General topics » Quietly continuing to impress

My RS went through the 8 years of ownership from new thing recently.

Grey and black, serviced by myself for many years, still impressing me after all these years of riding bikes (from 16 until 69 without any significant break away from it).

I've been quiet of late, my eagerness to get out amongst the rain, salted roads and frosts isn't what it was. My IAM Group had a ride out last Saturday and I decided to get involved, Kendal to Sedbergh, Hawes, Leyburn, Richmond for lunch, back via Middleton-in-Teesdale, Alston, Hartside Pass, Shap and home. Low sun, cold, dense fog over Shap and a good pace. It was like I've never been away (I've had a couple of months off riding with no IAM tests to do).

The bike needs a deep clean and I've bought some heated gloves as I don't find the heated grips enough (possibly an age thing), so will need to fit a wiring harness to the PDM60. I might even get around to using the Gerbing heated jacket I've owned for years but not used.

The only corrosion is a slight bubble on top of the rhs valve cover, the centre stand (which I get re powder coated every year or two anyway), and a paint chip on the Evotech radiator guard that's spread a little. There's general wear and tear but it all works absolutely as it should and I rarely if ever need to thrash it so the 1250 isn't an essential.

I've a new radiator guard to fit and I'll clean up and paint the old one to sell it. I'll fit my spare centre stand too and give the bike a full service ready for another year.

The mileage is 44,000 and isn't rising as it should now I'm putting miles on my CBR600RR as well.

So all is good here

Have a great New Year Y'all.

Peter

Have to agree my eagerness to get out amongst the rain, salted roads and frosts isn't what it was and I will also be 70 this march.

As far as last weeks visit to dealership, loan bike RS1250 and my rerturn late pm monday back on the R1200, it was not my usual bike ride.

Apart from pre-covid, trips back from europe aside, these were the first times I have combined "Riding in very heavy rain" "Riding in the Dark" and "Riding in the freezing cold"

All of the above I avoid except 'if' it rains once I have left for a days ride.

Nothing on the rides made me wish for the 1250RS apart from the display sceen and my 1200 was more comfortable due to options on the 1250.

Must be an age thing?

I did try a 1250GS when they emerged, just to compare the engine. Getting back to my RS had me thinking that the RS had more 'grunt' not less., especially lower down. I understand that this shouldn't be so but I was glad to be back on my RS for the handling and the way it 'seemed' to pull better from lower rpm.

The dash is to me more 'nice to look at' than it is actually a lot better. The RS ergo suits me better and I say that as an ex R1200GS owner.