On June 21, I did a little travel, on the GS.

A 700 km round trip to Delphi. If you wish to read about it, click HERE

Then, come back to continue, reading!

First of all, I had to reinstall the bagster cover. This one proved to be a bit fuzzy business, at first, then I realized it was really simple to make the bands around some critical places of the bike's underpinnings.

I installed the BMW saddlebags, too, and filled them lightly, with everything i could imagine.... Three jeans here, a couple of sweaters there, and of course a rainsuit in the tankbag, along with the obligatory digital camera (seen the pics, yet?! hehe!).

On the way to Delphi, the first part of the motorway went easily. The tank lasted for 235kms, of varying speeds of around 140-210km/h! Now, don't imagine i was doing these speeds all the time, I only tried it once! I was riding mostly around 140-170km/h, depending on traffic and road condition (some works are in progress at 2 places, which meant slowing everyone down to 60-80km/h).

The seating position is weird! Not bad, after all but weird. What do I mean? I mean, I feel sitting ON the bike, instead of in, it, and my feet were at some close bending, which at first looked that it would be uncomfortable. However, after one hour practically not moving on the bike, while travelling at those velocities, I realized i was VERY comfortable, save for the hard seat, which made my butt to ache a bit. The tall Ermax screen deflects almost all air just above my helmet, but produces a lot of noise. I found that if I lowered my head a bit, and my chest touched the tankbag, I could hear the motor and -ho not again- that electric noise I hear in city riding (slow speeds and standing with bike idling). I was told its the fuel pump, nothing to worry about!

Now, back at home, I feel really fresh, after 8 hours on the saddle, almost nonstop riding 700km. I did a few stops here and there, but mostly to smoke a cigarette and take a pic or two (call me an addict, for both!)

With the saddles on, I realized i had to be a bit careful when overtaking trucks at over 120-130km/h, because their turbulence would shake me a bit, again, nothing worrying.

Surprises: The brakes! Amazing bite! And they lasted well too, allowing me some late braking deep into some turns i overjudged. Actually i never triggered the ABS, but it was safe to know it was there, too!

More Surprises: Turning! The GS wants the twisties! It loves them, actually! All I will say is I managed to use ALL the rear tire tread width on the Brallos uphill twisties!

More surprises, yet: The fuel consumption. This is weird, however. On the motorway, it rode for 235km before the yellow light coming alight! Refilling, it took 19.5 liters. Twisties start, and lasted for about 200km's. Consumption went to 320kms, before needing a refill of 20.1 liters!

Various remarks and notes: Oil level is just below the center mark of the little glass.
Yesterday morning, and today, at cold startup, the exhaust smoke, was pure 2-stroke, reminding me the Yamaha DT200 i used to have, some years ago. It cleared however as soon as the oil temp showed 2 bars on the RID.
(Talking of the RID, I wonder how did i know for the past 23 years of riding various bikes, what gear I was in, and how much fuel I had, till now!!!!! hahaha!)
The clock, however is VERY useful. I always had a small problem at checking the time, on my watch, especially in winter, with those heavy gloves, covering some sleeve too!
I managed to see 215km/h once, in a deserted part of the motorway, with me tucked behind the Ermax, and it showed at almost 7500 rpm (maybe 7400? who knows!)
Best travelling speed I guess is something around 120-150km/h. At around there a vibration starts, that's bothering actually my feet (dressed in racing Sidi boots, which might be a tad too soft, for feel, however, and not so "heavy-duty" for touring).

After coming back home, I gave it a thorough wash, removed the bagster cover (I love that black shiny tank, even though it looks..... dirty 5 minutes after i wiped it dry!)

(again, for the pics, click on the link, at the top of this page!)

cya folks!