the panzers are better designed as touring bikes and better built.
Best bike...for the engine, response, feel thru the bars and giggle factor...I was surprised as for me it is still the KTM.
But the new GSA is getting closer to my 8 year old KTM 990...I must avoid riding the new 1190 version.
