On my driveway today

[seangee]

No - haven't given up on the GT, in for its first service. Was offered this or a Daytona. Would have been a different choice if I were going to London today.

It's very ermmm ... big

[Tmation]

How do you find the Trophy? I sat on one and like the BMW RT I find them all out of proportion, they just feel too big on the front end.


I found the Tiger Explorer and the BMW GS the same, excess width and full of empty plastic styling bits

[seangee]

Surprised myself by enjoying it. Not the bike for me but once I got used to the different riding position and past the mental block of the sheer size of it it was just like, well, riding a bike.


Have seen guys on these (and RTs) carving effortlessly through London rush hour but frankly I spend enough time in London traffic that I'd prefer it a bit smaller and lighter. Handles well (I even did some filtering) and is deceptively quick. Not in a grin on your face way - more like OMG how can I possibly have got to 120 (and that's with visor up and stereo blaring  :evil ). The 1215 triple is an absolute torque monster and getting the front wheel floaty is pretty easy in most gears - maybe that's why they overload the front  :rollin


If I was looking for an ultra comfy long distance mile muncher it's got to be close to the top of the list. Hell the rider and pillion even get their own controls for the HEATED SEATS. But I'm not, so no order placed and I'm back to the all rounder.

[sure2ride]

Those great big boxes on the rear sides, is that where they keep the drop down stabalizers....cos by the look of the weight of that, I'm sure would need them.  :lol

[MEM62]

I never thought I would own a full-on tourer but picked up a new R1200RT in January.  (Still have the '05 Fazer 1000)  It's a great bike and, once I had ridden it for while, the size/weight disappears.  In fact the Fazer now feels tiny!   

[taylor]

your only missing a caravan on the back lol, a new age traveller.

[Slaninar]

That thing looks like a big scooter - me no like it. But it still is better than a cage and if you're happy, I'm happy.

[seangee]

I'm happy but ermmm, that thing isn't mine. Just the loan bike they gave me while mine was in for a service  :b

[pitternator]

as with any bike ...you have to ride them before you can judge them.
Till you do its just your own prejudices you are talking about.

so much utter nonsense is written about bikes by people who have never experienced them

[Slaninar]

as with any bike ...you have to ride them before you can judge them.
Till you do its just your own prejudices you are talking about.

so much utter nonsense is written about bikes by people who have never experienced them

That is truth. However, if I push one 200 kg bike up my country house driveway, I know that 250+ kg bike is out of the question for me. There is also friends input  - someone with similar taste has tried - it's a guide for me. It sure is only safe to give it a try for several days to be certain.

[seangee]

as with any bike ...you have to ride them before you can judge them.
Till you do its just your own prejudices you are talking about.

so much utter nonsense is written about bikes by people who have never experienced them

Or as a mate says: Bikes are like beers, there aren't any bad ones. Some are just better than others and different people prefer different ones.
Triumph use their latest demonstrators as loan bikes. Obviously it works for them because I know more than one person who has changed bikes after they had a loaner. For me, it was an opportunity to ride a bike I wouldn't normally consider - so hats off to them for that policy.

[pitternator]

you have to make up your own mind with any bike. I agree with what the press writes generally about many machines, but a sports minded journo wont appreciate the finer points of a tourer and vice versa. And thats journos who at least do ride the bikes, though much of their presentation is biased. Then you get the great uninformed readers who take such notions and create rumour, and eventually everyone believes it.
I can always remember a fazer owner who when looking at my new triumph sprint a good few years back, espoused a critical view of my pillion footpegs, spouting out how it was made of too many types of metal. Exactly the words a certain bike mag had recently written. It was enough to condemn a machine.... :\ ....FFS! ....

the power of the press!  :rolleyes

[Slaninar]

you have to make up your own mind with any bike. I agree with what the press writes generally about many machines, but a sports minded journo wont appreciate the finer points of a tourer and vice versa. And thats journos who at least do ride the bikes, though much of their presentation is biased. Then you get the great uninformed readers who take such notions and create rumour, and eventually everyone believes it.
I can always remember a fazer owner who when looking at my new triumph sprint a good few years back, espoused a critical view of my pillion footpegs, spouting out how it was made of too many types of metal. Exactly the words a certain bike mag had recently written. It was enough to condemn a machine.... :\ ....FFS! ....

the power of the press!  :rolleyes

Agreed.

What do you think of MCNs reviews? Objective? They are not too detailed, but do they get it right for most bikes?

[ddtwelve]

I don't like the so called bike journalist if it hasn't got the latest gizmo or tyre on they seem to slate the bikes there testing had it recently in mcn about adventure bikes because one didn't have traction control and the latest active suspension it was slated and put to the bottom if the pike ,they dint realise normal people can't afford the extra thousands of pounds these new things cost never mind the power it's draining.g away from the alternator