So, I've ridden a lot of different sport bikes. Lots of liter class bikes and lots of track days. I picked up my 1299S a couple of weeks ago and just commuted on it once to get some break in miles. Today was going to be in the 70s, the girls were at school and the wife is traveling. I had a vacation day. I decided to take the bike up and down Blood Mountain in North Georgia. Fo those that don't know it, it is a great twisty road with a great mix of sweepers you can all the way thru and some tight first gear turns with a lot of transitions.
There is only one thing about this bike that doesn't impress me, but I'll get to that later. We all know it...this bike is a bucking bronco at slow speeds/low RPMs. Not a real big issue unless you intend on city commuting. The handling is laser sharp and intuitive with telepathic transitions from side to side. The brakes are the best I have ever felt. One finger and you're scrubbing all the speed you need.
This bike revs incredibly quickly! I can't imagine how fast an R revs considering what the S does!! I briefly got it up into the 10k RPM range and HOLY S%$T!! The torque and pull are incredible. It is absolutely intoxicating. To say the least, I love this bike.
Now for the one downside. I wrench on my own bikes. I really don't trust Stealerships very much when my life is on the line. Too many quality issues of Techs just not caring as much as I would. I am used to Japanese bikes where you can tear the whole bike down with an 8mm, 10,mm, 12mm and 14mm socket and a 4, 5, and 6 hex key. In the course of installed bar end mirrors, NRC turn signals and tail tidy kit, I had to use 100 different tools from a 12MM hex (not standard sizing), to micro star hex keys. I can see why maintenance is so expensive at the Stealership...they have to go to their tool boxes 1000 times to change the oil!!
There is only one thing about this bike that doesn't impress me, but I'll get to that later. We all know it...this bike is a bucking bronco at slow speeds/low RPMs. Not a real big issue unless you intend on city commuting. The handling is laser sharp and intuitive with telepathic transitions from side to side. The brakes are the best I have ever felt. One finger and you're scrubbing all the speed you need.
This bike revs incredibly quickly! I can't imagine how fast an R revs considering what the S does!! I briefly got it up into the 10k RPM range and HOLY S%$T!! The torque and pull are incredible. It is absolutely intoxicating. To say the least, I love this bike.
Now for the one downside. I wrench on my own bikes. I really don't trust Stealerships very much when my life is on the line. Too many quality issues of Techs just not caring as much as I would. I am used to Japanese bikes where you can tear the whole bike down with an 8mm, 10,mm, 12mm and 14mm socket and a 4, 5, and 6 hex key. In the course of installed bar end mirrors, NRC turn signals and tail tidy kit, I had to use 100 different tools from a 12MM hex (not standard sizing), to micro star hex keys. I can see why maintenance is so expensive at the Stealership...they have to go to their tool boxes 1000 times to change the oil!!
