Test rides at Browns Motor Works (Pomona, CA)
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:22 pm
Last Sat (the 19th) Browns had an open house. As I needed new tyres anyway, dropped by & test rode an ST, R1200RT, R1200GS, & K1200S.
The ST was great, but kricked my neck. I would consider it if there were after market bars that would maybe raise the bars a bit, probably would never need them, but would hate to buy the bike & commit without the possibility. The ST was fast & lighter than the RR. Really like it.
Next I road the GS. Good gawd, those bars are high & wide. Thought I was on my Honda XR400. That GS is one big dirt bike. To me at least seemed much slower than the ST, was fun to ride in the 80mph zone. Does seem like it would be very comfortable on long trips. Since I have a dirt bike, I might want something less tall & wide for the street.
The RT was a trip. Handled great but the weight made it feel slower to me. I spent much of the ride screwing around with the power wind screen & the radio. In highest position the wind screen was so quiet that I would not need ear plugs. But it also wobbled & I was looking at / through the top edge of it, might not want to do that all day. The radio was just ok, might need more power & louder speakers.
Rode the K1200S just for fun. No way I would keep my license with that bike. Loved the almost turbine like whine. Took it up to 10,000 rpms just for the hell of it. Not sure if I would kill myself first or loose the license first.
No K1200R demo bike. Don't understand that.
All in all a fun morning. Food was great, bikes great, & another perfect day weather wise. The Airflow jacket was just right. Hard to believe that riding season has ended in some places. Got the new tires, Pilot Roads, seem great so far. BTW, what started as a gleam of steel belt on my old Z6 on the previous Sunday ride, was 6 steel belts showing about a foot long 100 miles later. Glad to get the Pilot Roads just so I can better monitor the tread wear.
The ST was great, but kricked my neck. I would consider it if there were after market bars that would maybe raise the bars a bit, probably would never need them, but would hate to buy the bike & commit without the possibility. The ST was fast & lighter than the RR. Really like it.
Next I road the GS. Good gawd, those bars are high & wide. Thought I was on my Honda XR400. That GS is one big dirt bike. To me at least seemed much slower than the ST, was fun to ride in the 80mph zone. Does seem like it would be very comfortable on long trips. Since I have a dirt bike, I might want something less tall & wide for the street.
The RT was a trip. Handled great but the weight made it feel slower to me. I spent much of the ride screwing around with the power wind screen & the radio. In highest position the wind screen was so quiet that I would not need ear plugs. But it also wobbled & I was looking at / through the top edge of it, might not want to do that all day. The radio was just ok, might need more power & louder speakers.
Rode the K1200S just for fun. No way I would keep my license with that bike. Loved the almost turbine like whine. Took it up to 10,000 rpms just for the hell of it. Not sure if I would kill myself first or loose the license first.
No K1200R demo bike. Don't understand that.
All in all a fun morning. Food was great, bikes great, & another perfect day weather wise. The Airflow jacket was just right. Hard to believe that riding season has ended in some places. Got the new tires, Pilot Roads, seem great so far. BTW, what started as a gleam of steel belt on my old Z6 on the previous Sunday ride, was 6 steel belts showing about a foot long 100 miles later. Glad to get the Pilot Roads just so I can better monitor the tread wear.