10-17-2023, 02:14 AM
There is much to like on the new bike and the adaptive ride height would be very welcome for my shorter 29" leg. I thought the similar technology on the Harley Pan America was superb so I'm sure it will prove very popular. I currently ride the "Low Chassis" GS with shortened suspension travel. I find the high-speed damping horrendous on it (worse than my CB1100EX) and the longer suspension travel 1300 with the adaptive ride height might avoid that?
Loss of weight is always a good thing so that is to be applauded, an easy win with a 2.5kg lighter lithium-ion battery so I would call the weight loss more like 9.5kg which is still impressive. They say mass centralised, that might not necessarily be in a good way. Has the COG been centralised but made higher by the repositioning of the gearbox under the engine?
Although the electric screen adjustment seems unnecessary, I will say I welcome it. It is a feature that I used all the time on my Tiger 1200. Up for high speed and down out of the way for town work. Anything is better than rubbish screen adjustment on the current 2023 bike where you cannot adjust the screen at anything over 50mph. A ludicrous situation which should have been corrected a long time ago. Big sales make you complacent!
The most disappointing for me would be the prescriptive way BMW like to do their suspension damping, same as the old bike. "We know best". I would have hoped for more rider choice in that regard. BMW Engineers "optimum" isn't necessarily your optimum. I understand their stance however, I suspect the majority of GS riders will want the bike to make the decisions for them and will accept what is given.
Regardless they will retain their place no doubt and they will sell very well. Would I ever own one? Never say never.
Loss of weight is always a good thing so that is to be applauded, an easy win with a 2.5kg lighter lithium-ion battery so I would call the weight loss more like 9.5kg which is still impressive. They say mass centralised, that might not necessarily be in a good way. Has the COG been centralised but made higher by the repositioning of the gearbox under the engine?
Although the electric screen adjustment seems unnecessary, I will say I welcome it. It is a feature that I used all the time on my Tiger 1200. Up for high speed and down out of the way for town work. Anything is better than rubbish screen adjustment on the current 2023 bike where you cannot adjust the screen at anything over 50mph. A ludicrous situation which should have been corrected a long time ago. Big sales make you complacent!
The most disappointing for me would be the prescriptive way BMW like to do their suspension damping, same as the old bike. "We know best". I would have hoped for more rider choice in that regard. BMW Engineers "optimum" isn't necessarily your optimum. I understand their stance however, I suspect the majority of GS riders will want the bike to make the decisions for them and will accept what is given.
Regardless they will retain their place no doubt and they will sell very well. Would I ever own one? Never say never.