OT Expect an improvement in my spelling

[on2wheels52]

I am no longer using a keyboard of this design.



Sorry, wrong photo.
Jim

[on2wheels52]

Please go to 'Round 2" for the correct photo
Jim

[feds27]

If you want to reduce confusion, you can edit this posting with the correct photo. I've done that in the past to a couple of my postings.

[RBMann]

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

I am no longer using a keyboard of this design.



Sorry, wrong photo.
Jim

Yes, but where was this photo taken?

RB

[on2wheels52]

It was just over the Italian side of the Staller Sattel pass. It was taken on a short section that alternates one-way traffic for a few km. As it happened the pass wasn't open but a motorcycle was able to get through the snowbank where the gate was. I assume people had 'walked' the snow down to the asphalt. My tires never were in snow (the bags made some contact though). I had figured there was more snow past the gate but a rider on the other side managed to convey that he had made it through from Italy. I don't know if he was the first one through or not. While I was there three more bikes came up to the gate. Like me, they were going to turn around (not like it would have ruined my day to have backtracked) and I managed to communicate about the other rider and that I was going through and at least see how far I could get.
As it turned out that was the worst of the snow and we all rode to Italy. At the next town there was a gate with the 'gesperrt' sign but it was easily ridden around.

[Skoeter]

How is the 650 coping Jim? Especially with side panniers?

Cheers

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by Skoeter

How is the 650 coping Jim? Especially with side panniers?
Cheers

Going in I was signed up to rent an F650GS. I was expecting the 'standard' model, very similar to my '01 Dakar. Karl walks me out to a new model F650GS (actually 800cc, a bit confusing but it may make more sense when the F800GS model becomes available). I would have been happy with the the expected older model so I was pleasantly surprised at the bike that was handed over. A much better road bike than the old model, but of course nowhere up to the level of an R1100S. Very smooth Rotax twin compared to my single. Larger and improved cases. I would have gone a bit further off road with one like mine, lower gearing would help. When the 800GS get available I'll be a likely buyer. I've been thinking of switching to a 1200GS but think the 800 will be a better fit for me, I'm something of a fan of middleweight bikes.
Jim

[Skoeter]

It sat on a new F800GS and the saddle seemed very narrow and hard. It didn't look very comfortable for long distance riding. How does the new 650's compare to the previous 650?

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by Skoeter

It sat on a new F800GS and the saddle seemed very narrow and hard. It didn't look very comfortable for long distance riding. How does the new 650's compare to the previous 650?

I hadn't even thought about it until now. Given that I spent more hours on a bike in those eleven days than I had in over 30 years (a friend and I rode out west for two months in the mid-70's). The most I've ridden recently is the long weekend of the Potosi rally, maybe 800 miles of fairly curvy roads. Granted in the Alps I was stopping at least every half hour and snap a few pictures, I'm sure I had at least one eight hour day on the bike. Surely several of six. I mentioned earlier an hour meter would have been a better indicator than an odometer. My butt was never sore, no tingling hands or feet (and I stored the rubber inserts from the pegs as I did on my Dakar). I couple of days I got 'road weary' around 4 in the afternoon and took a bit longer than usual break.
It saddens me a bit to say I'm getting too 'old' for my R1100S. It is a prep with the low bars. In the last ten years or so I have allowed myself to have a bike for weekend use, one that is never ridden to work. The S has been the third with that job description. I ride it at least once /month and my son likes to ride it occasionally. It's almost like a new bike every time I ride it. But it is not as comfortable (for me) as the new F650GS.
Jim