cb0802
New Member
I hit 2 months and 2000 miles today. I love the bike and wanted offer my thoughts so far.
Except for test riding a Stelvio and a GSA, I've only ridden Harleys. By comparison, this bike is the best I've ever ridden. It handles great, it runs smooth, it's great in traffic, and the TC has kept my ass scab free at least once due to hitting a patch of ice. Most of the positive things I've read about the bike, I can't really offer a comment. It's only been off road a few miles. I've only changed the oil once. And if the clutch switch mod made any change I couldn't really tell. Coming off an 8 year old Harley felt like I was on a rocket, so if you say I have 15 more HP, then I'll take your word on it. Every time I press the ignition I get excited, and I've never gotten off because I wanted to. I love riding this bike.
With that, I have to offer my complaints. I do not have a single complaint about the performance of this bike. Every complaint is entirely superficial, cosmetic and none of them are significant enough to make me doubt that this was the best purchase I've ever made. So, please allow me to vent, then tell me to ride more, worry less. So here goes:
From front to rear. I hate the space under the headlights. It looks to me like the engineers were so determined not to add a beak that the simply did nothing. A great big empty space full of nothing. I prefer it over the enormous, protruding, member sticking off the front of the new 1200GS, but only slightly.
Why in the hell does the left side of my bike look different than the right? There are 4 pieces to the engine cover. All four are different. The engineers were able to design this bike so that every friggin bolt can be changed with 3 allen wrenches, but didn't have enough foresight to make the engine covers match. Assuming the left side air intake is that size to assist the radiator, what the hell sense does it make to make the right side a different size? If I could magic one farkle on my bike it would be a matching right side. Tabasco says he can make anything we can think up. Well I'll pay top dollar for that one.
I don't care what Yamaha says. The OEM side cases are plastic. One day I'm going to take one apart just to see how the aluminum is attached, and if I find out it's just big aluminum sticker on the outside of a plastic case I'm going to be pissed. Aluminum case reinforced with plastic my ass.
Last thing. These aren't complaints, but I wish the side cases were a little bigger, and supported a little better. I also wish the lower engine covers were made of a more rubberized/rugged plastic.
With all that being said, I do love this bike. All complaints fade away the second I hop on and head down my street. Cosmetically, there is a lot of room for improvement, but in every other aspect she is a 10!
Except for test riding a Stelvio and a GSA, I've only ridden Harleys. By comparison, this bike is the best I've ever ridden. It handles great, it runs smooth, it's great in traffic, and the TC has kept my ass scab free at least once due to hitting a patch of ice. Most of the positive things I've read about the bike, I can't really offer a comment. It's only been off road a few miles. I've only changed the oil once. And if the clutch switch mod made any change I couldn't really tell. Coming off an 8 year old Harley felt like I was on a rocket, so if you say I have 15 more HP, then I'll take your word on it. Every time I press the ignition I get excited, and I've never gotten off because I wanted to. I love riding this bike.
With that, I have to offer my complaints. I do not have a single complaint about the performance of this bike. Every complaint is entirely superficial, cosmetic and none of them are significant enough to make me doubt that this was the best purchase I've ever made. So, please allow me to vent, then tell me to ride more, worry less. So here goes:
From front to rear. I hate the space under the headlights. It looks to me like the engineers were so determined not to add a beak that the simply did nothing. A great big empty space full of nothing. I prefer it over the enormous, protruding, member sticking off the front of the new 1200GS, but only slightly.
Why in the hell does the left side of my bike look different than the right? There are 4 pieces to the engine cover. All four are different. The engineers were able to design this bike so that every friggin bolt can be changed with 3 allen wrenches, but didn't have enough foresight to make the engine covers match. Assuming the left side air intake is that size to assist the radiator, what the hell sense does it make to make the right side a different size? If I could magic one farkle on my bike it would be a matching right side. Tabasco says he can make anything we can think up. Well I'll pay top dollar for that one.
I don't care what Yamaha says. The OEM side cases are plastic. One day I'm going to take one apart just to see how the aluminum is attached, and if I find out it's just big aluminum sticker on the outside of a plastic case I'm going to be pissed. Aluminum case reinforced with plastic my ass.
Last thing. These aren't complaints, but I wish the side cases were a little bigger, and supported a little better. I also wish the lower engine covers were made of a more rubberized/rugged plastic.
With all that being said, I do love this bike. All complaints fade away the second I hop on and head down my street. Cosmetically, there is a lot of room for improvement, but in every other aspect she is a 10!
