| Factor |
 |
 |
| Looks |
Great, front view not so spectacular |
The business - truly awesome from all angles! |
| Presence |
Big |
Massive |
| Engine revving |
Wider rev range (to 8500 rpm), pulls from 3000 |
Narrower rev range (to 7000rpm) pulls from 2000 |
| Engine braking |
Fantastic (don't need brakes) |
Good (but still need brakes) |
| Gears |
6 |
5 |
| Torque |
Oh yes |
Even more |
| Engine noise |
Agricultural at idle, nice whistling note at
higher rpm. Gorgeous deceleration burble |
Like a sewing machine at all times and very
quiet. |
| 3000 rpm in 3rd |
35 mph |
38 mph |
| 5000 rpm in top |
80 mph (6th gear) |
87 mph (5th gear) |
| Brakes |
Naff |
Excellent plus ABS gives extra confidence |
| Cold start |
Poor engine running from cold at low rpm |
Immediate start, no problems |
| Oomph |
Great |
OK |
| Slow running |
Smooth |
Jerky, surging |
| Consumption |
45 mpg |
42 mpg |
| Drive |
Chain, useful with such hard engine braking,
needs maintaining |
Shaft, requires control to avoid locking wheel,
no maintenance |
| Suspension |
Soaks up bumps easily, very smooth. Excessive
fork dive on hard braking, rear adjustable |
Bumpier even on soft settings. Anti dive works
extremely well, front and rear adjustable |
| Headlights |
Twin 100/80W give daylight view for miles ahead |
Single 100/80W, better light but only half the
starting power. |
| Taillight |
Two 20/5W bulbs |
One 20/5W bulb |
| Mirrors |
Larger, vibrate around 4-5K |
Smaller, no vibration |
| Horns |
Two, adequate |
One, feeble |
| Handlebars |
Adjustable |
Not adjustable |
| Screen |
Some noise, protects chest, not adjustable |
Very noisy but more protection, adjustable,
rips jacket open in some conditions |
| Centre stand |
No |
Yes |
| Sidestand cutout |
Works if engine in gear |
Works in neutral (can't leave engine running
on side stand) |
| Front mudguard |
Ineffective, requires extension |
OK but could do with extension |
| Rear mudguard |
Adequate |
Useless, mud transferred all over back of bike
and rider |
| Wheels |
Poor finish, alloy crumbles, hard to clean |
Superior anodized finish, gorgeous |
| Tyres |
Require tubes |
Tubeless |
| Low fuel light |
Comes on with 25 miles left in tank (200) |
Comes on with 45 miles left in tank (180), glaring |
| Indicator switches |
Standard |
BMW, utterly naff |
| Hi/Lo light switch |
Small, poor |
Large, OK |
| Ride |
Entertaining, hairy braking |
Competent but remote |
| Riding position |
Completely at home - higher position, seat height
not adjustable |
OK, seat height adjustable, lower overall position
even at highest setting. |
| Manoevreability |
Excellent |
Competent |
| Steering with weight shift on pegs |
OK |
Impossible due to low c of g |
| Steering lock |
OK |
Excellent |
| Weight distribution |
High c of g. (as high as it comes!) |
Low c of g (as low as it gets?) |
| Cleaning |
Harder to clean |
Easier to clean but gets dirtier in the first
place |
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