The Suzuki GSX-1000 is also on my list for a big bruising naked sports bike.
Back in beautiful France
Bloody chilly ‘til about 11:00 (15c 
) but warmed up into the afternoon (23c)
Fave Calais to Boulogne coast road, Abbeville Road is ok for a mile muncher. Noyon to Soisson some nice bits, and onto Chateau-Thierry
Heading South, but storms looming, could even be forced West…
The last time I had my bike - an R1300GS - in for service, they offered me a CE 04 as a loaner. What a miserable piece of garbage. With its long wheel base, tiny wheels, and weird weight distribution, that thing does not like to turn. I’ve owned a Zero and like electric bikes as a concept, but that’s not what this thing is. Very disappointing.
I had a 2014 MT07 which I bought as a commuter, around town bike. It was fun but the saddle was really uncomfortable. I hope they’ve improved it.
Picking the MT-10 up around 4pm today as they need to prep it for road readiness.
Got a very fair price on my Ducati in trade so it’s going to be fun time.
Sitting astride it feels like a 600 not a 1000, nice job they have done of hiding it’s weight.
Full first ride report to follow 
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6 hours today, including Chablis and Sancerre regions, some lovely places and a mix of roads from good to great (into Avallon and to the west for the latter)
But the bloody flies! I think I’ve only ever been forced to stop once before, when a thing egg-yolk exploded in my sight line; today I had to stop 5 times in about 4 hours
For a sense of proportion, I had 16km left to the hotel, normally as grubby as the visor might be, I’d just crack on - but it was just too bad
Bikes and leathers caked in ‘em
Quickly followed advise to self ‘get most of it off before it dries… 
’
An Unslime in time saves nine ?
Don’t debug, you’ll need more than a hug ?
Don’t go to bed before the bugs are shed ?
4 Likes
And here you go!
What a hoot!
When I first read that it used a detuned R1 motor I was a little concerned but…
Then I read it was detuned from 197 to 166hp, yeah ok I think I can live with that.
It really does feel like a 600 or less on the road agility wise but once you fire up the Arc Reactor.
Oh my, this is going to be fun and just the short 42 mile ride home from the dealer made me realise just what a tractor the Ducati really was.
6 Likes
LOL, Me and my bike have turned into “Chia-Pets” more than once with mosquito legs and bodies sticking out all over the front fairing and visor. it’s one of the reasons my favorite times to ride are after the first freeze in autumn and before full thaw in early spring.
2 Likes
sounds way to cold for me!
I was grumbling about 20c - with the heated grips on yesterday
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90 mile road to nowhere trip this afternoon just because.
This bike suits my present riding style perfectly.
Can’t be a$$ed to charge through gears nowadays so the roll on available in fifth and sixth is just crazy stupid here.
I’m having a blast letting that mountain wave of midrange haul me through the bends and out tuther side like a cannon.
Immensely addictive.
5 Likes
Yes it’s a Sonic again…but only iced coffee for a morning refresher.
Had to give the Zed a spin so it does not sulk.
5 Likes
I thought Zed was dead…baby.
Bought a Leo Vinci can and a tail tidy for the MT.
Can on but not got round to the tail tidy yet although it looks very well made.
Not really much louder but a fair bit throatier if that makes sense.
3 Likes
Just finished wiring up a new GPS (Garmin XT2) on the bike, when I noticed how close the paint matches my wife’s new car.
BTW, I decided to get a new GPS on the spur of the moment. Checked Amazon.com and saw it was $450, so placed the order. Next day the price increased to $550, where it is now.
Reminds me of when I bought an SMSL SU9 Pro DAC last year for $350, before the price went back up to $500 days later. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket.
3 Likes
Bit of a coincidence, I was looking at the same sat nav to replace my ancient zumo 550, there seem to be quite a few very negative reviews about them packing in all together, software crashing and rebooting etc , so had held off buying one.
The other option of Tom Tom is getting a bit old in the tooth too so still sat on the fence.
I had the TimTom 450, it was good but the charging became erratic and I couldn’t trust it
Got the XT (not XT2) and it’s been very good, not least the bigger screen and works well with gloves on
I think the TT was easier to plan routes on, and adjust on the fly (if I want to flick between faster vs more interesting while riding) but overall the XT is better
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@Andrew_Stoneman
From what I read the XT was reliable and the problems have been with the XT2.
@denydog if you wouldn’t mind , can you give an update on how you get on with it in a few weeks ?
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Just a question for the UK/ Euro crowd.
Does nobody just use their phone for GPS?
Here in the USA it’s basically all phone driven GPS with some great adventures tour apps available.
From my point of view Phones are not waterproof, travelled 500 miles across France a few years ago and it was two days of torrential rain , phones do not react well with gloves on, and not precise enough to click on what you actually want to select , and screen too small.phone cradles not great for holding phone securely , Google maps doesn’t do half as much as bike GPS.
America drive in straight line for 50 miles and turn left 
1 Like
