My other bike is Green.......

Bikerhoss · Post by **Bikerhoss** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:21 am

Sorry, I have defected to the 'other' side

Having saved pennies and got rid of the old Freelander and dying campervan, my lovely wife organised this for me from the local Kwak dealer in Aberdeen. Cracking deal as it was the last green 2013 model they had in stock, Akrapovic pipes, tinted screen, heated grips, heel plates, tank/knee pads and extended warranty all included

1400 miles in just back and forth to work and loving it

Has taken a little getting used to the higher revs of a four cyclinder again and do miss the ease of the shaft drive, but I'm finding it just as comfy as the R was, slightly better mirrors and just as planted handling, if a little flighty at the front if you give it a big handful, especially over 6ooorpm

Def a recommendation for those who still want a bit of poke, but ageing joints won't allow the latest litre class sports monster

Takes the same tailpack and throwovers I used on the BM no problem too. Might ditch the grab handles as they look a bit superfluous and I'll stick on some Goodridge or Hel stainless race lines come the first time I need to replace pads etc. Not that the brakes are at all bad, i just don't like rubber hoses

I await the cries of 'Traitor'!!

eyore · Post by **eyore** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:28 am

They seem to be the only option for a sports tourer these days given that the excellent Triumph ST 1050 is no longer made and the GT 1050 is just a lardy ST which has really been around since 2005.
I like them and your looks the biz. Congratulations on the new machine.

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:31 am

Nice one!

A modern-day VFR?

They get good write-ups for sport-touring.

Al

Boxered · Post by **Boxered** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:36 am

I have been a fan of these since they were 1st announced, looks to be a cracking bike. looking forward to the rumoured new BMW R1200ST too!

Steve

ianbcr · Post by **ianbcr** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:01 pm

'Traitor...........only joking

,cracking looking bike, and like they say its your choice what you ride so enjoy.

Herb · Post by **Herb** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:05 pm

Looks tidy. Probably one of the few bikes I would consider at the moment having pawed one at the NEC.

cornishflat · Post by **cornishflat** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:18 pm

Great looking bike, the riding position looks to have that sit in rather than on top of which I prefer. As you say if it had a shaft drive that would finish it off. In the right colour for a Kwak too.

nab 301 · Post by **nab 301** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:23 pm

Lovely looking bike in a great colour. I'll have to do some tyre kicking shortly in the local dealers! How do the day to day running costs compare to the R1100S?

Bikerhoss · Post by **Bikerhoss** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:01 am

Thanks for all the positive comments folks

Def like the proper K green over the black version, I test rode the black and it just looked dull, But I do prefer the black tank though, The 2014 has green 'all the way up' and it's too much for me.

nab 301 wrote:Lovely looking bike in a great colour. I'll have to do some tyre kicking shortly in the local dealers! How do the day to day running costs compare to the R1100S?

So far I'm getting the same mpg as I did on the R Nigel and the 1st service only cost £50, but I suspect that was 'mates rates'. Tyres will be roughly £20 more a pair due to the difference in size and there will be the extra £140ish for chain/sprockets every now and then too.
Other than buying the thing obviously, I've only spent £25 more on smoked indicator lenses and £3 on black screen screws (the silver looked silly on the dark screen).
I used to service the R myself, so the biggest difference in costs for me will be having to dealer service to keep up the warranty, but service items are pretty comparable with the R. You'd be crazy not to test ride it if you're looking for an R replacement

Does feel like a sit in, rather than sat on. The manually adjustable screen sits at its lowest position for me (6'1" tall) but does keep the rain off pretty well when you flip it up to max and duck a bit

As most have said, I couldn't see anything else on the market that fitted what I wanted AND was less than bloody £14000

Kwak are running out of them due to demand apparently!! Can totally understand why

Oh and PS - I signed up to a Z1000SX forum for hints/tips etc and it is NOWHERE near as good as Boxertrix, so I'll not be leaving here anytime soon

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:45 am

I think you've made a good choice of bike, there.............

Sporty, and for touring - without the bulk of the big Suzuki/Honda S/Ts.

As to forums - Most other "bike-specific" forums are full of people who can't see past their own make..............

You need to stay here.......

Al

big rob · Post by **big rob** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 11:47 am

Lovely looking bike there Bikerhoss, I defected to the 'other side' about a year ago with its' cousin the Versys 1000 and have had no regrets (still got the 11S tucked-up in the garage though)
We shouldn't forget to mention your wife, what a lovely and special thing to do for ones partner.

Enjoy

Rob & Gail

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 12:23 pm

big rob wrote:Lovely looking bike there Bikerhoss, I defected to the 'other side' about a year ago with its' cousin the Versys 1000 and have had no regrets (still got the 11S tucked-up in the garage though)
We shouldn't forget to mention your wife, what a lovely and special thing to do for ones partner.
Enjoy
Rob & Gail

Subtle, Rob..............

Bikerhoss · Post by **Bikerhoss** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:16 pm

big rob wrote:Lovely looking bike there Bikerhoss, I defected to the 'other side' about a year ago with its' cousin the Versys 1000 and have had no regrets (still got the 11S tucked-up in the garage though)
We shouldn't forget to mention your wife, what a lovely and special thing to do for ones partner.

Enjoy
Rob & Gail

Chuckle

think she just got fed up of me moaning since I sold the R

Tried the Versys, the Tiger (800 & 1200), BMW 800s and even a MotoGuzzi! Sold on the Z within 15 mins

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Sun Mar 23, 2014 2:37 am

Yep. Nice choice. I was looking at one of these just last week. I can see one in my future. Just going to mess about on this Harley for a while first.