Compared the big 4....KTM 1190 Adventure, R1200GS, Tiger Explorer, and the Multistrada.
Couldnt get past the styling of the 1190.
Tiger felt way too slow handling and top heavy to me.
R1200gs was fantastic. Almost ordered on the spot, but decided to give the duc a ride too.
Pros: great ergos and rider interface with the technology. Hides its weight very well and was over all great to ride. One big issue is BMW only winds the coils for a 185lb rider. I weigh 220, and I felt the bounce on the road in any dampening setting short of hard. The solution? 2 grand for custom springs/shock tops or 4 grand for custom suspension.
The Ducati rides like a dream. Hands down best road performance of any of its competition. Sharper handling, better brakes, better suspension, and a transmission and gear box leagues ahead of its competition. It lacks a little to the bmw in rider interface, but adjustments to the suspension settings make tangible differences exactly how you would want it.
In the end, I debated for a week between the bmw and the duc. The duc won out with superior on road performance and better suspension. Most of my riding will be on road...and to be honest...most people looking at these bikes will also. Thats said, with the right mods and a set of trail tires, the duc is going to do all the trail riding I want to do. The Duc lacks cruise, which on the bmw was really nice, but aftermarket ecu tuners fix that so it wasnt a big deal to me.
Decided to get the GT model. Taller wider wind screen, luggage, crash bars, heated grips, fog lights, 20mm bar risers, and a comfort touring seat come as standard over base touring model. Also wears the pirelli angel gt tire instead of the scorpion trail. I viewed this as an advantage....the angel gt is best sport touring tire on the market in several trials/tests...and to use the enduro mode and hit the trail head, you really want something more aggressive than the scorpion trails anyway.
Bike came with a rebate that netted me a free termignoni exhaust and arai helmet, which was a nice bonus.
I completed the ensamble with Aether riding gear (Canyon jacket, Compass pants)and Held 'air and dry gloves'. The gloves are interesting in that they are dual chamber...one pocket for for perforated leather against the palm and the other for a full gortex liner. I will probably add Gaerne balance oiled boots to the mix also.
I dont have any dillusions of what its off road capability is or isnt. With appropriate tires, it will do the trails Im looking at. Harder things will be done in the truck (and with the wife, she wouldnt tolerate any less anyways
)...knowing that, it didnt seem to make sense to give up so much on road performance for off road performance I dont need.
Ill do a trip and ride report on all the gear when I get back from overseas.
Couldnt get past the styling of the 1190.
Tiger felt way too slow handling and top heavy to me.
R1200gs was fantastic. Almost ordered on the spot, but decided to give the duc a ride too.
Pros: great ergos and rider interface with the technology. Hides its weight very well and was over all great to ride. One big issue is BMW only winds the coils for a 185lb rider. I weigh 220, and I felt the bounce on the road in any dampening setting short of hard. The solution? 2 grand for custom springs/shock tops or 4 grand for custom suspension.
The Ducati rides like a dream. Hands down best road performance of any of its competition. Sharper handling, better brakes, better suspension, and a transmission and gear box leagues ahead of its competition. It lacks a little to the bmw in rider interface, but adjustments to the suspension settings make tangible differences exactly how you would want it.
In the end, I debated for a week between the bmw and the duc. The duc won out with superior on road performance and better suspension. Most of my riding will be on road...and to be honest...most people looking at these bikes will also. Thats said, with the right mods and a set of trail tires, the duc is going to do all the trail riding I want to do. The Duc lacks cruise, which on the bmw was really nice, but aftermarket ecu tuners fix that so it wasnt a big deal to me.
Decided to get the GT model. Taller wider wind screen, luggage, crash bars, heated grips, fog lights, 20mm bar risers, and a comfort touring seat come as standard over base touring model. Also wears the pirelli angel gt tire instead of the scorpion trail. I viewed this as an advantage....the angel gt is best sport touring tire on the market in several trials/tests...and to use the enduro mode and hit the trail head, you really want something more aggressive than the scorpion trails anyway.
Bike came with a rebate that netted me a free termignoni exhaust and arai helmet, which was a nice bonus.
I completed the ensamble with Aether riding gear (Canyon jacket, Compass pants)and Held 'air and dry gloves'. The gloves are interesting in that they are dual chamber...one pocket for for perforated leather against the palm and the other for a full gortex liner. I will probably add Gaerne balance oiled boots to the mix also.
I dont have any dillusions of what its off road capability is or isnt. With appropriate tires, it will do the trails Im looking at. Harder things will be done in the truck (and with the wife, she wouldnt tolerate any less anyways
)...knowing that, it didnt seem to make sense to give up so much on road performance for off road performance I dont need.Ill do a trip and ride report on all the gear when I get back from overseas.
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