Test ride day

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Stonesie
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Test ride day

Post by Stonesie »

Today I went to the local BMW dealer to try out some possible replacements for the MT-10, it will be next year before the PCP is up and either needs a big payment/HP finance or hand it back so I was looking for inspiration and was also off work today and couldn't let such a nice day go to waste ;)

First up, the mothership, (GS) the salesman said that it would blow my mind and get me used to the boxer engine before riding the R1200rs
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It did blow my mind, it felt like it could U-turn on a manhole cover compared to the MT and was not slow at all, sounded lazy being a twin and a little vague on the front but that didn't stop it attacking some of my favorite twistys at indecent speed... And I had to raise the seat to the high position to avoid pain in my right hip, the MT pegs are really low, they must be.
It was good on fuel too and surprised me when I set it to Dynamic, the standard exhaust started popping and cracking with use of the shifter/blipper which works almost down to idle with only the 1-2 upshift being less than great.

Back to the dealer, coffee, chat on with the next one. R1200rs? No!

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What can I say about it other than it made me ride like a proper Jeremy Hunt, yes it vibrates but no numbness and £50 gets a set of heavy bar ends. It handles really well, perfect shifter/blipper and the brakes may be able to detach retinas and made me wonder what I could do the the MT to make those as good.
I think it is as fast as the MT. In Dynamic it pops and cracks, I found it comfortable and the seat holds you in place, the screen keeps the wind off with very little buffeting but it is not much better on fuel than the MT... Still on the maybe list though.

Back to the dealer, coffee, chat on with the next one. R1200rs

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This is what you get if you take the running gear from the ever popular GS and fit a sporty body, I think it looks great, the most comfortable of the trio and just as eager to turn as the XR, slightly slower than the MT but a good shove of the bars has it settled in to a turn, riding a bike like this confuses my mind with the lazy sound of the boxer at odds with the acceleration and blurred scenery. Mid range punch is what this thing likes, with all that torque and the sure footed feel it fires out of corners, also a favorite passtime of the MT, however, the RS is low and long, no wheelies or fear of them so it just gets on with driving hard. The MT will punish/reward kak handed throttle inputs with a wheelie. Good on fuel too.

A genuine contender to replace the MT when the time comes ;)
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Kwacky
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Re: Test ride day

Post by Kwacky »

I think the RS is the best looking of the 3
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Re: Test ride day

Post by Kwacky »

There's a new Superduke 1290GT coming out next year so there could be bargains to be had with the current model. I don't know if you've looked at KTMs?
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Re: Test ride day

Post by Stonesie »

No I haven't looked at KTM yet, I have another year before the PCP runs out on the MT-10 so I have time to decide what to get next. The R1200rs was seriously impressive for me and the best looking.

I know from reputation that the superduke 1290 is an animal even in 'sensible' GT form (raaar) Might have a look soon.


Even though the MT is on a PCP it has always had equity because of the trade-in and deposit I put in, it's the only way to do it so that I had a get out if SHTF and I had to shed monthly outgoings fast... doing that on a 15K bike is beyond me right now, I was looking at the used BMW's of around the same price tag as a new MT-10.
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Re: Test ride day

Post by Blade »

If it helps Stonsie.

SMC Sheffield have a KTM open day this Saturday with test rides available.
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Re: Test ride day

Post by Stonesie »

Thanks for the heads up, I will see if I can shuffle other things and make it over there.
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Re: Test ride day

Post by Blade »

Look forward to reading your thoughts (y)
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Re: Test ride day

Post by Stonesie »

I managed to get a slot on the 1290 adventure S and the 790 after that...
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Re: Test ride day

Post by D6Nutz »

Stonesie wrote:I managed to get a slot on the 1290 adventure S and the 790 after that...
I had a play today as well :D be interested to see how you found the 790.

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Re: Test ride day

Post by duke63 »

How was the SD, Jon?
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Re: Test ride day

Post by D6Nutz »

duke63 wrote:How was the SD, Jon?
Only had it for an hour, I'll do a mini write up later.
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Re: Test ride day

Post by Stonesie »

1290 Adventure S

Its very nimble and fast but also very stable, it was an escorted group ride so i didn't get to go that mad but it was very good on the roads we found including a very twisty nsl section.

The MT would have been better for that bit but other than a light tingle through the bars it was sooo comfy and the tft dash was amazing and clear, a few intuitive button pushes and it could display anything about the bike, I would need a proper ride to see if it was better than the GS... Its close, more sporty... Needs more noise.

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Last edited by Stonesie on 21 Apr 2018, 18:38, edited 1 time in total.
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Stonesie
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Re: Test ride day

Post by Stonesie »

The Scalpel 790

What a great little weapon this is, more basic than the 1290 adventure S and you expect that with it costing about half as much. The dash is still good and informative but not as easy to see in direct sun but thats about it for negatives.

The engine is smooth and grunty above 3 k then drives harder above 6, suspension it good so long as you avoid larger potholes like i failed to do once... And it had a shifter/blipper which worked brilliantly.

It put me in mind of my '13 Street Triple R, the thing is light, nimble, precise and a bit forgiving, changing line mid corner didn't upset it and the brakes are fantastic.

Can it replace the MT? No, i would miss the brute power but if i could have 2 or more then there would be a place in the garage for one of these.

I will add a picture when i get home and upload it.

It had the Akrapovic slip on which gave it a nice but quiet sound, need to remove that baffle.

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Re: Test ride day

Post by Rossgo »

Clearly lots to choose from and clesrly impressed with them all. Use the year wisely to decide!

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