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Test Ride

4K views 12 replies 11 participants last post by  Razel 
#1 · (Edited)
After an invigorating lunch with my daughters first grade class I took off to Morton's to take a look and ride the RT and "look at" the KGT. This is my first time there and they appear to be all that folks say they are. But enough about Morton's....

The GT in person is simply awesome - I'm not the first to have said this, but - pictures don't do that bike any justice. And the silver - beautiful. I ask if I can throw a leg over and proceed. I jump right off... where's the RT? - that's what I came to see first. The RT demo unit was out so I took the GT out first... big mistake. What a bike!

Coming from a V-Twin cruiser and never having thrown a leg over a BMW I am very happy to say that my expectations were too low. The GT is solid. That's a dumb word, I know, but I fail to find another adjective. The bike has a mass to it but yet it's so light. Everything is tight, the textures are right, nothing feels cheap. I look at the price - nope, nothing cheap here! I go out to my cage and grab my gear while Stephanie, the sales person, grabs the keys to the Graphite Grey demo bike.

I get the lowdown on everything and climb on board and fire it up. This is wierd. The tach is reading 1100 rpm, there is this whirring purr and I can hear what I conclude must be the exhaust - okay, the bike is running and I'm talking to the Stephanie in a normal voice. This is what I've been dreaming about (I'm really over the loud exhaust on my Victory). I hear Stephanie say, "Have a good time" and I pull the clutch lever with the effort I normally need and thought I broke it. Smooth. There is no resistance, this is incredible. I tap it into first and think "they call this clunky?" I mean I feel the tranny engage but the "clang clang goes the trolley" I'm use to.... no. This is a fine piece of machinery. I pull forward expecting to stall the bike or to feel that sport bike neck snapping lung of a useless first gear meeting a stupid amount of horsepower but there is none.

I can feel the bike wanting to be goosed to about 9-grand but it's patient, it's accepting, it can tell I respect it and I need some time here; I'm a Beemer virgin and the GT is a gentle lover... [putting crack pipe down now] I pop it into second and do some slow speed parking lot manuevering trying to get a feel for the bike but the odd thing is, I don't seem to need to, the bike and I seem to be connected. I think "left" and it goes left, I think "slow tight circle" and it does it... I'm not wrestling this bike or negotiating with it to do anything.

"If only the rest of my life was this good..."

So I pull out of the parking lot and fly up through the gears - holy crap this bike has power galore. As I come up to the first light I grab the brakes (again, like I'm use to doing) and damnit if the bike doesn't just stop. Holy crap! The brakes scare the hell out of me and I'm wondering if Crazy Glue is used.

"Note to self - apply pressure G-E-N-T-L-Y when braking."

I turn left onto the recommended test route to see a 35mph sign which my dyslexia turned into a 53mph sign and then the GT decided it was an 85mph sign. I slow down and force myself to stop smiling as I hit the first turn and prepare to wrangle the bike (like I'm use to doing) through the turn only, I'm in through the next couple turns before I realize that the bike is still moving with my thoughts. I'm not forcing it to my will, it just goes there. I'm I this good of a rider? I find myself remembering this kid at the driving range who, after smacking this drive to the far fence remarks "$1200 for a driver makes a difference!"

It's gotta be the bike.

I pull back into the dealer and as i get off the bike the Service Manager comments on the smile. I mention the seat being so low and feeling a little cramped but "holy crap, that bike" and he pulls me back out to the GT asks for the keys, pulls the seats apart, adjusts the seat to the highest position and says "go for another ride." Twist my arm!

Yep. I still love this bike like Shannon Conaway from the fourth grade... there's nothing bad here. Ahhhh. The GT just felt like my bike, like I've known her for so long.

Alright, an already long story short.

I pull back in and when I ask to take out the RT I get some cross eyed looks. No one says it, but "are you on dope?" looks to be on the lips of the folks inside. Stephanie rolls the blue RT out, I fire it up and "Oh!" Okay, so it's not fair. It takes me about 10 minutes to stop comparing the RT to the GT and become unbiased. It's a great bike, and honestly I'm a little more comfortable (physically, not mentally) on the RT. But I stall it not once but 4 times. I almost dump it in the turns. I feel like I'm riding someone elses bike.

The RT is toyishly light. The boxer engine has this endearing side to side wiggle that makes be think of my dog and smile. Definately character. My head knows it has plenty of power but it feels anemic after spending 40 minutes on the GT. It's easier to drive in stop and go (except for the stalling) but I don't feel as natural on it in the turns and "spirited" riding. The GT is an income generator for the state. She's going to be a tempting little bitch always urging me to twist the throttle and making highway speeds feel so slow.

The RT is the practical choice. The demo didn't have ESA. The GT did. It's a must and also one more "unfair" against the RT. I'm confused. I've spent weeks looking at the RT, that was the bike. The RT feels cheap and disposable compared to the GT. I felt like I was on a tractor compared to the GT. I'm confused. The GT is a supermodel, but the RT's the "girl you marry." I want to want the RT but I want the GT. The RT's tranny and shifting is certainly smoother, and yes, less clunky - WTF? Seriously, why is this true? I want to want the RT....

I could go on...

I get home and my wife asks, after hearing about my affair with the GT, "why didn't you by it?"

Damnit if she's not the best woman in the world but I just look at her and blink... Duh...

We're going back tomorrow. What's a guy to do?
 
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#2 ·
great post
glad you came to the decision "on your own"
go buy the GT
forget about the GT

you'll NEVER be sorry....
well, you might be sorry that you didn't buy a BMW..... ANY BMW years ago :)
 
#3 ·
Life is a bitch, ain't it ?

I think you have made your decvision as most of us have done after a test ride. This is the easiest bike to fall in love with it. I have hade mine since the last week of June and I have put more miles on it until now than I have done on my 02KRS in 2 years.

This is a bike to get on to go to the deli and do 75 miles roundtrip..

Go buy it now and enjoy the rest of this season..
Your wife is urging you also !
 
#4 ·
Nice story and fun to read too! For a moment I wasn't sure if you were still describing your first ride on the GT experience or having a flashback to your first experience. :D But you captured in words what most of us still feel about the KGT.

Come and join us. You won't regret it!
 
#5 ·
Cute report, and Morton's is an excellent dealership..wish they were closer.
I thought the RT was for me too, so I rented one and did 3k miles; it wasn't for me. Earlier this year, I took a GT test ride, with a HUGE smile on my face after the ride. My wife (who was there) said, "so, what are you waiting for"? Love the way she thinks!
Greg
 
#6 ·
I almost bought an RT also... Cheaper, easier to maintain and own.

Don't like the way RT vibrate, and have to slip clutch to take off...

Bought the GT, very happy with my decision. :D :D :D
 
#7 ·
Well, Scottie and I went back down to Morton's (100 miles... crud!) and get the 2:00 KGT demo, slot shove the "german lunch" in our mouths and gear up. Scottie's sweet little rear :drool end can tell a lot from first sit and it likes the GT's pillion - YEAY!

While we're waiting for the group demo to pull out I point out the bike features, she turns on the heated seat which really sells the bike. I adjust the ESA to 2-up/comfort and we pull away. Most bikes I've piloted 2-up I can feel it but honestly, the GT doesn't seem to care if you're one up or two up - it responds the same. This is good, I need my girls to get along ;)

She can't get over that we're talking (we're wearing our half helmets) and the bike is running. No, we're talking in normal voices doing 65mph - cool! I misplaced my "note to self" regarding brake lever pressure and here theat sultry red headed voice from behind me say "You're going to have to get use to those brakes, ya know" after we bang helmets again...

We hit some bumps and nail a really good one - she says "Holy shit! That would have broken our teeth on the Victory! This suspension rocks..." That's my girl!

Another long story short and after a 45 minutes ride we both get off the bike and she loves it. She's not tired, she doesn't hurt, and is amazed by the bike. I think the Russel seats and the 49 litre trunk and she's good to go. I'm more amazed by the GT because Scottie, riding pillion, can feel how much better it tracks, she can tell it's easier to ride, and she can tell how much more confident I feel on the bike (as a rider, ya know :p ).

We bought it! Graphite Gray, 49 litre trunk, Navi-III and Equipment package 2 (ESA, heated stuff, etc.) and an extra power outlet, two Saniago suits, two Shubert C2's, (yeah, not the cheapest Saturday!) and we can't can't wait to go pick it up later this week. The bike is still in the crate in the warehouse.

So, anyone know anyone looking for a custom 2003 Victory Classic Cruiser with 8500 miles , new brakes, new battery and goo-gobs of chrome and extras?

 
#8 ·
backpain said:
We bought it! Graphite Gray, 49 litre trunk, Navi-III and Equipment package 2 (ESA, heated stuff, etc.) and an extra power outlet, two Saniago suits, two Shubert C2's, (yeah, not the cheapest Saturday!) and we can't can't wait to go pick it up later this week. The bike is still in the crate in the warehouse.
This is EXACTLY the reason I'm afraid to take the bike for a ride.. My K11 and K12RS were nice but the GT just seems like it's more fun than I deserve :)
 
#9 ·
backpain said:
Another long story short and after a 45 minutes ride we both get off the bike and she loves it. She's not tired, she doesn't hurt, and is amazed by the bike. I think the Russel seats and the 49 litre trunk and she's good to go. I'm more amazed by the GT because Scottie, riding pillion, can feel how much better it tracks, she can tell it's easier to ride, and she can tell how much more confident I feel on the bike (as a rider, ya know :p ).

We bought it! Graphite Gray, 49 litre trunk, Navi-III and Equipment package 2 (ESA, heated stuff, etc.) and an extra power outlet, two Saniago suits, two Shubert C2's, (yeah, not the cheapest Saturday!) and we can't can't wait to go pick it up later this week. The bike is still in the crate in the warehouse.
congratulations
how wonderful
i am thrilled for you guys
great aftermarket purchases, as well

we'll be looking forward to pictures (please post some very very soon)
and the stories of your rides... and adventures

congrats again

great purchase...... i know that you believe it now..... but, just wait a few thousand miles and you'll be even more amazed
 
#10 ·
Been there, did that....but bought the RT...

Congrat's on your new toy!!!! You can read at this post that I basically did the same thing 'cept I went ahead and bought the RT. I was totally satisfied with the RT, then while on a little jaunt up into VA, stopped by Morton's and looked at the GT while "shopping" for farkles. Although I got it at Cape Fear BMW in Wilmington, NC, two weeks later, I owned an '07 GT...and love it!!! :clap:
 
#11 ·
Nice write-up. You won't regret your choice. :clap:



I was at a Honda forum the other day ( :coffee ) and someone had asked a general bike question. One responder suggested that they should post their question on the BMW forum because 'those guys are REALLY into their bikes'. Now you know why.

:bmw:
 
#12 ·
Congrats on the new Kbike, I got mine at Mortons also. I live over 100 miles away in MD. The MD dealers didnt deserve my business, I was put off by Bobs by the lack of willingness to negoate price on a used bike and Battleys by the trade in they offered on my 03 VFR, over 1000$ less than I got at Mortons.

Both my wife and I really enjoy our KGT, I am sure you both will also. Enjoy the ride!!!!!
 
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