MotorcopBBQ
New Member
Ok, first let me fill you all in. A good friend of mine who last year purchased a Kawasaki Versys (08) decided it was time to set up to a new bike. Well, last night he called me and asked my opinion about the F800 GS. I gave him my two cents and told him to look at the S10. He said, I have a jap bike know which is chincy. I told him the story behind the S10 that it is a GS1200 killer. He said, "Not interested. Anyway a dealer about 1hour ride away had one to demo. So Like a good friend I tell him I’ll be over at his house this morning at 0800am and then ride to the dealership.
First we get there and we’re the first customers in the dealership at 0900. I see a familiar face, a sale rep that allowed me to test ride the R1200RT, last year. A bike, I am still on the fence about. We’ll my friend talks with a sales man as I sign the papers to allow me to test ride the R1200RT for a second; Third, Fourth, and Fifth time.
While my friend gets the “come on in seat down. How can I help you” from the dealership they take him into the service area where a barely used R1200RT is parked (2006-10,000 with everything on it).
This is my friend who last year wanted to get into adventure touring. A guy who wanted to go to off road school and learn how to ride a motor off road. And guess what he does. HE BUYS THE BIKE! I’m like ah dude what about riding off road and all that other stuff. He said, I wanted this bike since last year, and it’s in my price range and I didn’t really plan on riding off road.
We’ll anyway we took the bikes for a spin. The R1200RT is the same the pedigree of a touring motorcycle. Heated Seat (comfy), Heat Grips, MP# player, Cruise control. Everything toy know to man. I could go on about this bike but I was also allowed a demo on the F800GS. It was a 2010 anniversary addition with a crash bar and factory panniers. As first I liked the way the bike sounded at idle but once you started off. It got louder and louder at higher RPM. Not 7000-8000. Even at 2500-4000 RPM it was loud. The wind protection was manageable at speeds under 50mph. But once I hit the hwy at 70mph. I was blowing all over the place within the lane. Both head and cross winds had my knuckles tight around the grips. The ride wasn’t very comfortable, with the rally style seat. With the large front tire I really felt the pavement and its blemishes especially at slower speeds 10-25mph. I couldn’t imagine what I would feel like once I took it off road (not done in this demo). The gear changes were also not as smooth as the RT. Once I got back to the dealership my buddy was at the front door. “Well?” Dude I think you should ride this thing before you buy the RT. “Too late. Already started the paperwork.” AGGGH.
So leaving the dealership he was a happy little clam while I was just fuming under my helmet. Thinking July 22 cannot come quick enough for me to demo the S10 and make the final decision.
First we get there and we’re the first customers in the dealership at 0900. I see a familiar face, a sale rep that allowed me to test ride the R1200RT, last year. A bike, I am still on the fence about. We’ll my friend talks with a sales man as I sign the papers to allow me to test ride the R1200RT for a second; Third, Fourth, and Fifth time.
While my friend gets the “come on in seat down. How can I help you” from the dealership they take him into the service area where a barely used R1200RT is parked (2006-10,000 with everything on it).
This is my friend who last year wanted to get into adventure touring. A guy who wanted to go to off road school and learn how to ride a motor off road. And guess what he does. HE BUYS THE BIKE! I’m like ah dude what about riding off road and all that other stuff. He said, I wanted this bike since last year, and it’s in my price range and I didn’t really plan on riding off road.
We’ll anyway we took the bikes for a spin. The R1200RT is the same the pedigree of a touring motorcycle. Heated Seat (comfy), Heat Grips, MP# player, Cruise control. Everything toy know to man. I could go on about this bike but I was also allowed a demo on the F800GS. It was a 2010 anniversary addition with a crash bar and factory panniers. As first I liked the way the bike sounded at idle but once you started off. It got louder and louder at higher RPM. Not 7000-8000. Even at 2500-4000 RPM it was loud. The wind protection was manageable at speeds under 50mph. But once I hit the hwy at 70mph. I was blowing all over the place within the lane. Both head and cross winds had my knuckles tight around the grips. The ride wasn’t very comfortable, with the rally style seat. With the large front tire I really felt the pavement and its blemishes especially at slower speeds 10-25mph. I couldn’t imagine what I would feel like once I took it off road (not done in this demo). The gear changes were also not as smooth as the RT. Once I got back to the dealership my buddy was at the front door. “Well?” Dude I think you should ride this thing before you buy the RT. “Too late. Already started the paperwork.” AGGGH.
So leaving the dealership he was a happy little clam while I was just fuming under my helmet. Thinking July 22 cannot come quick enough for me to demo the S10 and make the final decision.
