The Motorbikerist Thread

[tim]

I caught up with MotoGP last night. Holy crap what a race!

[NotoriousREV]

I was going to get out on the bike today but it’s pissing it down. I couldn’t go yesterday as I was looking after my youngest. Damn it.

On the plus side, a mate is giving me his old bike lift so I’m feeling the motivation to sort out Scrappy Doo (my GSXR750)

[JLv3.0]

I caught up with MotoGP last night. Holy crap what a race!

It was great wasn't it! Best race this season by far.

[Barry]

I was going to get out on the bike today but it’s pissing it down. I couldn’t go yesterday as I was looking after my youngest. Damn it.

I keep meaning to head up to Ponderosa bike night but yeah, hissing down today so F that.

[NotoriousREV]

I was going to get out on the bike today but it’s pissing it down. I couldn’t go yesterday as I was looking after my youngest. Damn it.

I keep meaning to head up to Ponderosa bike night but yeah, hissing down today so F that.

My plan was to head to BMW Motorrad Chester and take a look at some S1000Rs that I'm totally, definitely not going to buy.

[Marv]

I was going to get out on the bike today but it’s pissing it down. I couldn’t go yesterday as I was looking after my youngest. Damn it.

I keep meaning to head up to Ponderosa bike night but yeah, hissing down today so F that.

Hold on, weren't you on Twitter a few days ago, discussing with Tim how you love to ride in the rain?

[NotoriousREV]

I was going to get out on the bike today but it’s pissing it down. I couldn’t go yesterday as I was looking after my youngest. Damn it.

I keep meaning to head up to Ponderosa bike night but yeah, hissing down today so F that.

Hold on, weren't you on Twitter a few days ago, discussing with Tim how you love to ride in the rain?

I do. But not on purpose

[tim]

Yeah you don't really go out for a pleasure ride in the rain. I've done a few deliberate wet rides but they were training.

We had a pretty damp day in Snowdonia on Sunday, but only really half an hour of proper rain after we left Bala.

Wales is frickin' awesome. 4 hours slog up the motorway not so fun to get there.

[NotoriousREV]

Went out because it wasn’t raining and it looked pretty dry. As soon as I started the bike, it started pelting it down. Went for a ride anyway. Had a sit on an S1000R that I’m totally, definitely not going to buy. Arranged a test ride of an S1000R that I’m totally, definitely not going to buy on Thursday.

I’m wet through to my undies because I wore my Kevlar jeans instead of my textile pants.

[Barry]

I ride to work every day, often in the rain. Therefore I'm not about to go out on a fun run if it's already wet. And it wasn't me on Twitter either

I enjoy riding in the wet for the challenge but it soon becomes a chore.

Rev, my next test ride will be the Yamaha Tenere 700s, which I definitely won't buy either.

[NotoriousREV]

Rev, my next test ride will be the Yamaha Tenere 700s, which I definitely won't buy either.

[NotoriousREV]

Oh, and a challenge for you all. Can you make it beyond 2 minutes into this vid before this guys pauses, swallowing and breathing makes you want to kill people.

[Barry]

Rev, my next test ride will be the Yamaha Tenere 700s, which I definitely won't buy either.

Saw that. If I was going Honda I'd get the full fat one. Tenere is cheap and cheerful I'm hoping, and could take over commuting duties from the Fazer eventually..

[dinny_g]

This could go here or in the randomness thread...

For a change of motorbike pace...



- what a marvellously ludicrous thing, for the sheer hell of it...

[NotoriousREV]

but also sort of

[NotoriousREV]

Turned up for my booked test ride. No one can find the salesman and there’s 2 people ahead of me waiting to get sent out. What’s the point in booking something?!

Yet again, I’m failing at being able to buy something (or totally, definitely not buy something in this case)

[Barry]

Turned up for my booked test ride. No one can find the salesman and there’s 2 people ahead of me waiting to get sent out. What’s the point in booking something?!

Yet again, I’m failing at being able to buy something (or totally, definitely not buy something in this case)

My top case fell off the worktop last weekend, smashing the red reflector. I asked dealer to order me the parts to be told Yamaha don't sell parts on accessories. I mailed Yamaha to be told they do. Forwarded the reply to dealer requesting they order the new reflector piece. Got a barely English reply last night asking ME for the part numbers.. Sent them the pictures AGAIN saying you're the dealer, you are the one that is supposed to have the part numbers.

Just. Argh.

They morons, one and all.

[JLv3.0]

Turned up for my booked test ride. No one can find the salesman and there’s 2 people ahead of me waiting to get sent out. What’s the point in booking something?!

Yet again, I’m failing at being able to buy something (or totally, definitely not buy something in this case)

The struggle is very, very real for you in bike world, isn't it - frankly I admire your tenacity. I'd have given up way back

[240PP]

Turned up for my booked test ride. No one can find the salesman and there’s 2 people ahead of me waiting to get sent out. What’s the point in booking something?!

Yet again, I’m failing at being able to buy something (or totally, definitely not buy something in this case)

Have you paid a deposit and have they taken it?

[NotoriousREV]

Ignoring the abuse

Anyway, I’m now sat at the Ponderosa Cafe (a few of Barry’s mates are here) so here’s my first impressions of the S1000R:

The engine is amazing. So flexible and spins up like it has zero inertia. Even by bike engine standards, this thing likes to pile on the revs. But, it’s very buzzy and feels like it needs a 7th gear and possibly an 8th. The power delivery is very different to my 1290GT, almost too easy? The speed piles on in a very similar way, but whereas the KTM feels like it’s using a hammer to smash you up the road, the BMW feels more like an electric motor. 1-0 to the KTM here.

The gearbox is lovely and light. The quickshifter is so smooth compared to the one on my KTM, and the down blipper (which the KTM doesn’t have) works very well. 1-1.

The riding position is much more like a sportsbike than the KTM, the bars are lower, footrests higher and further back. I was getting a bit of back ache very quickly and my wrists definitely take more weight. The BMW feels like a lot smaller, lighter bike than mine, but is also less roomy.
2-1 to the KTM.

The wind protection is obviously worse than the KTM, but not terrible. I’d like to try one with an aftermarket touring screen, but suspect it’s never going to match the KTM here. 3-1.

Handling-wise, it’s hard to describe the differences. The BMW feels very light, but the turn in feels like it needs a good initial shove on the bars to start the turn but then gets a bit too eager. The KTM reacts very consistently to bar pressure, whereas I don’t feel the BMW does. I think I’d get used to it, but I definitely prefer my bike here. 4-1 to the Superduke.

The ride is sublime, though. Feels perfectly damped. Much better than the semi-active setup on the KTM. 4-2.

So, I think I’ve scratched this particular itch. It’s a brilliant bike, but the KTM is brillianter.