Messages

I am going with a group from SERV loooong day but worth it!

Hi Guzuntai,

I have had the ST 1100 which was a lovely bike then I got an 06 plate ST1300 which I really enjoyed and it was reasonably rapid and surprised many of my mates certainly sportier than the 1100. The missus liked it and it did everything well but I missed what I think of as the thrill factor so I kept an Aprilla RSV for my Sunday thrash with the lads. I put thousands of miles on both Pans all over the UK & Europe and they were trouble free and fun but still that 'something' missing. I have to say that I rode the Pans hard with and without luggage and never ever experience the dreaded Pan 'weave' . I believe has a lot to do with centre of gravity the weight of police issue radios and aerodynamics. I have few chums in the 'job' hugely experienced and confident lads who are surprisingly naughty when they are not dressed for work :)

Both of them have had first hand and scary experience of the 'weave' and yet one of them still rides a Pan and the other thrashed mine mercilessy whenever the opportunity arose but never replicated it in civilian mode.

Anyway one day somebody very kindly ran over the Pan in a truck whislt it was parked up and totalled it so I had a loan FJR which I became quite attached to, so I decided to buy one however missus did not like it at all! I was about to go back to the Pan when my local dealer (Dobles) suggested I take a spin on px GTR that had just come in to them.

I swear withing 200 yards I knew I was going to keep it! smooth, very rapid, looks good with out without the panniers and top box which the Pan never did! Once you get rid of the spud launcher on the side you end up with a fabulous all rounder that always delights, keeps up with anything out there if you want to be a hooligan, is reasonably economical if ridden sensibly (difficult to do) but I always look forward to every journey.

The missus likes it and I LOVE it! I got rid of the Aprilia because this gives me everything I need and whilst I had great fun on the Honda's the GTR is so much smoother so much quicker and so much more enjoyable! I shall def have a new model in the next year or so but could not go back to a Pan now for love nor money.

Take your time spend some time on both and give them both a good test ride, if you ride with your partner take them out with you and I suspect one of them will leave a mark on you and help you choose!

Enjoy and be safe

Ming

I have an i-phone and downloaded the Tom Tom app it has been brilliant all over europe had it for two years and in that time have used it frequently. Much better than google maps and has IQ and updated maps comes with the package. I have used it on my bike in Spain, France, Andorra, Germany without any hiccups what so ever. The Sat Nav feature works without any phone signal so there is no cost implications at all.

Ming

Thanks guys and anybody rumbling around the southeast and west at the weekends feel free to give me a shout if you want some company and somebody to play with. 

Just aquired a 2009 black GTR, had a test ride on an FJR and after 50 miles was thinking how I could learn to live with it if I had to. When I got back dealer suggested trying the GTR  I knew by the time I had got to the end of the road that I didnt want to give it back! lol so looking forward to getting out and having some fun on the beast.

Cheers

Chris