RBEmerson
Kein Nasebohrer
Spoiler alert - the conclusions aren't positive.
I just came back from an Edelweiss tour (discussion of which belongs somewhere else) of the central (Austrian, mostly) Alps. I chose the RT. Once I figured out how to deal with hairpins, the RT did them with far less effort than "everybody" told me would happen. More open roads, of course, went well. But...
I developed a very strong dislike of the motor. I tried to keep it turning at 3K or more - well, actually, I had to keep it above 3K. Below that the motor just didn't have much "go". Once in the power band, though, it was able to lift the front wheel on occasion. Throughout, however, the bike buzzed and generally was wearing. To add to the fun, keeping the motor happy meant tons of shifting, up or down. Some hairpins had me down to 1st at about 25 MPH. I generally rode in Road mode, although I wanted the Dynamic mode. In dynamic mode, the bottom of the throttle twist had an ugly on/off, not very helpful when trying to set up turns without pitching the bike on the suspension.
I also thoroughly dislike the computer. Even though I had a PDF of the owner's manual (none supplied by Edelweiss), I still couldn't find out how to do setting "Road throttle/Dynamic suspension". Going from showing ambient temperature to showing tire pressure, while on the move was simply not practical - too much "head down in the cockpit" time. And a special curse on the "wonder wheel" designer. Give me a simple up/down left/right OK " joystick buttons and make the computer something that doesn't involve calling in the neighborhood's 6 year old computer genius.
FWIW, the Garmin Zumo 660 is plug and play compatible with the Nav IV mount. The computer controls don't work with the Zumo. But it's easy to poke gloved finger at the screen to control it.
The side stand is a disaster looking to happen. Trying to get it down, I popped into 1st a couple of times. Anticipating this, I had the clutch in and the front brake set. But imagine doing this with neither set. Ugly, ugly, ugly.
The center stand... only Arnold Schwarzenegger could get it to work. Arnold did show up once. I planned to run off the stand. I lit the motor and found I was 1st (presumably that happened getting the bike onto the stand. How wonderful to hear the rear tire spinning away merrily. Imagine the excitement of shifting may weight back on the wheel.
While there are good parts (e.g., master lock for the bags) and the ergos are good, I wouldn't take this bike as a gift. Save as a trade-in on a K bike.
Let the disputation begin...
I just came back from an Edelweiss tour (discussion of which belongs somewhere else) of the central (Austrian, mostly) Alps. I chose the RT. Once I figured out how to deal with hairpins, the RT did them with far less effort than "everybody" told me would happen. More open roads, of course, went well. But...
I developed a very strong dislike of the motor. I tried to keep it turning at 3K or more - well, actually, I had to keep it above 3K. Below that the motor just didn't have much "go". Once in the power band, though, it was able to lift the front wheel on occasion. Throughout, however, the bike buzzed and generally was wearing. To add to the fun, keeping the motor happy meant tons of shifting, up or down. Some hairpins had me down to 1st at about 25 MPH. I generally rode in Road mode, although I wanted the Dynamic mode. In dynamic mode, the bottom of the throttle twist had an ugly on/off, not very helpful when trying to set up turns without pitching the bike on the suspension.
I also thoroughly dislike the computer. Even though I had a PDF of the owner's manual (none supplied by Edelweiss), I still couldn't find out how to do setting "Road throttle/Dynamic suspension". Going from showing ambient temperature to showing tire pressure, while on the move was simply not practical - too much "head down in the cockpit" time. And a special curse on the "wonder wheel" designer. Give me a simple up/down left/right OK " joystick buttons and make the computer something that doesn't involve calling in the neighborhood's 6 year old computer genius.
FWIW, the Garmin Zumo 660 is plug and play compatible with the Nav IV mount. The computer controls don't work with the Zumo. But it's easy to poke gloved finger at the screen to control it.
The side stand is a disaster looking to happen. Trying to get it down, I popped into 1st a couple of times. Anticipating this, I had the clutch in and the front brake set. But imagine doing this with neither set. Ugly, ugly, ugly.
The center stand... only Arnold Schwarzenegger could get it to work. Arnold did show up once. I planned to run off the stand. I lit the motor and found I was 1st (presumably that happened getting the bike onto the stand. How wonderful to hear the rear tire spinning away merrily. Imagine the excitement of shifting may weight back on the wheel.
While there are good parts (e.g., master lock for the bags) and the ergos are good, I wouldn't take this bike as a gift. Save as a trade-in on a K bike.
Let the disputation begin...