Richy Vida

[crump]

don't know if anyone follows his youtube channel but he's just put out a 30 minute video of the launch of the 1050/1050DE in Greece.
Might be of interest to anyone considering buying one.

[Froglodyte]

I watch all his stuff. I've met him a couple of times as he's local to me here in Chesterfield. Really nice bloke.

[Asmith61]

Yes I also follow him, seems like a really nice bloke, I will take a look 👍

[The Doctor 46]

I'm lazy, who's going to post a link? Please.

[sjrainsford]

I've watched the Bennets bike social video from the same launch.  Looked a bit cold, and probably not what they were hoping for with a trip to Greece hehe!

[Froglodyte]

There you go

[Fat Rat]

I have to concede, the styling is improving and the daft beaks which range from the outrageously ridiculous on the Gleek and slightly less (but not much) on the 2014 DL1000, are looking less like a bolt on appendage and more like they should be there now.  The rectangle headlight also doesn't make me vomit.

That doesn't mean I would own one though 

[mr_diver]

Going soft in your old age Andy?

[Fat Rat]

I don't think so, I still don't understand the desire to make the front of bikes pointy, I was just saying that the new 1050 is less shit than previous designs 

[mr_diver]

  "less shit"

I'll be honest I test rode the 1050XT when dealers first had demo's just before Covid spoiled things.
It was all going well until I stopped and saw the bike's reflection in a shop window  , the yellow didn't help either.
I thought it was a very good bike, but it wasn't going to get me off the Varadero.
Then Ken (HP) in JT's told me take a 2019 650cc v-Strom out and and hour later I nearly signed on the line. 

Only thing that stopped me was the 1 month old at home.
And Jen said no

[Fat Rat]

You preferred the 650 engine? Smoother? Lighter?

[Rixington43]

Funny what nostalgia will do to a man, I loved the early 90s Dakar monsters so love the styling of the 1050 and would always have it in the Camel colours.
I do agree that beaks are completely unnecessary cosmetic choices though.
It's the seats these days I take issue with, why are they all getting narrower whilst weekend trips to Matlock would suggest arses are most definitely not.

[Fat Rat]

  I can't disagree with that. My Tenere 700 seat is having its second appointment at Chaos Custom so they can try to remove the scaffold board comfort from it.

[The Doctor 46]

Thank you  Froglodyte for posting the link. I think I would choose the road bike as apposed to the DE. The mode settings would wind me up and I think I would set the bike up for my style of riding then never touch it again. It looks nice but I don't know how good it is to ride. The review was good but he almost never got out of third gear so he couldn't comment on it's handling or the protection from that ugly little screen.

The road version is a bike I would test ride but I think my 650DL is going to be with me for as long as it will stay.

[crump]

I think he said he would be getting one long term shortly, he'll probably answer most questions over the next few months. It'll be interesting as he's spent a lot of time on the Africa Twin recently so a good comparison.

[mr_diver]

Varadero - Smooth for a big twin, it kind of thumps away rather than vibration, super comfy, good weather protection. fit straight through cans and wake everyone up 3 county's away.
2020 1050XT - very smooth, soul-less, revvy engine - comfy - but the yellow/blue or red/pissy white are hideous.
DL650 - great all-round package, greet howl at full chat, plenty of grunt round town, comfy light enough to filter easily heavy enough for stability on the motorway. crap brakes. silly beak option on the glee.
Tracer 900 (2016) seat - I've sat on more padded park benches, crap screen, dash you can't see in daylight, stupid indicators on the handguards - face only a mother can love, stonking engine for a fast ride, but vibrates badly right at motorway cruising speed.

Overall the Glee wins - I love the Varadero and I'm not looking to change it, but the 650 Strom has always been a better all-round package.
I'll be looking to test the 800 parallel twin when the local dealers have a demo and see if it measures up to the 650cc.

Ps Richy Vida bores the living piss out of me!

[Oldleathers]

hi blokes
You blokes are at it again, beak abuse, I love the beak on my 1050, its so sleek and sexy, when I look in a shop window I can't believe its me with that gorgeous beak up front pointing the way for me cutting through the wind like a knife through butter. I dread stopping at lights cos young ladies want  a quick stroke of me beak, it's dangerous. My advice is get a beak, make one out of cardboard and stick it on but get a beak, beak, beak.!!!

Oldleathers lighting the blue touch paper!

Oldleathers, lighting the blue touch paper.

[mr_diver]

Either Puig or Powerbroze, possibly both make a beak for the Varadero.

I've thought about it as I too feel inadequate due to the size of my beak but at upwards of £120 it's far too high a price just to satisfy the ladies.

#YorkshireBattleCry

[Barbel Mick]

If you have a 'normal' sized penis you don't need a beak to attract the ladies! 

[Fat Rat]

I would be devastated to have to downgrade to a normal sized penis.