Got the internet going. So here's my review: As I figured the owner offered me a ride on the new 2012. Said he'd get the paperwork going and then I'd give him the thumbs up or down after the ride. I countered with: "Let me ride the 2004 GL1800 out front with 66,000 miles on it." He was reticent to do so because he said it wouldn't give me the nice "tight feeling" of the newer bike etc, but then his wife, who works with him at the dealership said "Just let the doc take the old bike like he wants to." So off I went. The sales guy Jamie really knew his stuff. He said after riding the C14 the only thing I needed to know was how to use the reverse mode and that the majority of weight is in the front so the bike tends to fall into turns pretty easy.
That was an understatement. He watched me leave and I made a sharp right at slow speed and the bike was drawn to the ground like a giant electromagnet pulling on it. I goosed the throttle and brought it back up nicely. Later he said "I thought you were gonna lose it for a minute but lucky you did the right thing and powered your way back up rather than panic, cut throttle, or worse, apply the brakes." Experience counts for sure. My brain quickly adjusted to this minor quirk of weight distribution and I had no trouble after this. The bike is luxurious for sure. It is virtually car-like in its ride and turns reasonable well. I then put it through some paces, especially accelerating hard, leaning harder, passing, etc. I purposely put myself in a position that only reverse or two circus strong men could get me out of and reverse worked like a charm. Why doesn't all our bikes have this feature???
Right after the ride I got back on my C14 and loved the C14 even more. Here's the catch: Yes the big GW moves nice, but more like a car with a big V-8. I can pass cars fast but nowhere near the lightning speed of either of my bikes. Yes the GW turns well for such a huge bike but can't touch the C14, FJR, and other such bikes. It's simply too big, too low, and the floor boards would be scraping constantly. The miracle of making a 1000 pound bike feel lighter than bikes half its size is simply engineering brilliance. I can't believe how easy it is to ride this bike which took me all of 30 seconds to be totally comfortable as opposed to the C14 which took the better part of 4-6 months to find its tremendous potential when moving and harder still, improve my balancing skills moving it around in tight spaces with ots high seating position and relatively high COG. I learned to evaluate every grade when considering parking and with a super low seat height and reverse this simply isn't necessary on the GW.
My final evaluation: If I had millions I'd get one because they're so darn handsome. Otherwise there are only 2 reasons I would like it better than my C14: regular long distance trips, like riding to see my daughter every month, or having a dedicated pillion. Bill suggested Yogi. Right now, despite being known as the fifth smartest dog his most skilled trick seems to be running towards me at 15 MPH and jabbing his nose into my testicles. He also likes coming at me from the other direction obviating the need for regular colonoscopy. So he's not quite ready for prime time so to speak.
The sales guy also suggested, since I had no regular pillion, picking up a 2011 new Vaquero 1700 which he claims will give me the same ride at half the price. I don't care for the looks to much but it's something to think about because this 2012 GW with Navi and sales tax, OTD is about $28,500. I could get a nice Mini Cooper for that. Ah, decisions...
(And never turn my back on pointy-nose! Hahahaha!
oke:
