In preparation for our trip to the Eastern Transvaal next week, I got the GTR for this weekend as well. My pillion has NEVER BEEN ON A BIKE, so I felt that we needed to spend some time in the saddle to get ourselves comfortable. I opted to follow more or less the same route we took with Welsh's Long Ride Went Flat, however only sticking to the tar. Covered 450 km for the day, but it was well worthit - learnt a lot in preparation for next weekend:
And then some serious lessons learnt:
Even with my gripes with the seat (probably just my boney ass anyway) and the screen, this thing covers distance like nothing I've ever ridden. It handles extraordinarily well, has bucket-loads of power, comfortable, practical... I want one.
The ONLY thing wrong with it is that it doesn't go on dirt... but that's what the KLR's for ;D
Some photos:
Giving my ass a rest:
- Wear a chest protector when you take a wimmin on a bike for the first time... or make her wear thick gloves... or SOMETHING so that nails don't sink into skin through however many layers of protective clothing
- Wear ear-plugs (see first point)
- Inform wimmin that spending time on hair is a total waste (it took her an HOUR to get ready... WTF?)
- She was a star though, short briefing and a pointer or two along the way - best pillion I've ever ridden with
- The Tour-X peak doesn't work so lekker above 180 kph - remove
And then some serious lessons learnt:
- The adjustable screen is even more irritating with a pillion - just can't get a setting that works for both - left it in the lower-most position. Kawasaki has a replacement, higher screen - don't know why they don't fit these things to the demos...
- The panniers are actually quite voluminous - EASILY pack a weekend's kit for two
- I don't think it's possible for a bike to have a seat that keeps you comfortable for 450 km straight, by the time we got to Warmbaths on the way back, my ass was DEAD. Kawasaki has a replacement "gel seat" - don't know why they don't fit these things to the demos...
- Best headlights I've seen on a bike
Even with my gripes with the seat (probably just my boney ass anyway) and the screen, this thing covers distance like nothing I've ever ridden. It handles extraordinarily well, has bucket-loads of power, comfortable, practical... I want one.
The ONLY thing wrong with it is that it doesn't go on dirt... but that's what the KLR's for ;D
Some photos:
Giving my ass a rest: