Well it had to be done, didn't it?
The very nice chaps at Bulldog Triumph in Winnersh lent me their demo for an hour or so and said, 'go and have a play'
My first impression, is that you tend to sit in it rather than on it, and although the seat was on its highest setting, i would have prefered it a bit taller. Apparently there is a higher seat, but that would be more dosh.
The dash looks overly complicated, but when you get used to it, its not too bad, but i am not a massive fan of digital speedos.
As i fired the engine up, i have to say i was a tad dissapointed in the engine note. It reminded me of the early K75 Beemers, with more of a whine than a nice triple roar which i had expected. The throttle is fly by wire and uber sensative compared to the GS, so it took a few minutes to re calibrate my right hand ( ooer missus)
The first thing you notice, is how much the bike wants to pull. It really is pretty seemless with a very positive gear box. The steering is much the same as the GS and pretty neutral, and dips into bends and corners very nicely holding the road.
Snicking through the gear box, it pulls from well down the rev range, all the way to top gear. I finally got to a nice open stratch of road and opened her up.......now this is where the difference really shows. It drives very much like the S10 or the Multistada.....ie, like a scalded cat and carries on going and going and going.
But all of this speed and pulling power has a weak point......the screen! Its adjusts in the same way as the GS, and although tall enough for my 6' frame, it is not wide enough and you can really feel the blast of your arms. Fine on a summers day, but not, i suspect on a motorway journey in mid winter.
Now the seat......BMW could REALLY learn a thing from Triumph here. Its excellent. Subjective i know, but much better than the one on my Triple Black.
Now some other bits and pieces. There was the optional fogs fitted to me test machine. Look cool and probabally work well enough in the dark, but the (additional) switch, does not illuminate so you dont know if they are on or off. And if they were on when you switch the bike off ( say at a petrol station) you have to turn them back on again. The rear saddle hides a small amount of storage space, but unlike the GS, has no plate to cover it, so you HAVE to have the rear seat on all of the time. Under the front seat are all the fused and electrical gubbins which are nice and easy to get to if you so require. The twin headlamps look awesome ( in the daylight at least), and i would like to thinkk that they perform just as well at night. The power socket is in a much better place budst behind the ignition barrel as opposed to under your arse( what were BMW thinking?)
My conclusions......It was a great fun ride, but for me, strange as it sounds, too fast and the throttle way to sensative ( and far to sensative for off roading should it ever see any gravel!). I felt that i could have got it to the 130mph mark with no effort, but if i wanted that i would have a k1300 or similar. The GS uses it power in a much nicer way, and whilst you may have to plan that overtake a bit more carefully, is that such a bad thing. I like my ESA, my intergated fog light switch, & intergrated heated grip switch ( yet another switch on the Explorer). The GS has a bit more rider involvement, a bit more character, and so, for now, i will remain faithful to the cause, but is suspect that there will be a big following for the new kid on the block. It IS a great bike, just not for me.
Hope this helps
Richie
The very nice chaps at Bulldog Triumph in Winnersh lent me their demo for an hour or so and said, 'go and have a play'
My first impression, is that you tend to sit in it rather than on it, and although the seat was on its highest setting, i would have prefered it a bit taller. Apparently there is a higher seat, but that would be more dosh.
The dash looks overly complicated, but when you get used to it, its not too bad, but i am not a massive fan of digital speedos.
As i fired the engine up, i have to say i was a tad dissapointed in the engine note. It reminded me of the early K75 Beemers, with more of a whine than a nice triple roar which i had expected. The throttle is fly by wire and uber sensative compared to the GS, so it took a few minutes to re calibrate my right hand ( ooer missus)
The first thing you notice, is how much the bike wants to pull. It really is pretty seemless with a very positive gear box. The steering is much the same as the GS and pretty neutral, and dips into bends and corners very nicely holding the road.
Snicking through the gear box, it pulls from well down the rev range, all the way to top gear. I finally got to a nice open stratch of road and opened her up.......now this is where the difference really shows. It drives very much like the S10 or the Multistada.....ie, like a scalded cat and carries on going and going and going.
But all of this speed and pulling power has a weak point......the screen! Its adjusts in the same way as the GS, and although tall enough for my 6' frame, it is not wide enough and you can really feel the blast of your arms. Fine on a summers day, but not, i suspect on a motorway journey in mid winter.
Now the seat......BMW could REALLY learn a thing from Triumph here. Its excellent. Subjective i know, but much better than the one on my Triple Black.
Now some other bits and pieces. There was the optional fogs fitted to me test machine. Look cool and probabally work well enough in the dark, but the (additional) switch, does not illuminate so you dont know if they are on or off. And if they were on when you switch the bike off ( say at a petrol station) you have to turn them back on again. The rear saddle hides a small amount of storage space, but unlike the GS, has no plate to cover it, so you HAVE to have the rear seat on all of the time. Under the front seat are all the fused and electrical gubbins which are nice and easy to get to if you so require. The twin headlamps look awesome ( in the daylight at least), and i would like to thinkk that they perform just as well at night. The power socket is in a much better place budst behind the ignition barrel as opposed to under your arse( what were BMW thinking?)
My conclusions......It was a great fun ride, but for me, strange as it sounds, too fast and the throttle way to sensative ( and far to sensative for off roading should it ever see any gravel!). I felt that i could have got it to the 130mph mark with no effort, but if i wanted that i would have a k1300 or similar. The GS uses it power in a much nicer way, and whilst you may have to plan that overtake a bit more carefully, is that such a bad thing. I like my ESA, my intergated fog light switch, & intergrated heated grip switch ( yet another switch on the Explorer). The GS has a bit more rider involvement, a bit more character, and so, for now, i will remain faithful to the cause, but is suspect that there will be a big following for the new kid on the block. It IS a great bike, just not for me.
Hope this helps
Richie