05-09-2023, 12:15 PM
Nice ride report there GO, while not disagreeing I'll add a few comments if you don't mind.
It was just before I took mine back for the initial service at 1,000 miles that I noticed the engine was running a little nicer, easier if you will. Nothing dramatic but just a bit smoother. In addition at around 3,500 miles now it seems even smoother yet, probably because I've become more adapted to the bike and the rpm it feels best at, which is a little higher than I rode it initially. For instance at 100 kph on level I'm generally in 5th now where early on I was shifting up to 6th a little before that speed like I did on the V7 Stone. The V85 likes to rev.
The TFT could be a bit larger but what some might not realize when looking at it in your first image is that what appears to be "dead" space outside the rectangle display actually is part of it as well being where most of the function and warning lights are, so they're not cluttering the display itself.
For a stock seat I found it to be very good, so much so that I haven't changed it to an aftermarket one like I do on almost every motorcycle I have owned. The only thing is sometimes on longer rides I wished I could scoot back just a bit so what I did was to remove the bump at the rear of the riders seat and that lets me shift back almost another inch which made a big improvement. I'm not even considering changing the seat now.
I never noticed the high beam switch feeling chintzy but since you mentioned it I'll probably be thinking about that LOL! I will say the LED lights are wonderful at night.
While I've yet to take mine on a long trip I did ride it down to VA and NC for 4 days and found it to be a wonderful solo touring bike (I'm not sure if 2-up on a long trip though). The top load Adventure panniers hold a lot and my camping bag and tent lay nicely across the rear rack / seat / panniers. Cruise and heated grips were nice to have, wind and rain protection was good with the touring shield, and the bright lights were nice to have on the Blue Ridge Parkway after dark. If the interesting road turns to gravel the bike doesn't care a bit. And I didn't have to worry about range because it can easily go 250 miles (closer to 300 really) on a tank.
It's not for everyone some will want more power, some better off road, some more fairing and some will want less, but for me after living with it for a year now I like this bike more all the time.
It was just before I took mine back for the initial service at 1,000 miles that I noticed the engine was running a little nicer, easier if you will. Nothing dramatic but just a bit smoother. In addition at around 3,500 miles now it seems even smoother yet, probably because I've become more adapted to the bike and the rpm it feels best at, which is a little higher than I rode it initially. For instance at 100 kph on level I'm generally in 5th now where early on I was shifting up to 6th a little before that speed like I did on the V7 Stone. The V85 likes to rev.
The TFT could be a bit larger but what some might not realize when looking at it in your first image is that what appears to be "dead" space outside the rectangle display actually is part of it as well being where most of the function and warning lights are, so they're not cluttering the display itself.
For a stock seat I found it to be very good, so much so that I haven't changed it to an aftermarket one like I do on almost every motorcycle I have owned. The only thing is sometimes on longer rides I wished I could scoot back just a bit so what I did was to remove the bump at the rear of the riders seat and that lets me shift back almost another inch which made a big improvement. I'm not even considering changing the seat now.
I never noticed the high beam switch feeling chintzy but since you mentioned it I'll probably be thinking about that LOL! I will say the LED lights are wonderful at night.
While I've yet to take mine on a long trip I did ride it down to VA and NC for 4 days and found it to be a wonderful solo touring bike (I'm not sure if 2-up on a long trip though). The top load Adventure panniers hold a lot and my camping bag and tent lay nicely across the rear rack / seat / panniers. Cruise and heated grips were nice to have, wind and rain protection was good with the touring shield, and the bright lights were nice to have on the Blue Ridge Parkway after dark. If the interesting road turns to gravel the bike doesn't care a bit. And I didn't have to worry about range because it can easily go 250 miles (closer to 300 really) on a tank.
It's not for everyone some will want more power, some better off road, some more fairing and some will want less, but for me after living with it for a year now I like this bike more all the time.