German sausages and more...

I was rooting around the web and reading stuff on www.southwestrides.com (after reading about my ride online they let me join) when I saw that they meet on Wednesdays in Mesa AZ at a German restaurant called Zur Kate. The menu had Sauerbraten, spaetzle, REAL beer, and Bratwurst etc etc. I was pig sick that a meeting kept me from joining them so last night I rode out there to sample the fare. It was very quiet but the food was great and the beer more so. I learned that some Irish chap had visited on the Wednesday night and that he was riding all the way down to Tierra Del Fuego! I would like to have met him, especilly as I have 3 kids living in Ireland. The Manager is a BMW rider and recommended Victory BMW so I was looking forward to this mornings test of the R1200GS. (See test of R1200GS already posted - this is older by 1 day - doh!)
I'll be back in Phoenix mid October and I'll be sure to visit the South West Rides group at Zur Kate and I want to test that F800GS at Victory's Octoberfest. Now how will I find the motivation to renovate my little house in England's rain when I want to be riding in the sun full of German food? Photos are Haslemere UK sunset vs Phoenix AZ sunset. AZ sunsets usually win...

I test the BMW R1200GS

Well I do feel like a twit. I rode my R1 the 5 miles to the dealership and after a fair bit of time and some simple paperwork I climbed aboard QE2, pulled the lanyard to signal we were about to leave port and pottered off. Unfortunately I was only allowed a brief low-mileage ride because the test BMW had failed headlamps so I was on a used one that was for sale. Used for just 1080 miles. I rode through traffic, road works and on the "freeway" to our offices, had Mark Hammer snap some pics and rode back. Sans my backpack...and my Yamaha keys and phone. I had to have Kristen our temp telesales girl come out with the keys to rescue me! I met 2 cops who were BMW fans and they were stunned at my riding 15000 miles on the R1. They said they get stopped for speeding all the time! Fun lads. Impressions? Well this is BMW's biggest seller and EVERYONE and his dog is buying one thanks to Ewan and Boorman. Not this boy. I'll take the KTM 990 Adventure any day...with a thick fur and gel seat added of course. I did appreciate the friendliness of Victory BMW in Chandler AZ. I will be there in October to try the F800GS. The Good the Bad and the Ugly on the Beemer is below.
Good: Gearchange is very slick. I LOVED the gear indicator. Light clutch. Smooth underway (but only from 1000-6000 rpm) and comfortable. Turns well and handles ok. Brakes were superb but less feel than my R1. Centrestand is easy to use in spite of the bikes size and weight.
Bad: Incredible wind noise around my helmet at just 40mph from the angular, tall windscreen. 5 times as noisey as my R1 and NO WAY could I live with that for 99 days! High and Heavy...and I mean SCAREY heavy. See the small rise of the drive in the photo? 3/4". I couldn't pick the bike up off the side stand due to that extra height! I am long legged but even I was tippy-toe at the lights. I HAD to push it to level ground to get on it and to get it upright to ride away. How do they go on on some sandy hillside?
Ugly: The instrument cluster is ugly and chaotic. Looks like Rainer's plastic bedside alarm clock. (Sorry Rainer...time for a new one eh?) The switchgear is infamous for it's odd layout. I guess one gets used to it so no biggy but the supposed self-cancelling indicators never once self cancelled. I never did get used to the odd lift of the front end as one departs the scene in an unhurried fashion (after the R1 this boat is not wickedly quick - trust me). The motor was slightly harsh above 5000rpm and the sideways shaking at tickover was odd but I suppose it's all a part of "the BMW experience". Acceleration to switch lanes in traffic to survive mobile-phone using SUV drivers and grannies was feeble. But again, the R1 has spoiled me rotten and saved my neck many times. I am a BIG believer in fast, furious acceleration potential. Don't always use it but have it on tap.
Overall: Too big and lardy for my tastes. The KTM felt light and nimble by comparison and has a much nicer engine/gearbox/clutch/controls and instruments. The BMW's only great asset seemed to be comfort of the posterior and that can be fixed on almost any bike for 30 quid or so. ($60)
Want to Try Before I Buy: BMW F800GS, KTM 990 Duke, KTM RC8 and the Kawasaki KLR650. Stay posted folks!