Been Very Naughty, It Was The Free Coffee Honest

[leehenty]

Went to Peterborough BMW to scrub in the new tyres and drink their free coffee and look at bikes.

Whilst there, I somehow got talked into a test ride of a S1000XR as I was impressed with the fancy curved radiator.



The salesman said TDM's were well out of date, Sir needed something more modern to be "on trend" and at the pinnacle of motorcycle development.



Ok I thought let's see what it's all about.

I was going to give the F900 a go, but it was booked out, so the nice gentleman suggested the big one



Handed over credit card for the security deposit and had it for up to an hour. It looked very well put together, felt slightly heavy to me, but it had the low seat option fitted.

166hp , it definitely goes very well, but I found it hard to get my head round all the menu's, modes and settings.



We spent 10 mins going through it all. He advised against sport mode in damp conditions.

I am not a fan of digital dash but it was bright and clear. Rain mode was set as it was slightly damp. On a dry bit of road I switched to standard mode and it picked up very fast, scarily fast. God knows what sport mode is like, I wasn't brave enough to go there.

Brakes are very good and it felt very planted. Hasty switch back to rain mode to tame the beast to get it back to the dealer in one piece.



Sensible head on, it's definitely far too much bike for me and with all the fancy options eSA etc the costs approached £17k.

They always say "only" before the large painful number.



Riding home on my Niner got me thinking how good it is for it's design age and how easy and forgiving it is to ride.

I'm obviously "off trend" but I think I'll stay a Luddite with old tried and tested.



Lesson learned, no more free dealer coffee.

[Snowbird]

 

The salesman said TDM's were well out of date, Sir needed something more modern to be "on trend" and at the pinnacle of motorcycle development.

Should of punched him at that point.....

If I had all the fancy modes on a bike I doubt I'd ever use any of them, I like to get on a bike and just ride it, if it's wet use less throttle, is that rocket science?

I'm sure they are a fantastic bit of kit but I think I'll stick to me old plodder of a 4tx, also I'm far too tight for that sort of cash!

[Catteeclan]

Must admit to fancying a go at that bike myself, it's just far too much money.



Especially when you're still enjoying a TDM.

[leehenty]

It's ride by wire so a lot of it is dealer only service I expect. There is a very tiny delay from moving throttle to it actually doing it.

I had no intention of test riding a bike today, so they must drug the coffee.

[Rallyist]

Went to Peterborough BMW to scrub in the new tyres and drink their free coffee and look at bikes.

Whilst there, I somehow got talked into a test ride of a S1000XR as I was impressed with the fancy curved radiator.



The salesman said TDM's were well out of date, Sir needed something more modern to be "on trend" and at the pinnacle of motorcycle development.



Ok I thought let's see what it's all about.

I was going to give the F900 a go, but it was booked out, so the nice gentleman suggested the big one



Handed over credit card for the security deposit and had it for up to an hour. It looked very well put together, felt slightly heavy to me, but it had the low seat option fitted.

166hp , it definitely goes very well, but I found it hard to get my head round all the menu's, modes and settings.



We spent 10 mins going through it all. He advised against sport mode in damp conditions.

I am not a fan of digital dash but it was bright and clear. Rain mode was set as it was slightly damp. On a dry bit of road I switched to standard mode and it picked up very fast, scarily fast. God knows what sport mode is like, I wasn't brave enough to go there.

Brakes are very good and it felt very planted. Hasty switch back to rain mode to tame the beast to get it back to the dealer in one piece.



Sensible head on, it's definitely far too much bike for me and with all the fancy options eSA etc the costs approached £17k.

They always say "only" before the large painful number.



Riding home on my Niner got me thinking how good it is for it's design age and how easy and forgiving it is to ride.

I'm obviously "off trend" but I think I'll stay a Luddite with old tried and tested.



Lesson learned, no more free dealer coffee.

Grandson has an XR I had a ride on it but miss the torque of the TDM he has also ridden the naked BMW F900 twin and loved it reckons it could qualify as a pimped up 900 TDM

[leehenty]

Must admit to fancying a go at that bike myself, it's just far too much money.

Just go do it, you will come away slightly dazed needing clean skiddys.

[Studley Ramrod]

Nice bike, Sidey's got one and it was like a missile.  Prolly encourages one to open it up having all that power.  Latest Gs's aren't far behind in the bhp department and offer a better touring bike imho.

[ChrisG]

Clearly they don't know TDM riders well enough, if they'd thrown in a slice of cake with the coffee they'd probably have had a sale 

 

Is that screen standard on them now?  I somehow looks a lot more angular than the older ones, now sure if they've restyled them or it's just the screen making it look different.

[Snowbird]

I gotta say the front of that thing looks ghastly to me.

[Studley Ramrod]

Clearly they don't know TDM riders well enough, if they'd thrown in a slice of cake with the coffee they'd probably have had a sale 

 

Is that screen standard on them now?  I somehow looks a lot more angular than the older ones, now sure if they've restyled them or it's just the screen making it look different.

The pincers have grown a bit longer and the screen is in the extended position by the looks of it. Also looks like the red one has a full fairing.  Here's Sideys bike next to a familiar mk1.

 

[attachment=o14297]

[ramotdm]

Seat looks comfy - not    

[Matlock]

They are rocket ships aren't they Lee? I had a go on the previous model when I had a local BM dealer, it's a real licence loser! 160hp if I remember correctly. I know I couldn't keep up with Sidey on his on a trip to Scotland a few years back when I was on the Crosstourer :blink: . 

The salesman's line about the TDMs being well out of date is true, if technology is your thing. But motorbikes aren't like televisions, not many people have a gigantic CRT TV taking over a corner of their lounge because they like the classic looks, picture quality and lack of gizmos, but on motorbikes, it's a valid choice to have the simpler alternative. 

I'm thinking of trading the Crosstourer in for either a BMW900XR, a Tracer9, or the Triumph Tiger 900 sometime in the next year, all are techy alternatives to the TDM in my opinion.

[Studley Ramrod]

Yeah, he left me for dust when I was on my mk1, but my rear tyre lasts a lot longer than his.

 

How about the Guzzi V85TT Chris ?  bit loike a TDM with shaft drive.  Not sure what Euro compliant level it is though and it seems more cities are introducing limits on non compliant vehicles.

[Matlock]

Yeah, he left me for dust when I was on my mk1, but my rear tyre lasts a lot longer than his.

 

How about the Guzzi V85TT Chris ?  bit loike a TDM with shaft drive.  Not sure what Euro compliant level it is though and it seems more cities are introducing limits on non compliant vehicles.

Yes, the Crosstourer has a fondness for tyres too, bizarrely it wears out the front as fast as the rear  :unsure2:  That's down to the weight I think.

The Guzzi is a great looking bike  , but I was after a bit more power and I'm not fussed about shaft drive. I'm unlikely to be commuting much more, so I can choose something for fun & touring rather than having to be sensible. The Crosstourer is certainly fun, but she's a big girl and takes some pushing through the corners. After a day out on the twisties my upper body is aching all over  :rotflmmfao:  

This post was last modified: 28-06-2021, 09:02 PM by Matlock.

[ChrisG]

I've already had 3 speeding tickets so far this year, don't think I should be looking at fast bikes

[muir1848]

i had one of these out for test - very nice and unHarley like - no vibes and turns corners

 

[leehenty]

It's a slippery slope to Harley.

[ChrisG]

I think those they look ok, what's the build quality and finish like?  On some Harleys they seem seem to expect owners to replace everything with shinier after market bits, but I would guess thats not the  demographic they're aiming the Pan America at. 

 

Surprised by the lack of vibes comment though, I took a Buell Ulysses for a test ride some years back and at tickover the indicators bounced up and down

[Studley Ramrod]

That Pan America is a good first effort from Harley imho.  Looks to be top heavy but it's lighter than the Honda Crosstourer.  Prolly not for the short arsed amongst us, ie moi.

[muir1848]

I think those they look ok, what's the build quality and finish like?  On some Harleys they seem seem to expect owners to replace everything with shinier after market bits, but I would guess thats not the  demographic they're aiming the Pan America at. 

 

Surprised by the lack of vibes comment though, I took a Buell Ulysses for a test ride some years back and at tickover the indicators bounced up and down

extremely smooth and 150BHP  - noticeable difference between road and sport mode - it can shift  - never tried any of the off-road modes - excellent suspension - and i took my Buell Ulysses down to pick it up for test drive so i can speak authoritatively on vibes or complete lack of - and for what it is a good price point - but they limit imports to keep demand high and second hand prices high - and from my inspection good build quality and finish

That Pan America is a good first effort from Harley imho.  Looks to be top heavy but it's lighter than the Honda Crosstourer.  Prolly not for the short arsed amongst us, ie moi.

the special has an automatic electronic lowering kit so short arses don't fall over