I didn't want to clutter up Jeff's Duc thread any further, so a new thread for a new scoot. For those playing along at home, the Shiver is a hoot but not great for 2-up and since there are no top box options it is lacking for touring (plus it is in the shop for going on 2 weeks now with the tech's scratching their heads but that's another topic). The Duc ST2, while certainly stirring my soul with the Remus pipes, just was too "sport" of a riding position. That sold on Friday on eBay.
So pondered another MTS, but starting hanging around the advrider.com site. A local shop had a raging deal on new KTM 990s, so I read up on them. But then of course the GS comes up. I always have been a "flat" engine fan and love the old air heads. But for whatever reason, never really considered a BMW.
For a bunch of reasons I nixed the KTM (having one bike with a lousy dealer network is enough), I finally rode a GS. Certainly not a Ducati, but damn composed ride. Took the g/f for a short test ride and she dug it. We'd actually planned to ride to Laguna Seca this weekend to watch some club racing (I raced there last year in August), but with the ST2 sold via eBay and the Aprilia in the shop, it looked like it wasn't going to happen. But I can be driven at times, so I called around sorted my options, then got a ride down to Irv Seaver on Friday to pick up my '08 GS. Rode to the g/f's house, packed her stuff, rode to my place, packed my stuff, and we headed north to stay with friends in Santa Barbara. Then Saturday loaded up and headed north again. I wasn't sure how far I wanted to go, as Sunday we'd have to make it back home in one day and it being a new-to-me bike, I wasn't sure how my butt would like it.
At any rate, Saturday we ended up at the track at Laguna Seca. Even got to see my old car there (the guy I sold it to was running - and actually broke his sterring linkage on the grid - damn lucky/unlucky). Then to the motel in Salinas. Sunday got up, headed to Monterey for some Peet's coffee, then down Hwy 1 through Big Sur. Then across 46 to 101, then into ridiculous traffic through Santa Barbara (riding the wake lane splitting behind 3 HD guys), then finally dropped the g/f off at her place at 8pm, then back home before 9pm.
All I can say is why the hell didn't I buy one of these before? Ridiculously great bike. "Composed" is the word that keeps coming to mind. No matter what I threw at it, the bike didn't flinch. 2-up? No problem. Long day? No problem (other than the saddle). Lane splitting? No problem. Some dirt trails up north? No problem. 10+ hours riding from 50's to 100+ temps? No problem.
Brilliant bike. Let the farkling begin.
rest stop about 40 miles north of Santa Barbara
co-pilot checking the oil level at Peets in Monterey
To answer Mike's question:
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I've always felt a certain "attraction" to the tall GS, but the off-road design element always put me off. Never understood why an off-road enthusiast would buy a 1200cc 600+ lb bike for that application. I've perceived a "compromise" for both street and dirt, which may be an unfair or simply uninformed perspective. Definately a cool bike and tremendously capable. I often see people touring on them 2-up. But the bike is very tall with huge (almost unnecessary) ground clearance....at least for the street. Anyway...enough rambling. Interested in your take regarding the GS for the street. Are you off-roading it at all?
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Since I'm 6'1", the tall bike doesn't bother me at all. I did just a bit of dirt during the trip and the bike feels surprisingly light (btw the bike is under 500# loaded). It certainly is not a 250 2-stroke dirt bike, but it feels like it is perfectly happy on fire roads and double track.
I can say on the street the riding position totally rocks (though the stock seat gets a bit painful on a 10 hour day). I have the seat on the higher position (you can get a low or std seat, and both of those can be adjusted - very slick system) after doing the regular position on the way up. The screen provides a fair amount of wind protection and the hand guards keep the breeze off your hands. Plus it has heated hand grips. You are sitting way up and have a very good view of traffic, and likewise are pretty visible to other drivers. The handling is plenty quick with all the leverage, but the bike is quite stable at speed. Totally composed 2-up. The BMW system case is a brilliant design, and my passenger actually dozed off a few times on the ride home.
In short, it is a bike I wouldn't hesitate to ride solo or 2-up anywhere. It's going to be the commute bike as well, as it has ABS and stability control along with tire pressure monitoring. Now I just need to add a few farkles like engine guards (those cylinder heads stick out a ways) and some extra lighting.
There certainly are some potential issues with the bike, but so far I am totally impressed and feel quick at home on it.