I finally found a dry day and some time to bugger off and get the test ride on a 800GS in Wolverhampton I have had earmarked for 2 weeks, I did about 45-50 miles of M/way, Fast A road, country windy, and too much town work. Cracking sunny day too :-D
First impression after the Vara, was that I had jumped on a 250 trailie, so light and nimble I could put in a backpack and carry it with me....
Engine picked up nicely and it seemed sure footed in the traffic lights GP. Seat was urk! Footrest/seat layout was as expected, cramped, and no good for me, but that can be engineered out
Trundled out to the M54 and the problems started, buffeting was bad, but fair enough, I am used to a barn door screen, but the seat got worse and the vibes at about 4500rpm when I got to m'way speed of around 75 was horrible, I could feel numb-bum syndrome creeping in after 6-7 miles. Came off the m'way and had a blast up to the A5, much more like it... pick-up is super and handling solid and non scarey, not as planted as 250kg of Vara, but there you go...
The seat got to be more of a PITA as I went on, but I dealt with the footpeg issue. Back roads it was pure trailie, an absolute hoot!
Back into Wolvo and I delivered it back to Benhams.
Very confused now.... I really loved the concept and idea of the bike (as was promised by SteveT and Stanbloke), but the loss of true touring ability without spending £5-600 minimum to make the bike vaguely suitable annoys me.... I wanted a modern TA or AT, but.....
I've have looked at a BMW Rallye seat that is the enduro seat that raises the seat height by 50-60mm but has "comfort issues" as it appears to be very narrow and hard too. BMW also sell their "comfort" seat at around 300 quid, but why should I have to buy a seat that enable the bike to be ridden comfortably? I have used an Airhawk for years, but the Beemer standard seat is too narrow for it!
The 800GSA answers some of the questions with a better seat and layout, but is as wide as a bus!
Decisions, decisions!! Probably go and ride a GSA 800 in the next week.
First impression after the Vara, was that I had jumped on a 250 trailie, so light and nimble I could put in a backpack and carry it with me....
Engine picked up nicely and it seemed sure footed in the traffic lights GP. Seat was urk! Footrest/seat layout was as expected, cramped, and no good for me, but that can be engineered out
Trundled out to the M54 and the problems started, buffeting was bad, but fair enough, I am used to a barn door screen, but the seat got worse and the vibes at about 4500rpm when I got to m'way speed of around 75 was horrible, I could feel numb-bum syndrome creeping in after 6-7 miles. Came off the m'way and had a blast up to the A5, much more like it... pick-up is super and handling solid and non scarey, not as planted as 250kg of Vara, but there you go...
The seat got to be more of a PITA as I went on, but I dealt with the footpeg issue. Back roads it was pure trailie, an absolute hoot!
Back into Wolvo and I delivered it back to Benhams.
Very confused now.... I really loved the concept and idea of the bike (as was promised by SteveT and Stanbloke), but the loss of true touring ability without spending £5-600 minimum to make the bike vaguely suitable annoys me.... I wanted a modern TA or AT, but.....
I've have looked at a BMW Rallye seat that is the enduro seat that raises the seat height by 50-60mm but has "comfort issues" as it appears to be very narrow and hard too. BMW also sell their "comfort" seat at around 300 quid, but why should I have to buy a seat that enable the bike to be ridden comfortably? I have used an Airhawk for years, but the Beemer standard seat is too narrow for it!
The 800GSA answers some of the questions with a better seat and layout, but is as wide as a bus!
Decisions, decisions!! Probably go and ride a GSA 800 in the next week.