Oh dear...

[Chojin]

So.

Back from a test ride and my impressions are as thus:

It is hands down the most comfortable seat of any bike i've ever ridden. Quite literally your arse melts into it, loverrrly stuff. The riding position is not as "sit up and beg" as I'd expected (or wanted) and as such I found myself leaning over the tank a little bit.
It felt a bit cramped leg wise on the ride which is odd as it is a beast of a bike! I was told afterwards though the the seat is adjustable and may have been on the lowest setting.

The power delivery is as smooth as butter, and so is that 3 cylinder engine. Again, lovely stuff, but it is let down (in my opinion) by the ride-by-wire throttle. Maybe it's something I'd just need to get used to, but it was very very sensitive to any input. So much so, that the cruise control was very difficult to use as even the slightest movement of the right hand (over a bump, say) and it would cancel your chosen speed.

The wind protection was second to none, even wearing my "airy" trail lid it was nice and quiet behind that towering screen. You could conceivably ride it all day and not grow weary.

Saying that, you can feel every KG of the 267KG that it weighs and it would soon put paid to any off-road aspirations i'd imagine. Yes, it's plenty fast enough (though not "quick"), it still takes a bit of man-handling to get it round the corners.
Is this to be expected of a 1200c adventure bike? Yes i'd say so. I guess i've been spolit with sports bike handling on the road, and mountain goat-like handling off road with my current 250cc trail bike.

I look forward to trying the 800cc Tiger which is a great deal lighter (albeit with less power) - I think the 800cc might be the way to go...

[PJ]

Ironically I test rode on of these yesterday. Took a demo bike out :



My thoughts (coming straight off an R6).

Riding position totally different, took me a few miles to actually get to grips with how different it is. I found the engine to be a corker, grunt in every gear regardless of the revs. Pulls like a train. I also found the power delivery a little bit abrupt at times, almost snatchy. Pulling away however it was light and smooth to get moving.

I found the seat to be nowhere near as comfy as I expected, I actually got a little bit of arse ache (I did about 70miles on it) so I was very surprised about that. t slow speed you could definitely feel the weight of it but once going I found it quite nimble and light.

The cruise control was a pain in the arse to activate and like you said Chojin, easy to knock off by accident.

Brakes were sharp but nothing to write home about. All in all I enjoyed it, a lovely bike to ride but I'd want to put my mark on it if I ever bought one.

[LewisBeGoog]

Great write ups guys!

[Alzo]

If you want Adventure bike ergos and Sportsbike performance BMW have launched their XR1000...apparently it's a real all in one...160bhp missile

[Chojin]

S1000XR

It's just so...

...damn...


fucking ugly.

[Carbon_ZX6R]

S1000XR

It's just so...

...damn...


fucking ugly.

Looks like the love child of a multistrada and a tiger

[Tiiimmmaaayyyy]

My 2p:
The ride by wire throttle is sensitive but you do get used to it. Some people put a damping grease inside the throttle tube to make it less so but I don't see the need personally.
I've not had a problem with the cruise control switching off over bumps. I would like to see the buttons closer to the grip as it is a bit of a reach.
Seat comfort is always going to be subjective. I don't find it too bad.
The front brakes are a weak point for me. First thing I did was to change the pads to try and get more stopping power. I am comparing them to the Brembos on my beemer though which is like hitting a wall when you squeeze the lever.
It is a big old barge and you do notice the weight until you get moving when it does disappear. I wouldn't want to pick the bugger up though.
It does go round corners well in my opinion but it's no sportsbike that's for sure. The weight and wheelbase makes it a mega stable road bike but you won't beat a supermoto in the twisties.

[LewisBeGoog]

This going to sound like the most middle aged question ever but what they like on fuel consumption?

[Tiiimmmaaayyyy]

I've just popped out to the garage to check. I've done 5300 miles and the average is 49mpg. That's a mix of touring in Europe and riding like a tit around town. Not bad for big old bus.

[Alzo]

S1000XR

It's just so...

...damn...


fucking ugly.

I've not seen one in the flesh...but apart from a Ducati Panigale there are no good looking bikes....so performance is the focus.

[Alzo]

S1000XR

It's just so...

...damn...


fucking ugly.

Looks like the love child of a multistrada and a tiger

Have you seen one in the flesh?

[MOzZereLLa]

Beauty (and alloy wheels on an off road motorcycle) are in the eye of the beholder...

[Carbon_ZX6R]

S1000XR

It's just so...

...damn...


fucking ugly.

Looks like the love child of a multistrada and a tiger

Have you seen one in the flesh?

I haven't no, does it look better or worse?

[Alzo]

S1000XR

It's just so...

...damn...


fucking ugly.

Looks like the love child of a multistrada and a tiger

Have you seen one in the flesh?

I haven't no, does it look better or worse?

I have the S1000r...for me photographs don't do it justice....looks much better when you see it in 3d and you get the whole picture...my point being don't judge from images.

[David W]

S1000XR

It's just so...

...damn...


fucking ugly.

Looks like the love child of a multistrada and a tiger

Hardly surprising seeing as it's competition are the Multi and Tiger....